Demir nodded with a grin. “Don’t we all. Anyway, is now a good time to look through that accounting program, babe? It should be pretty easy to start with the system we had going for the club and adjust something that will work for you.”
“See?” I joked to Alex. “He really is addicted to finances.”
“Honey,” Alex joked back, “you should have seen him when they opened the club. It took a whole three years before bossy pants over here was able to go home at the end of the night without personally rebalancing the books.”
Demir held his hands in the air, chuckling. “I’ve learned my lesson. I’m only stepping in here when my assistance is specifically requested. Anyway, now that I’ve started taking Fridays off for myself, there’s no way in hell I’m letting that little treat go.”
I was glad Demir had followed my lead on that one, even if I sometimes felt sad when he took off Friday mornings, hitting the racquetball club and whatever else he wanted for the day. Whenever he got home with a load off his shoulders and a contented smile on his face, though, I remembered how great that day was for him.
After all, as he pointed out a few weeks ago, there would come a time when crying babies and fussy toddlers made it impossible to enjoy a quiet day alone. Might as well take advantage while we could.
“So what brings you around, Alex?” I asked.
“He just needs someone to tease,” Demir answered. “Ever since Marco shifted away from The Forty-Eight, his witticisms have wanted for an audience.”
“That’s true,” Alex answered, tapping his index answer against his chin. “But that’s not actually what brought me by. Did Demir mention how I’m hiring someone to help me at the bar on Tuesday nights?”
I nodded. With Marco’s departure, Demir had promoted Alex, making him more an official co-manager of the club and giving him full rein over hiring decisions. “90s night,” I said. “That’s my favorite DJ and crowd.”
“I know,” Alex replied. “Don’t think it’s escaped me that you and Alyssa are through every other week.”
Silence lingered in the air, and all three men stared at me. “What?” I asked, feeling like I was missing something. “You want Alyssa to bartend?”
“No, silly,” Alex laughed. “I thought maybe you would be interested.”
“Me?”
“I know,” Demir spoke up from his spot at the counter, leaning close to Marco. “That’s what I said at first. But Tuesdays are my quiet night at the club, too, so I’m usually around after I get the paperwork from the last weekend finished.”
“And you’re such a charmer!” Alex said warmly. “All the other regulars love you.”
“And I love them,” I said, chuckling as I thought of Thelma and Louise, the two drag queens who always ended up chatting with Alyssa and me, and of Bruce, the older man with the big silver beard who laughed hysterically at Alyssa’s jokes. “But that doesn’t mean I should work there, does it?”
Alex shrugged. “I certainly won’t be offended if you say no. But it’s nice money, and I was definitely charmed by the idea of you having a little spot in the club, especially as the dance crowd leaves and all of our old favorites return.” He twirled a finger through his hair, then shrugged again. “And of course, a little selfishly, I’d much rather have a cutie like you than some stranger hanging out with me all night.”
“Huh,” I said, my arms falling at my side. I never would have thought of working as a bartender before, but as I imagined it, the picture was pretty pleasing. And I couldn’t lie: even though I shied away from the attention Demir and Marco tended to draw, I was still a little jealous of the way Alex seemed to know so many different gay men in the community, leading so many different kinds of lives.
“You know,” I said. “Maybe I would want to do that. I’ve got my workflow with the tiles all figured out, and once we’re done setting up here, I’ll have some free time on my hands.”
“Oh wow!” Marco said, grinning from ear to ear. “I love to think of you carving out your own little corner of The Forty-Eight.”
“It will be nice for other gay trans men,” I said with a nod. “It really helps to make a place safe and accessible to include trans people on the staff.”
I had been loving both of the new social worlds where I found myself. With Alyssa’s friends, people of many different experiences came together, and I didn’t even really think about my own gender. Over at the Forty-Eight, I was mainly surrounded by cis gay men. I knew many of them wouldn’t even realize I was transgender, but I also knew that word had probably gotten around, and I was happily surprised that no one had said anything nasty to me or caused me any problems.
Probably falling in love with the hot owners didn’t hurt, but as Alex made me the offer, I realized I wasn’t really concerned about people learning I was trans there any longer. I felt safe and comfortable with my friends, and if anything, me being out and proud was good for the space and for any other trans people who came there.
“I’d be happy to have you there,” Demir said. “Anytime you or Marco are in the club, I’m in a good mood.”
“It doesn’t count as our thing, though,” I joked with a wink. “Just maybe a quarter of a thing.”
“Tuesday nights,” Demir joked back. “Cocktails and a quarter of a thing. I’ll take it.”
“Can I think about it for a few days?” I asked.
“Of course,” Alex agreed. “You can even give it a test run for a few weeks and see how you like it.” He placed his hand beside his mouth, then stage whispered. “I’m supposed to do a lot of these things by the book, but the boss man is so goo-goo gaga over his boyfriends, I’m sure he won’t notice.”
“What’s that?” Demir asked, gazing between Marco and me with wide eyes.
We all laughed, and Marco and Demir turned to the books. I walked Alex through the new arrivals at the store, then showed him my studio. We chatted a bit more about the job before he took off. Through the window, I could see Marco and Demir, huddled over the desk while Demir brushed his hand down Marco’s back, soothing him.
I hummed to myself, satisfied just to look at them. Turning back to the work desk, I set my attention on the tiles I was in the middle of painting. As my business grew, I had more and more opportunities to make unique work. The current piece was bright, abstract flashes of silver and blue, with sparkling bits of glass worked in for highlights, and I called itInfinite Disco Balls.
Taking a seat at the desk, I turned on the little radio I kept at hand and returned to my work.
We were building our future, after all. And impossible as it seemed, there was only more happiness ahead.
