Page 71 of In Plain Sight

“Duty calls.” He shot me a shy smile.

“Good luck,” I said. I’d seen Isaac’s handwriting when he was in a hurry, and it made most doctors look like they knew calligraphy.

While Zander headed to the front of the store, I slipped into the break room to refill my water bottle. I also grabbed a granola bar from the staff snack bin.

Unlike my last job, which used to charge us a monthly fee for coffee, whether we drank it or not, the system here was honorary. Nate and Dev provided coffee and tea, and the staff brought snacks in to keep the bin stocked for everyone to share.It was nice to be treated like adults and not be nickel and dimed to death.

Once I was done with my snack, I went back out to my workstation to find something to do until it was time to close up. Being busy helped pass the time, and after two dead shifts, I was mentally and physically exhausted.

My phone pinged in my pocket. I hadn’t bothered to silence it because of how dead it was. Nate didn’t care if we used our phones when it was quiet, especially in the back of the shop where no one could see us.

I pulled my phone free and checked my texts.

Dean: change of plans tonight

Luka: ?

I’d spoken to Dean yesterday, and we made plans to go to Glenn’s tonight with a few of the guys. He and Elle were on another break, so this was the first time in weeks that I didn’t have to worry about getting left out.

Dean: elle and me got back together

I stifled a groan.

I didn’t understand their relationship. I hated drama and fighting, and when someone broke up with me, that was it. They didn’t get another chance. The same as how I’d never even think of trying to get back together with someone after breaking up with them.

Dean wasn’t like me. He thrived off drama, and every relationship he’d had in our eight years of friendship had been exactly like this. It was exhausting just to be adjacent to it. I couldn’t imagine actually living it.

Luka: that’s great

Luka: what are the new plans?

Dean: we’re going to phoenix at ten

I leaned against my workstation, my brain doing that weird record scratch thing again.

Pheonix was one of two gay clubs in the area. It was known for its drink specials and theme nights, unlike Chimera, the other club that was better known for its back rooms and loose rules when it came to public nudity.

Luka: you know that’s a gay club right?

Dean: yeah

Dean: obviously not my thing but there’s some drag show Elle and her friends want to see tonight

Dean: Scott said there’s always a shit ton of hot women at the club so at least there will be something for us to look at

This was one of the main reasons I didn’t go to Phoenix and stuck to Chimera when I was in the mood to pick up. Phoenix wasn’t really a queer space anymore, especially not on nights when they brought in acts.

I preferred Chimera, which no straight guy would ever go into unless he wasn’t as straight as he thought.

Luka: I can’t make it

Dean: why?

Luka: I’m still at work

Dean: we’re not meeting until ten. you have lots of time

Luka: I’m not in the mood to go to a club

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