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It was a bit past noon on a Friday. Dennis stood behind the bar, cleaning glassware. Charlie, Frank, and Dee were on the stools to his left, talking/arguing about something he couldn’t care less about. Mac was on a stool to his right, playing some dumb mobile game he got himself addicted to. Of course, barely any customers were there. There were two old men drinking beer in a booth and a random crackhead passed out in the booth behind them. Dennis was very used to the random crackheads by now. They may look dead, but they almost always find their way out of the bar by closing (or whenever the gang chooses to leave). Almost. Nothing to indicate Dennis’ life was about to take a turn for the worse in every way.
The door opened. A man stepped in. Usually, the regulars would grumble out their order and sit at their spot, but no grumble came. Dennis looked up, and immediately clocked a few things about the man. One, he was younger. Around his age. It’s been a long time since they had a customer younger than 50. Two, he was very good-looking. Dennis tried to push that one down. Three, he looked lost.
“Um, can I help you?” Dennis asked. The man looked at him, seemingly happy to be acknowledged rather than having to get someone’s attention. Mac looked up at Dennis, then whipped his head around to look at the man. Dennis really didn’t care that Mac continued to look at him.
“Oh, hi! Yeah, sorry, um, I was- I was actually looking for the Rainbow? I’m new around here, and I think I got lost,” the man explained. Dennis also really didn’t care that he could see Mac inhale when the man said the name of the bar.
“The Rainbow? That’s a few blocks over-“ Dennis was interrupted.
“It’s a few blocks down this way, then you have to cross this street,” Mac took over, crudely drawing a map in the air. The man made a look that clearly showed he didn’t understand (Dennis couldn’t blame him). “If- If you didn’t get that, I could walk you over there! I’ve been there a few times!” Dennis couldn’t see Mac’s face but imagined he had that stupid smug look on his face, bragging how many times he’s been to the bar.
“No, it’s fine! Wouldn’t want to take you from your beer, haha,” the man quickly said. Dennis realized there was nothing to indicate Mac (or Dee or Charlie or Frank) was an employee.
“Oh, this beer? Nah, it’s empty, really!” Mac said, turning his beer upside down. The few drops that fell out showed it was not empty, but Mac either didn’t notice or didn’t care. Either way, he wasn’t going to clean it. Dennis’ couldn’t-care-lessness was beginning to wear thin. Mac stood up. “C’mon, I could show you where other bars are along the way!”
“Well, if you insist,” the man conceded. Mac clapped his hand on the man’s shoulder and led him to the door. He flashed Dennis an excited smile before walking out. Dennis watched through the glass windows as a new conversation started between the men.
With that conversation gone, Dennis’ ears tuned to the only other one in the bar.
“Well we’ll just ask Mac! Hey, Mac! Oh shit, where’d he go?” Charlie asked. Dennis looked back to face the rest of the gang.
“Did- Did you not hear any of that?” Dennis.
“Any of what? Actually wait- Dennis we need your opinion. If you put a cow in space-“
“I really don’t care,” Dennis said, turning around and dismissing them.
Of course, no one in the gang could be dismissed.
“Woah, what’s got your panties in a bunch?” Dee asked.
“Don’t- Nothing! I’m fine.”
Dee smirked. “Wherever Mac went got you all upset.”
“No! I don’t give a shit about where Mac went!”
“So you know where he went.”
“Of course I know where he went! We just had an entire conversation that you imbeciles didn’t hear!”
“Where’d he go?”
“Doesn’t matter! I don’t care! Charlie, what was it about the cow?”
Before Charlie could start, Dee continued. “Ooooh, did he go to the Rainbow? You always get upset when he does.”
“No- No I don’t! And who cares where he went? Charlie! Cow!”
Dee’s eyes widened as she looked at the door. “Wait- was there another person here?” She gasped. “Did he go to the Rainbow with another guy?”
First, Dennis was impressed with how Dee took apart the situation. Clever girl. Second, he had to figure out how to respond in the least incriminating way possible. “Yeah, he did, and he made a mess of the bar before going!” Dennis said, making a show of wiping the spilled beer and throwing the bottle away.
Frank cut in. “You’re telling me he’s skipping work to hang out with- with the gays?! What do I pay him for?!”
Dennis was not going to dwell on whatever Frank almost said. “You- You barely pay us, Frank. And, to be fair, none of you guys are working. I’m the only one being productive.”
“Not true! I washed a few glasses yesterday!” Dee said.
“Also, I fixed, like, half the toilets dude!” Charlie exclaimed.
Dennis was pretty sure half the toilets weren’t broken. Not in good condition, sure, but he made a note to check on whatever Charlie did. Actually, that would be a great way to get out of the conversation.
“Yeah, Charlie? Why don’t you show me what you did?”
“Uh, sure dude, but be careful. Last time I was in there I passed out for a few hours. I must’ve accidentally upset a goblin or something. I really try to be nice to them-“
“Yeah, yeah, sure Charlie. Just show me.”
Dee caught on. “Wait, Mac did go to the Rainbow with another guy!”
Dennis rolled his eyes in the most nonchalant way he could as he walked towards the bathroom. “Uh, yeah Dee, he did. I already said he did. Don’t you remember? Or is your tiny birdbrain imploding?”
Charlie yelled a “Ha!” behind him as he walked towards Dennis. Dennis wasn’t looking forward into walking into whatever gas bomb Charlie made, but walking into a toxic gas bomb felt better than talking about whatever that was with Mac.
-
Mac returned to Paddy’s about half an hour before closing. He was sweaty and covered in glitter. Reminiscent of the time he barged in when Charlie nearly tortured a little person Hostel-style. “Hey guys, I’m back!” he said with a big smile.
The gang had moved around the bar a bit. Charlie was laying on a table staring at the ground. He had a few beer bottles scattered around him. He had tried to balance them because of some bet he had with Frank. Frank was on his phone sitting in a chair next to the table. Dennis hadn’t been paying attention. Dee was trying on different filters from some app (When she said “All of these filters look ugly!” Dennis was proud of himself for showing restraint from the obvious bait. Couldn’t become predictable). Dennis switched between his phone and staring at something and dissociating.
“Hey Mac! How was the Rainbow?” Dee asked. Dennis knew she didn’t give a shit and was only rubbing it in.
“It was good! They played some good music and the guy- his name is Dan- he’s really cool! He’s new- he’s from Texas! He’s even ridden a horse!”
That got Charlie to look up; a bottle fell from his back to the floor. “He’s ridden a horse? He’s lying! Horses don’t exist!”
“Horses don’t exist? What are ya talking about Charlie?” Frank asked.
“Horses! They don’t exist, much like platypi. It’s believed settlers saw other animals and got confused, creating these myths.”
Dennis wasn’t sure where to start unpacking that. The fact that both of those animals do, in fact, exist; the fact that somehow Charlie’s vocabulary rose a few grade levels; or wherever he learned that.
Dee cut in. “Wait, you believe in goblins and monsters, but horses don’t exist?”
Charlie rolled his eyes, as if it was obvious. “I’ve seen goblins and monsters, but I’ve never seen a horse. Have you guys?”
“I’ve seen horses,” Frank said. “Used to run a horse meat operation a few decades ago,” he said, getting a thousand-yard stare.
Everyone in the gang quickly changed the subject.
“Where’d Dan go? Did he abandon you?” Dee asked.
“No! He was cool! He gave me his number and, uh, he wanted to meet again,” Mac said, voice getting softer by the end.
“Dan and Mac, sitting in a tree! K-I-P-M-I-A-G-“
“I think he got it, Charlie,” Dennis cut him off. “Uh, Mac and I should get going.”
“Why? You two have a date?” Dee asked with a smirk. Dennis wondered how long it would take to strangle her. He glared daggers at her.
“There’s a new restaurant we’ve been wanting to get takeout from, and they close soon. So, if it’s ok with you, we would like to get going,” Dennis said, keeping his voice as low and level as possible. He enjoyed saying ‘we’. He must’ve been at least a little intimidating, as Dee looked back with wide eyes.
“I don’t care. Go. Eat your greasy takeout,” she said. Dennis nodded, staring at her, before turning around and heading for the door. Mac followed.
-
In the car, Mac would not shut up about Dan. Dennis wondered how they were able to exchange life stories in a few hours. They got their drive-thru food (which seemed mediocre from the start) and got back to their apartment.
“Mac, he sounds great, but I have a headache,” Dennis said. He didn’t have a headache, but he was sure one was about to start any second.
“A headache? Are you ok? Are you sick?”
As much fun as it would be to manipulate Mac right now, Dennis didn’t have it in him. “Yeah- I’m fine. Just need peace and quiet,” Dennis said, emphasizing the ‘t’ in ‘quiet’.
“Oh, ok.”
They sat next to each other on the couch, not talking. They watched some old action movie with bad special effects and ate their food (which actually tasted a tad better than it looked). Dennis announced he was going to bed.
“Hey, Den?”
“Yeah?”
“Are- Are you ok dude? Like, you seem off.”
“I’m not off. Just the headache.”
That night, Dennis tossed and turned more than usual. As if he had to physically defend himself from his thoughts. He wasn’t even sure what he was upset about. Mac found someone he likes. So what? Good for him. Why would Dennis give a shit?
“Yeah.” Dennis tried to decide on. “Good for him.”
-
For the next few weeks, Dennis tried to ignore it. “It” was many things. How often Mac talked about Dan. How often Mac was with Dan. How Dennis felt some stabbing pain when he couldn’t ignore it. It was because he couldn’t control Mac anymore, right? That’s why he felt weird. Because now Mac talked about this guy and spent time with him, and Dennis couldn’t reach him.
Yeah. Dennis was upset because he wasn’t able to control Mac. That’s why.
Mac was in their apartment less and less. The first time Mac couldn’t make movie night, Dennis spent the time throwing things and yelling into a pillow. After the fifth or sixth time, he sat and watched it alone. Mac was spending nights with Dan. Dennis liked to pretend they were fighting all the time. Just arguing and arguing about how much they hated each other. That wouldn’t explain why Mac spent the night, or why he kept going back, but again, Dennis tried to ignore it.
He ignored it until he forcibly couldn’t.
It had been a few months since Dan first walked into the bar. Mac had brought him around a few times. Dee, Charlie, and Frank were their typical selves. Nice, but they easily scared Dan. Dennis tried to be as nice as he had to for plausible deniability, but he made his stance clear.
Once, Mac had pulled him aside to talk to him. “Can you please try to be nice to him? I don’t get why you hate him. I’m happy with him. Just- be nice to him.” “You’re happy with him.” Dennis had thought, “That’s why I hate him.”
Overall, Dennis didn’t outright hate him, but he wasn’t playing nice.
It happened one day after work. Dennis was on the couch, channel surfing. Mac was in the kitchen. He had been nearly avoiding Dennis all day. When they had gotten to their apartment Mac didn’t want to be in the same room as Dennis. Dennis assumed there was a fight between him and Dan and didn’t want to be a part of it, so he let Mac be. That was, until Mac spoke.
“Hey, Den, can we talk?”
The words froze Dennis. Since when does Mac get serious? Maybe this wasn’t serious. Maybe it was something stupid. Yeah, it was probably stupid and barely worth Dennis’ time.
“Sure.”
“Um, well, Dan asked if I wanted to move in.”
Dennis couldn’t move. He could barely talk. Time must’ve stopped. “And you said….?”
“I- I said yes.”
Dennis couldn’t process the information. Why would Mac move? He had all his stuff here. Dennis was here. They lived together. They have for decades. It’s who they were.
“Why?” was all Dennis could ask.
Mac blinked at him. “Dan and I- We’re dating. Couples usually live together.”
“No, they don’t.”
“They do when it’s serious.”
“Is it serious?”
Mac seemed to get agitated. “Yes, it’s serious! He said I can start staying tomorrow. I’ll come back to get my things.”
“You’re taking your things?”
“Dennis! I’m moving out! All of my things will be gone!”
“You can’t just move out!” Dennis stood up and faced Mac.
“Why not? I’m a grown man!”
“You just can’t!”
“Dennis! I can and I am!”
“No!”
“Why?!”
“Because- Because!”
“Because?”
“Because- You- We-“
“We? We are not a couple, Dennis!”
Dennis felt something in him shatter. He had somewhat of an idea of what he looked like. Pale, probably shaking. Eyes of anger. Dee had looked intimidated all those weeks ago. Mac didn’t.
“We are not a couple. Dan and I are. I’m living with him,” Mac said, a bit quieter and softer. Before Dennis could respond, Mac went to his bedroom and closed the door.
Dennis stood there. Then his legs felt numb so he sat down. He wasn’t registering whatever was on the tv. He was shaking. He felt cold. Mac was moving out? It had never occurred to him this could happen. He lived with Mac. Mac lived with him. They lived together.
He looked around the apartment. His vision was blurry, but he managed. He tried to find where Mac stopped and Dennis began. Who had bought the singing fish wall thing? He couldn’t remember. Will Mac take it? Did Mac remember who bought it? They had a full box of Mac’s favorite cereal (that Dennis didn’t eat, considering it was nearly solely sugar). Will that go missing? Or will Dennis have to throw it away?
Will Dennis throw it away?
Dennis was not crying. He was not. Tears brimmed his eyes, but he’d be damned if he let them fall.
In a daze, he turned off the tv and turned off the lights. He went to his room and took a shower that largely consisted of standing under scalding water. He put on pajamas and laid in bed. He never fell asleep.
-
The next day, the rest of the gang was normal (save for Mac, still avoiding him). Of course they were. They weren’t having half of them ripped apart. Whenever someone talked to him, Dennis groaned. At some point the gang became their own ecosystem and left him alone for the day. That was, until Dee broke off to talk to him.
“Hey. You look suicidal.”
Dennis glared at her again. She didn’t look scared. Worried, maybe?
“Are you sick? You look bad.”
He kept glaring. He hadn’t been able to think straight since the fight.
Dee softened somewhat. “If there is something bad happening, talk to me. I’m your twin. I might help. If it’s something ridiculous-“ she sighed, “I’ll try,” she ended. She looked at Dennis for a second, then walked away.
-
The drive to and from Paddy’s was quiet. Awkward was a word, but Dennis wasn’t sure if he would use it. There was a silence neither man was eager to break. Neither expected the other to.
-
Mac left for good later that night. He said he would come and go in the following days to get his stuff.
An hour after Mac left, Dennis opened the phone app.
“I’m coming over. Now. You better have strong alcohol.”
“What? Dennis, I can’t-“
“You said you would help.”
“I said I would try, asshole! You can’t just-“
Dennis lowered his voice. “Listen, Dee. Either I go to your apartment and drink your alcohol, or I kill myself. Tonight. So if you-“
“Fine! Come over! I only have cheap shit, so you better not-“
Dennis hung up.
-
When Dennis knocked on Dee’s door, he knew he looked like shit. Maybe at some point a few tears escaped. He hadn’t slept.
“Wow,” was all she said. Dennis pushed past her and collapsed face down on her couch. “So, uh….”
Dennis mumbled something.
“What?”
Dennis moved his head to the side. “Mac moved out.”
“Oh.”
Dennis moved his face back down.
“Well, don’t suffocate yourself on my couch. Is he already moved out?”
“He’s not staying nights. He’s moving his stuff out during the day.”
“Is he moving in with Dan?”
Dennis stayed silent, which was an answer.
“Well, isn’t this a good thing? Like you always complain about him and call him annoying-“
“That doesn’t mean he can move out!”
“Dennis, he is a grown man-“
“That’s what he said! That doesn’t mean anything!”
Dee went to the counter and poured some of her cheap alcohol for herself.
“Alright, why are you so upset?”
Dennis looked at her wide-eyed. “Because Mac’s moving out, you bitch! Haven’t you heard a goddamn word-“
“But why is this upsetting to you?”
“Well- Because- We’ve lived together for decades!”
Dee nodded, making Dennis elaborate.
“I just- I didn’t think this could happen.”
“Did you think you and Mac would live together for the rest of your lives?”
“Yes! Well, no- I don’t know! I didn’t think about it. I just assumed- yeah, kinda,” Dennis said, focusing his gaze on nothing.
Dee sighed and poured another glass for herself, this time offering one to Dennis. He accepted. Upon tasting it, he really did want to comment on the quality but stopped himself.
“You know you only have one thing you could do to try and stop him,” Dee said. Dennis looked at her. “Tell him how you feel.”
Dennis shook his head and took a big drink. “Nah, I already gave him a piece of my mind when he told me he was moving out. Didn’t stop anything.”
“I’m assuming you yelled at him?”
“No! Well- a little.”
“I mean tell him why you’re really upset.” Dennis looked at her for clarification. He gestured for a refill, which she gave. “You’re not mad he’s moving out,” Dee said. Before Dennis could respond, “You’re jealous.”
Dennis took a second to think. “Wh- Jealous? Of Mac? Why would I be-“
“Not of Mac! Of Dan!”
Dennis scoffed. “I have zero reason to be jealous of Dan-“
“He has Mac’s attention! He has Mac’s presence!”
“I don’t care about-“
“You’re in love with Mac!” Dee yelled. “Oh my god, how have you not realized! You’ve lived with him for two decades! The instant he leaves, you’re a mess! You need him!”
Dennis stood up, taking a second to steady himself from the sudden movement and alcohol. “I am not- No! I am not in love with Mac! How could you- You know what-“
“Dennis! You are in love with him, and have been for years! It’s insanely obvious to-“
“I am not, you bitch! You- You bird! You have no idea what you’re talking about!”
“Fine,” Dee said, conceding, “Watch as he takes all his stuff from your apartment. You have a chance to stop him.”
Dennis glared at her. He walked up to her. She didn’t flinch in the slightest. She returned the glare. Dennis grabbed the open bottle of alcohol and drank straight from the bottle, not breaking eye contact. He put it down, making a show of wiping his mouth with his sleeve. He left her apartment.
-
When Dennis got to the empty apartment, he couldn’t help but scoff at the idea. In love with Mac. Mac. The man Dennis couldn’t stand. Who always got on his nerves. No, he wasn’t jealous of Dan. He hated Dan, but he wasn’t jealous. He was mad he couldn’t control Mac anymore. He actually didn’t care Mac was leaving. He was happy. Less of a distraction in his life. He looked at the wall.
Mac took the singing fish wall thing. Dennis felt an ache in his chest.
He was in love with Mac.
Shit.
-
When Mac came by late to get more things, Dennis stayed in his room with the door closed. Listened to footsteps and things clattering. Trying to ignore the nausea and ache and whatever else he felt.
-
He didn’t show up to Paddy’s the next day.
Dee called.
“Hey, uh, making sure you haven’t offed yourself-“
“I’m in love with Mac,” Dennis said in a grave voice.
“Oh, uh, yeah, you are. Are you going to tell-“
Dennis hung up.
-
When Mac came by later, Dennis was in his room. He listened to the sounds of movement. When Mac was in his own room, Dennis forced himself out of his room. He stood in the middle of the front room. When Mac stepped out holding a bag of his things, he looked surprised Dennis was out, but covered it quickly. He looked at the ground as he walked closer.
“Stay,” Dennis croaked out. Mac stopped just for a second before he kept moving. Dennis reached out and grabbed Mac’s arm. “Stay,” he repeated.
Mac looked at Dennis. “No. I told you-“
“I need you to stay.”
“What? Dennis- you’re a grown man! You don’t need-“
Dennis tightened his grip. “I need you to stay.”
“Why?”
“I just- I-“ suddenly Dennis couldn’t speak. Mac looked at him, then jerked his arm away and kept walking to the door. “I need you!” he said when Mac reached the doorway. Mac stopped.
“No, you don’t.”
“I love you!” Dennis didn’t let himself think about it. Just get the words out. Just let Mac know.
Mac turned around to face Dennis. Oh, he looked mad. Well, there were several emotions on his face, but they were all negative. “Why are you telling me that?”
Dennis felt his heart sink. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.
“Wh- What?”
Mac stepped back into the room, closing the door. He put his bag on a table, then stepped closer to Dennis. “Is this your way of trying to get me to stay?”
“Wh-“
“Dennis- I- I loved you for years! I gave you years to say something, and when you didn’t, I found someone else! Now I have a guy that loves me and tells me! And you wait until I found someone and am happy to tell me! What am I supposed to do? Drop everything for you? I’m not. Dennis, I’m gone.”
Then he left.
-
Dennis stood in place for an hour, if not more. He felt numb. No, he felt something. A lot of things. Scared was the forefront. He pulled out his phone and called.
“What? I can’t-“
“I’m coming by. You better still have alcohol.”
“You- Yeah, I had to get more after you tainted my other bottle!”
Dennis hung up.
-
He knocked on Dee’s door with more force than necessary. As soon as she opened the door she could tell something had happened. Again, Dennis pushed past her and collapsed on the couch.
“You told him?”
He stayed silent.
“He still left.”
Dennis stood up. He was feeling a lot and needed to get it out. “I did what you said! I did it and he left! You said he wouldn’t!”
“I didn’t say he wouldn’t! I said he might not-“
“Semantics, you bitch!”
“Don’t call me- Dennis! You aren’t mad at me!”
“Yes, I am! He’s gone!” Dennis was aware of his vision blurring and his cheeks wet.
“Calm down! Sit down! We will talk about this!” Dee said, getting alcohol out. She offered some, which Dennis declined. She poured herself a cup. Dennis sat on the couch, putting his head in his hands.
“What the hell am I supposed to do now?” he mumbled.
“Come back to work? Charlie misses you. Also Charlie and Frank keep getting into stupid arguments and they won’t listen to me.”
There was someone she didn’t mention. They both caught it.
Dee sighed. “Yes, Mac is there, but not a lot. Charlie misses him too. When Mac is there, I can tell he’s hurting. It’s like our whole group is off balance.”
“Not my fault.”
“Didn’t say it was.”
Dennis gestured towards the bottle. Dee poured him a cup, which he drank. “How can I…” get him back went unsaid.
“I don’t think you can right now. You confessed. That’s all you can do. Now just wait. Who knows? Maybe they’ll break up soon.” Dee regretted saying that as soon as Dennis looked at her. “No. No! I am not going to help break them up!”
Dennis groaned, then got another drink. “Just- keep me in the loop, will you?”
“Wh- Dennis, I’m not going to be your messenger girl! If you want to see what’s happening then come to work!”
Dennis groaned again.
-
He didn’t go to work the rest of the week. Dee made him text her every day so she knew he didn’t off himself (‘I could easily manipulate you into thinking I’m dead or alive at any time’ ‘Don’t give a shit’).
He did go to Paddy’s on Monday. He got there early, so only Dee was there. She looked surprised when he walked in, then hid it.
“Well, well, well-“
“Can it.”
“Oh, I should let you know, Charlie and Frank are being stupid again. If they ask if you want to do a trust exercise, say no.”
Dennis paused for a moment. “Okay.”
Charlie damn near tackled Dennis when he saw him. “You’re back! You’re back! Hey, I need you to settle something-“
Dennis tuned out most of the day. Mac wasn’t there. While Dennis was thankful for that, he did wonder how it was with two people missing.
Mac showed up in the afternoon. With Dan in tow.
It hit Dennis like a wall of sickness. Seeing them with their arms around each other. Happy.
“Guys! You’re never gonna believe-“ Mac froze when he saw Dennis. Dennis did his hardest to keep his focus on the glass in front of him. “Oh, well, we can come back-“
“Don’t leave on my behalf,” Dennis forced out.
The most they’ve talked in a week.
“Oh, ok, um-“
Dennis tuned the rest out.
-
Dennis didn’t go to Paddy’s for three weeks.
He spent the first week bouncing between Dee and his own apartment (because, for some reason, Dee was good to talk to. He couldn’t say the same about Charlie and Frank), and the last two only at his apartment.
His apartment was empty. Mac had taken his cereal.
Dee texted him daily. Mostly quick things. As much as Dennis pretended it was a bother, he knew it was probably one of the few things keeping him sane. She refused to tell him what was happening in the bar, telling him to come and see for himself.
After three weeks the text came.
“I think they broke up”
“Pretty sure Mac’s living with Charlie and Frank now”
Dennis stared at the texts. They broke up? He looked at the empty spaces in his apartment. Why the hell did Mac not come back? Mac would rather live with Charlie and Frank than him?
Dennis texted back. “How long”
“IDK I don’t think I’m supposed to know. They looked at me and stopped talking about it. They were really obvious about it. Remind me to play poker with them”
Dennis wanted answers.
He waited until later that night. He waited until it was late enough that they would likely be home. As much as he hated being in Charlie and Frank’s apartment due to the general state of decay, this was necessary.
He knocked on the door. Hard.
“I told you, dude! That wasn’t-“ Charlie stopped when he saw Dennis. “Hey dude! Come in!” he said, apparently unaware of the tension.
Mac was sitting on the couch with Frank, talking about something. He froze when he saw Dennis.
“Mac.”
“Dennis.”
“Why are you living here?”
Mac shifted. “Dan and I broke up. Couldn’t live with him.”
“I know. Why are you living here?”
“I just- Wait, you know? How? Did the bird-“
“Yes, she told me! Why are you living in this dump?!”
“Hey!” Frank and Charlie said at the same time.
“I figured I couldn’t go back to the apartment.”
“Why not?”
“Why not? I thought you hated me!”
“Wh- Last time I saw you I said I love you! Why would you think I hate you?!”
“Plot twist,” he heard Frank mumble. Mac had stood up and Charlie had taken his place by Frank. They were watching from the couch like it was a movie. Dennis tried to ignore them.
“Because I walked out! I assumed if I left I couldn’t come back!”
Dennis stuttered. The doorbell rang. Charlie got up and answered it with the same sentence he had before, then stopped when he saw Dee. “Oh, hey, now’s not really a good time-“ Dee pushed past him.
Mac saw her. “You told him?! Why would you-“
“Because you two idiots need to be with each other! Oh my god it is exhausting! You two are unbearable together and somehow more unbearable apart!”
Mac and Dennis looked at each other, not entirely sure what to do. For a few seconds, everything was silent.
Then Dee spoke up. “Do I have to do everything myself?! Mac! Move out of here and back in with Dennis! Both of you come back to work because I cannot stand Frank and Charlie by myself!”
“Hey!” Frank and Charlie said in unison again.
“I mean- Can- Can I come back?” Mac asked softly.
“Y- Yeah, man. Yeah, come back,” Dennis replied.
Mac smiled, and Dennis felt a feeling in his chest.
-
It didn’t take long for most of Mac’s stuff to end up back at their apartment. Charlie’s apartment was close by and always open.
The singing fish wall thing came back.
There was something on Dennis’ mind. He knew he probably shouldn’t ask, but after a few days he couldn’t help himself.
“Why did you guys break up?”
They were sitting on the couch, trying to find a sitcom or whatever else to watch. Mac stiffened, then looked away from the tv.
“Uh, we just- we just had a fight.”
Dennis raised an eyebrow at him. He and Mac have had enough fights to know it doesn’t mean the end.
Still looking away, Mac mumbled something.
“Hmm?”
“He cheated,” Mac said.
Dennis stared longer than he should’ve. Cheated? On Mac? Who could- Who could do that?
“Yeah, it- I caught him. And we fought. A few days ago. I left and moved in with Frank and Charlie.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah,” Mac said, looking at the tv. Dennis also turned his eyes to the tv.
-
They both went to work the next day. They both kept going to work. Over the course of a few weeks, they fell back in their usual routine, and so did the rest of the gang. Schemes started and ended, and everything seemed to go back to normal.
Except Dennis had confessed something, and Mac hadn’t forgotten.
“So, should- should we talk?” Mac asked one night, seemingly out of nowhere. Dennis instinctively stiffened, remembering what happened last time Mac suggested talking. “No- It’s not bad. Just-“ his voice trailed off.
“About what?”
“You said you love me.”
Dennis really didn’t want to talk about that. He just learned how fragile whatever they had was, and didn’t want to risk anything. “We- we don’t have to talk about it.”
“Do you not want to?”
Of course Dennis wanted to. Whether he could or not was different.
Mac continued. “I just want to say- Dan did hurt me,” and Dennis never wanted to see him again, “But, like, I do want-“ he gestured between himself and Dennis. “And, uh, I have for a while. Like, right now I’m hurting, but I think soon….“
Dennis nodded, thankful that Mac seemed to do the talking for him. “Soon?”
“Soon.”
-
‘Soon’ turned out to be only a few weeks. Well, three weeks and two days. Not that Dennis was counting.
It was during one of their movie nights. Mac hadn’t missed one since moving back in. It was night outside and the lights were off, leaving the tv as the only light. Mac and Dennis were sharing a bowl of popcorn on the table as they sat close next to each other.
Without realizing, Dennis’ attention had shifted from the movie to the way the light bounced off Mac’s face. How could anyone get him, then cheat on him? How could anyone even think about hurting him?
“Den.”
Mac was looking back at him. Dennis tore his eyes away and looked at the tv.
“Den.”
Dennis looked back at him. Mac had this look on his face. As if Dennis should just know what he’s thinking.
Dennis knew what he was thinking.
Now.
Mac put his hand on the side of Dennis’ face. A question. Dennis nodded. Mac leaned in and they kissed.
When they pulled apart they were both smiling in disbelief. Sure, they both knew it was going to happen, but now it’s real.
Mac couldn’t resist putting his hands on the back of Dennis’ neck and pulling him in for another kiss. Dennis put his hands on Mac’s waist.
“God, this is so much better,” Mac mumbled.
Dennis pulled away. “Never mention him again.”
“Deal,” Mac nodded his head and went for a third.
They didn’t leave the couch that night.