Lorenzo and Mercer walked quietly for a few minutes after leaving the cafe, but soon Lorenzo spoke up.

“Hey…um,” He muttered, opening and closing his mouth as he pieced together his thoughts. “I didn’t know about you.. being gay.”

Mercer looked up surprised at his question. “You didn’t? I thought most people knew. Well except for your cousin since we just met, but it was pretty easy for her to tell right away too.”

“Wait so other people know,” Lorenzo looked confused. “Then how did I not? Or why didn’t you tell me?”

“It was on my resume and my socials that you follow,” Mercer laughed softly.

“Really…” Lorenzo was astonished and rubbed the back of his neck. “Shoot, I’m an idiot then. I guess I never paid that much attention. Well I mean I’m not on the media as much. I do have an account since I follow you but I don’t use it.”

“That’s alright, at least you know now,” Mercer smiled once more.

“But I feel like I should have known from the start,” He sighed.

“It’s fine, I promise,” Mercer bumped his shoulder on Lorenzo’s lightly.

“As long as you say so,” Lorenzo chuckled.

Silence fell between the two as they continue walking through the afternoon rush, back to work. Lorenzo replayed the lunch conversation and the one he just had with Mercer, over in his head. How could he had not known Mercer was gay? Hell he was still in the closet. His thoughts wandered to Mercer and his relationship and if they would never change to more. Though he got too lost in his thoughts and eventually realized they were at work again. Just as Lorenzo was about to run into the door, he caught himself. His body slightly tapped the door but before Mercer could notice, he played it off and pushed it open with his arm. Mercer, unaware of the accident that almost happened, smiled, thanked Lorenzo, and walked in. Lorenzo trailed behind and sighed in relief. The lobby was quiet, as most employees normally ate in their office’s or out. Mercer and Lorenzo headed back to their shared office quietly.

When they walked in, the two of them resided to their respective desks and sat down, both simultaneously sighing and looking at each other. When Mercer made eye contact with Lorenzo he laughed.

“I guess we’ve inherited the same work habits,” He smiled.

“That we have,” Lorenzo chuckled along with Mercer and couldn’t help but feel closer.

Mercer felt the same, as almost they were connected, though more than their work ethnics, right?

“Oh Mercer,” Lorenzo looked up again. “I got an email from my father that you are clearing my schedule for a few days in December, is that right?”

“Yes it is,” Mercer perked up. “Your father is holding a birthday party and also has an announcement to make. It will be held that Friday and for the days before that, you have to sort out things with him for that “announcement”.”

“Oh right, his birthday is soon,” He said partly to himself. “Were you able to sort out my schedule then?”

“Yes everything is already arranged, I also cleared some days after that weekend too, because your father said you might need it.”

Lorenzo who was now confused with both the announcement his father was going to make and why he needed more days off after three days and a weekend. For now he brushed it off and went back to work. “Thank you,” He mumbled.

Mercer noticed his confusion but decided not to bring it up and also went back to work.

The large clock on the wall slowly ticked by. As the afternoon progressed, work emails and daily tasks slowly winded down. When the clock hit 5 pm, the emails stopped and both Mercer and Lorenzo logged of their computers.

Lorenzo leaned back in his chair and cracked his knuckled. Though just as he opened his mouth to say something to Mercer; Liam, another worker and one of Lorenzo’s drinking buddies, walked in.

“Hey!” A wide smile plastered on Liam’s face. “Are you-,” He paused once he noticed Mercer. “Are you two doing anything after you leave? Some of us employees are going out drinking, at least the ones of age.”

“I’m not,” Lorenzo shrugged. “And I could go for a drink, but I don’t know about Mercer.

Him and Liam both looked at Mercer. Liam wiggled his eyebrows, silently begging Mercer to say yes and come with.

Mercer noticed and sighed with a smile. “Well I supposed I’m free…so I could join you if I wanted to,” He looked up.

Liam pumped his fists in the air with an even wider smile and grabbed Mercer’s wrists, lifting him from his chair. Mercer gasped and stumbled to his feet, quickly bracing himself on his desk.

Liam continued to usher Mercer to the door, so they could go drink. While being pushed, Mercer managed to grab his phone and wallet and walked with him. When they got to the door, Lorenzo followed and the two of them walked out into the lobby.

In the lobby there was a group of employees waiting by the door, seemingly to be waiting for Liam. When the three of them walked out, the group got ready and opened the door. Liam hustled to them.

“Got the whole crew, even convinced these two,” He grinned widely and pointed towards Mercer and Lorenzo.

Lorenzo looked at the group and nodded while Mercer waved nervously. Liam was sucked into the group of people as they emerged out of the building and to a nearby bar.

The bar they walked into was called Harley’s. It was rather large, bustling with people who just got off their nine to five. The group merged, splitting up into smaller groups, heading over to small tables or the main bar. Liam led Mercer and Lorenzo over to the main bar. He pulled out three bar stools and took the middle one, leaving Mercer and Lorenzo to sit on either side of him. The three settled down as Liam called over the bartender. A man, though looked very much like a woman, with cotton pink hair, walked over. There was a small name tag and a rainbow flag pin on his uniform. The name tag revealed the bartender’s name as Tristan. Tristan’s eyes immediately fell on Liam, but then looked to the other two. He pulled out three straws and cocked his hip.

“I’m Tristan, and I’ll be your bartender. What can I get you, Lovelies, tonight?” He smiled warmly.

Liam, who had been admiring Tristan the whole time, blushed at his smile. Mercer, who was looking at the menu, spoke up.

“Can I have a strawberry seltzer?” He looked up.

“Sure thing, cutie,” Tristan winked. “What about you, mister?” He pointed his pen at Lorenzo.

Lorenzo cleared his throat. “I’ll do a whiskey neat,” He said firmly.

Tristan nodded and turned to Liam with a flirty smirk on his face. “How about you?”

Liam’s face turned tomato red as he fumbled with his words. “I-I-I’ll have a um..uh..” His eyes flicked from Tristan, to the menu many times. His words stutter again, but he finally managed a blurt of words. “I’ll have a cocktail and your number!”

Tristan’s eyes widen, and a soft “oh” came from his mouth. Liam instantly covered his mouth. He hid his face in his hands. His face was now beyond tomato red. It was now a maroon shade. Despite having his face covered, his ears displayed every single shade his face was.

Tristan couldn’t help but giggle softly. He gently tapped Liam’s arm. “Can I get a name for that cocktail, handsome?”

“Liam,” Liam muttered, his forehead now resting on the table.

Tristan smiled softly before turning around and mixing their drinks on the counter behind the bar.

The three sit in silence, while Mercer and Lorenzo stare at Liam for quite awhile. They got lost in the music, sound of laughter and drinks clinking when Tristan turned around to set their drinks on the table. Mercer his seltzer, Lorenzo his whiskey, and Liam his cocktail. But Liam’s was a bit different. There was a small napkin under his drink. In the neatest handwriting, was a phone number and Tristan’s name along with a heart. Liam blushed again and very carefully slid the napkin in his pocket, trying to be discreet. Though Tristan, Mercer, and Lorenzo all noticed but didn’t say anything. The three of them laughed under their breaths and Tristan’s eyes locked with Mercer’s. Tristan gave him a small wink, making Mercer laugh even more. Without even trying, Tristan and Mercer formed a tight bond, but not like Tristan and Liam. Tristan and Liam had budding love meanwhile Tristan and Mercer had a deep friendship growing. The small group of Tristan, Liam, Mercer, and Lorenzo, was growing into a long-lasting friendship.

Mercer and Lorenzo slowly sip on their drinks while Liam blushed over Tristan. After their first round of drinks, everyone was deep in conversation and laughter. Liam was way into the alcohol than the other two. He was loud yet very entertaining, talking about his family drama and singles life. He was slowly falling for Tristan every time he came to serve drinks. Eventually Tristan stayed behind to be their sole bartender and got wrapped up in the group’s drunk conversations and loud laughs.

As the hours passes, people came and went through the bar. At around 10:45 pm, orders slowed and the bar closed. At 11 pm, the group was led out by Tristan, who stayed behind and closed down the bar. The night air was cold and brisk. When Tristan walked out they all followed.

“All set,” He smiled, going over to Liam and snaked his hand into the others pocket.

Over the curse of the night, Tristan and Liam had eventually gotten close. Now they were going home together to get to know each other even more.

“Lets go handsome,” Tristan smiled and tugged Liam away from the bar.

The walked away, leaving Mercer and Lorenzo alone. Both were not sober but not super drunk, but just to be safe they walked home. They walked side by side on the sidewalk. The streets were slowly emptying, as bars closed and people went home. Mercer was more intoxicated than Lorenzo and stumbled while giggling. Once the two made it to Mercer’s apartment, Lorenzo unlocked the door with a key given to him early on in the night. As the door was pushed open Lorenzo’s eyes landed on a small studio apartment, Mercer called home. It was decorated with warm colors and lights. The single view from the door overlooked the whole space, giving anyone full view without even moving. Lorenzo was amazed at how someone’s life could fit in a small home like Mercer’s. Hell he needed so many rooms just to sure his loneliness and it still wasn’t enough.

Mercer and Lorenzo walked in. Mercer headed straight for his bed and sat down, while taking his shoes off. On the other side of the room, Lorenzo took in the door frame of the open bedroom and watched him. “You gonna be okay?”

Mercer nodded and sighed. “Yeah, I just haven’t like that in a while.”

“I guess you are gonna have to get used to it, because I can see Liam and Tristan becoming a pair and wanting to hangout a lot,” Lorenzo smiled.

Mercer chuckled and smiled widely. “They hit it off tonight, I’m for both of them.”

Silence passed between them. Lorenzo shifted slightly and glared at the door.

“I better get going,” He said quietly.

“oh,” Mercer looked over at the clock on his wall. “Its getting pretty late. I don’t want to hold you up here. There isn’t very much to do here anyways.”

Lorenzo looks over his shoulder and waved. “Have a good weekend, Mercer.”

“Yeah you too,” He smiled. “See you on Monday,” He mumbled.

“Don’t get sick,” Lorenzo teased while opening the door.

“I won’t mom!” Mercer smiled warmly.

Mercer fell back on his bed as his front door closed and automatically locked. “That man,” He rested his arm over his eyes.

On the other side of the door, Lorenzo stood for a few seconds blushing before walking down the hall.

Outside the night was cool and the streetlights dimmed before turning off.