“Yo, Mara, what should we close with?”  Parth’s words shook her out of a trance Mara hadn’t realized she’d fallen in, staring at a flier for tonight’s opening band, an […]

Tommy had not intended to drink so much, but Reggie knew the bartender at Squire’s. She made everyone’s drink with top shelf, but charged rail. So. Tommy was pretty warm […]

It was Sunday night, and Tommy was calm, level-headed. Almost too focused. Totally in the zone behind the grill. He flipped a pork chop. Exact diamond hatch marks. It was […]

That new girl server—Mara, that was her name—had fucking questions.  New, Tommy laughed to himself. Mara had started maybe a week after him. He kept telling himself there was nothing […]

Mara had settled into a schedule of brunch shifts Sunday and Monday, a double on Tuesdays, and dinner on Thursdays. One month in, and she could feel herself getting comfortable. […]

Olly’s didn’t have a liquor license, so Amparo and Martín would have a sensible two drinks at Squire’s, the weathered tavern down the block and across the street, after work. […]

Mara didn’t typically listen to electronic music. Today, though, some tones and textures and moods felt appropriate. Beeps and bloops circling her ears, the occasional clip of dialogue from some […]

“Whatever. I think it’s cool,” Mara said.  “Me too!” Melissa said. “You have to be excited. You can’t act too cool for this.” Parth wore a smile he couldn’t take […]

Mara emerged from her room late enough that she figured some snarky comment was coming.  On the days when her mom did have the energy to be awake at what […]

Normally, Tommy didn’t mind wearing his chef’s whites on the walk home. Tonight was the night before his first day off, though, and he wanted to get into civilian mode […]