Graveyard Shift

by M.L. Rio

“I know it’s not your dream job, but you can pull a pint,” Theo told him. “You can learn to mix a drink. Shit, I bet Noah would let you do the mushrooms if you really need some fungus to get fired up about.” “And live where? Last time I checked, not a lot of bartenders were making enough to make rent around here.” “I’ve got a spare room. It’s not much, but it’s better than this.” “You can’t be serious.” “Like a heart attack, Tuck.” He couldn’t remember the last time Theo had called him Tuck—not Friar, not Churchmouse, just Tuck. They stared at each other, disheveled and exhausted, each clutching their coffee in quiet desperation. It hadn’t occurred to Tuck until just then that, despite his bustling bar, despite his animal magnetism, despite being such an obvious extrovert, maybe Theo kept coming back to the Anchorite because he was, in some bewildering way, lonely. Tuck cleared his throat.

Besties in the making <33