“We want to spend time in the morning to help with the free dinners,” Brogan said. He had discussed this with Archie, and he was all for it.
“Oh wow! That’s great. We need some help wrapping presents for the kids,” Andrew said.
“When do you need us?”
“Tomorrow at six. We’ll be there,” Archie said.
Brogan left school just after noon, the halls already thinning out with the early dismissal. He’d tossed his bag in the backseat and thought about texting Archie but didn’t. Archie had had a full day—or so Brogan assumed—and Brogan didn’t want to bug him. Still, he wished they could’ve ducked out together. Half days felt like stolen time, and he didn’t want to spend them alone.
So, he ended up at Pints ‘n Pool, the local dive with sticky floors, neon beer signs, and a jukebox that only played classic rock and sad country ballads. The place smelled of fried food and old wood, and the bartender knew how to pour a beer without asking too many questions. James, another teacher from the science department, was already there, waving him over to a booth near the bar.
They ordered two drafts and a basket of fries, the kind that came out extra crispy and way too salty. Brogan liked James—he was sharp, funny, and didn’t take teaching too seriously, which made him easy to talk to.
“So,” James said, popping a fry into his mouth, “you know any places to hang out? Like, gay-friendly spots? Foggy Basin’s not exactly bursting with options.”
Brogan leaned back, sipping his beer. “There’s a place out of town, about forty minutes east. It’s low-key, kind of tucked away, but they’ve got live music and nobody gives you weird looks. Archie and I went a few times last year.”
James raised an eyebrow. “You and Archie, huh? That’s cool. You guys seem solid.”
Brogan smiled, but before he could answer, the door creaked open and in walked Archie—alone. Brogan blinked, surprised. Archie rarely showed up at bars unannounced, especially not this one.
Archie spotted him instantly and walked straight over, his expression unreadable but his presence grounding. He stopped beside Brogan, and Brogan stood up without thinking, wrapping his arms around him in a hug that felt like a breath of fresh air.
“Hey,” Brogan said, pulling back. “This is James—he teaches bio.”
Archie nodded, offering a polite smile. “Nice to meet you.”
James grinned. “You too. Brogan was just telling me about an out-of-town spot. Sounds like you’ve got good taste.”
Archie slid onto the stool beside Brogan and flagged the bartender for a beer. “I had a half day too,” he said, shaking his head. “Totally forgot until I was halfway through my second class.”
Brogan laughed, still a little stunned. “You just showed up here?”
“Figured I’d find you since you weren’t home,” Archie said, nudging his shoulder. “Guess I got lucky.”
The day had started off quiet, maybe even a little lonely, but now with Archie beside him and fries on the table, it felt like it had turned into something worth remembering.
“So, James, if you’re looking for a gay guy, Rafael could hook you up with gay parties too. He used to go to them until he and Andrew got together.”
“Sounds good. I’m interested.”
Brogan added, “Archie and I can go with you to the club one night.”
“That’s great. I got to meet my sister for dinner. Nice talking to you and meeting you, Archie.”
They said their goodbyes to James, and Archie and Brogan didn’t move from where they sat side by side.
“I can’t believe you were in here with a guy,” Archie said.
“I can’t believe you showed up here.” Brogan laughed.
“I stopped at home and you weren’t there, so I checked Blue Star Diner first, and you weren’t there, so then I came here to have a beer.”
“I see. So, you stopped looking for me and came in here alone?” Brogan asked. Brogan leaned back in his chair, watching Archie’s jaw tighten.
“Yes, I guess so. But you came here with another guy,” Archie said, his tone sharper than usual.
Brogan raised a brow, amused more than annoyed. “Not really. He was already here. He saw me and waved me over to his table.” He shrugged, though inside he was already bracing for Archie’s reaction.
