Beside Mark sat Connor, who looked tired. Connor worked in IT and had a permanent frown. He said it was from dealing with idiots who barely knew how to turn a computer on. Connor glanced at Allen’s drink. “Chai,” he said. “Still twelve.”
“It tastes good,” Allen told him.
Connor shrugged. “If you say so.”
They talked for a bit about nothing. Work complaints. A new café opening down the road. Jamie’s boss being an idiot. Mark’s car making a noise he couldn’t place. Connor having to explain to someone that turning it off and on wasn’t the same as fixing the problem.
Allen laughed at the right moments, enjoying their company. Mark’s phone lit up on the table, and he checked it and smiled.
Connor noticed. “Laura?”
Mark’s smile softened. “Yeah. She’s sending me photos of the dog because apparently he’s ‘missing me.’”
Jamie rolled his eyes. “He’s a dog.”
“He’s a dramatic dog,” Mark said.
Allen watched them without meaning to. The easy way Mark talked about it. The way it didn’t feel like a big deal because it wasn’t. It was just his life.
Jamie leaned back in his chair. “Megan’s got me doing that stupid couples challenge thing,” he said. “You know the one? Where you answer questions about each other and then compare them.”
Connor made a face. “Why would you agree to that?”
“Because I love her and because if I say no, she’ll do that thing where she gets quiet and then I’m the bad guy.”
Mark laughed. “You are the bad guy.”
Jamie pointed at him. “See? Exactly.”
Connor checked his own phone and typed a quick message. Allen didn’t need to ask who it was. Connor had been seeingsomeone for months. A woman from his office. He didn’t talk about feelings much, but he’d started leaving early on Fridays.
Allen kept his hands around his cup. The warmth was gone now, but he held it anyway because he needed something to do with his hands.
Jamie noticed first. “Are you alright?” Jamie asked.
Allen forced a small smile. “Yeah.”
“No,” Jamie said. “That wasn’t a yes. That was a dodge.”
Connor looked up, eyes narrowing. Mark’s smile faded as he focused on Allen. Allen let out a breath. He didn’t want to make the night about him. He never did. But he also didn’t want to sit there feeling like a spare part while they talked about their girlfriends and weekend plans.
“It’s nothing,” Allen said. Then, because they were watching him and not letting it go, he added, “Just… same old.”
Mark leaned forward a little. “Same old what?”
Allen shrugged. “Being single. Watching all of you pair off and make it look easy.”
Jamie snorted. “It is not easy.”
“For you, maybe,” Allen muttered, and the words came out sharper than he meant. He softened his tone. “I don’t know. I’m tired of it.”
Connor’s gaze stayed on him. “Tired of what? Hookups?”
Allen hesitated, then nodded. He didn’t need to spell it out in detail. They knew. They’d seen him come out with them. They’d seen him try. They’d also seen him leave early.
“I keep thinking it’ll be different,” Allen said. “That maybe I’ll meet someone and it won’t be just for a night. But it always turns into that. And I’m not built for it. I’m not.”
Mark’s voice was gentle. “You don’t have to do that, Al.”
