Meet the Coworkers

I was so excited for my first day of work. I was eager to learn the ropes and even more eager to see Zayne's handsome face. Zayne offered to come pick me up but I didn't want to trouble him on my first day of work and it wouldn't be fair to all the other guys that I get to ride with the boss. So I took the bus on my first day and arrived promptly to Dream Gale. The restraunt looked beautiful on the outside. A nice large building with wide windows and the establishment's name written in gold letters on a sign out front. I entered through the staff area Zayne told me about in the back that was open to the street behind it. How cool is it that I have my own card key, huh?

I didn't know how to dress for my first day but Zayne said keep it casual since he has a uniform for me anyway. Zayne was so thoughtful. I had a feeling this was going to be the coolest job ever. My suspicions were confirmed when I walked in the middle of the restaurant and saw the whole place from the inside. Circular tables spread out across the floor with plenty of room to walk around, twinkling lights decorated the ceiling, they had a stage where live music can be played, and a bar at end with some quality spirits. "Wow!" My eyes sparkled.

"Glad to see someone's impressed." Speaking of sparkling eyes...

"Zayne!" I saw my gorgeous boyfriend looking at my expression from across the room. It was only yesterday when I last saw him but I still felt like that was too long. I ran towards him, scooped him up in my arms, and gave him a kiss. He hugged me back as his feet dangled off the floor and then our faces nuzzled each other once we were done kissing. "This place is great! Do I really get to work here?" I set Zayne back down on his feet.

"Yes, you are an official employee here. You wanna meet your coworkers?" I nodded quickly. Zayne smiled and walked over to a door at the side of the building. "Alright bozos, come out and meet your new brother in arms." There was the sound of shuffling followed by footsteps and then came out six good-looking guys. I already recognized one of them, "I'm sure you remember Doug from your interview."

The handsome Black man from my interview strode up to me and gripped my hand in greeting. "Jack, my boy! I knew you would be right for this job!" Doug patted my shoulder.

"Thank you so much for picking me for this position sir. I promise you wont regret it."

"Doug is the assistant manager here. If you have a question and I'm not around, Doug's your guy." Zayne nodded. "Let me introduce everyone else," Zayne gestured to a young man with long brown hair tied back in a ponytail and hazelnut eyes wearing a tank top and a beaded necklace "this is Vincent, but we just call him 'Vince' for short. Don't let the manly collarbones fool ya, he's a real jokester."

Vince laughed, "Hey, I'm not half as bad as you Zayne. But try not to be offended if I haze you, new guy. Teasing is kinda my thing." He winked. I smiled back and gave him a thumbs up. I'm sure he and I were going to get along great.

Zayne pointed to an Indian man with a strong jaw, "This is Pavan, he doesn't really talk much." Pavan smiled and nodded in my direction and I waved. "The customers love the whole 'mysterious' thing he's got going so we don't ask why he never talks."

"Don't forget about us!" Two voices spoke in unison coming from a couple of identically-faced men with black eyes and dark crew-cuts.

"Ah yes, those are the twins, Rocky and Rhode. To answer your next question: Yes, their mother loved ice cream and no, I don't know which one is which."

"I call bullshit," Vince raised his hand "Zayne is the only one here who can tell these two apart. He just pretends not to because he doesn't want to share how he does it. Makes us all look like idiots."

"Aw, come on Vince. Would I ever keep secrets from you?"

"I would be disappointed if you didn't!" Vince playfully ruffled Zayne's hair and they both laughed. The sight made me a little jealous, I wanted to rub Zayne's hair...

Zayne moved to the next guy, "Last but not least, this is our youngest, Tucker. He's a sophomore at his university." Tucker had short spiky red hair, blue eyes, and a line of freckles that spattered across the bridge of his nose. I was surprised that he was two years younger than Zayne. He was still a little bit taller than him and had broader shoulders.

"Hi Jack, it's nice to no longer be the new guy around here." Tucker shook my hand and I shook back.

Zayne came up to me and put a hand on my back, "Alright guys, for those of you who completely ignored my briefing earlier, this walking skyscraper is Jacobee Wendell, but he prefers Jack. As you can see, he's got a ton of potential so be sure to get along with him while you guys show him the ropes."

"I'll say, what are you, like...ten feet tall?" Tucker rose his hand to measure me.

"I've got to admit, I'm a little jealous. Only Doug here was taller than me, now you come along? Trying to make the rest of us feel like dwarfs huh?" Vince smirked.

"He's really gonna rock his new uniform. Don't you think Rhode?" Asked Rocky.

"He's not gonna look better than us Rocky." Said Rhode.

"He might look better than you."

"We have the same face."

"Yes, but I wear it better."

"As if, don't you think I'm sexier Pavan?"

Pavan just shrugged.

Doug let out a laugh, "Don't look so nervous Jack. You're going to love working here, you'll get used to these nut jobs. I promise."

I was looking a little nervous, but not for the reasons Doug suspected. "Um, Zayne. Do you really work with all these handsome guys?"

"Well yeah, I'm their manager."

I swallowed, "And...just to be certain...you're gay right?"

Zayne blinked, then burst out laughing, "I think that's kind of obvious at this point."

"Well yes...but...none of them have ever asked you out before?"

Zayne was looking quite confused, "No...why would they? Most of these guys are straight anyway..."

"That doesn't matter! I dated girls before I asked you out. What if one of these gorgeous guys just falls for you like I did? How can I compete!?"

The whole room was silent for an agonizing second. This time, everyone burst out laughing. "W-Wait, hold on a second. Zayne, you're dating the talent? I thought you didn't date employees?" Vince spoke between laughs.

Zayne's cheeks turned pink a little, then he reached out to grab my hand, "I made a special exception for Jack. He asked me out before he officially started the job so consider it a loophole."

"You didn't tell them we were dating?"

"No, of course not, I didn't want anyone thinking you slept you way for the job. Not that I would have been opposed." Zayne smirked.

"Oh, I see." I let out a relaxed breath then pulled Zayne toward me placing my hands on his shoulders as we faced everybody. "Here's the thing everyone, Zayne is my boyfriend now. So I would appreciate it if none of you try to steal him from me. If you can do that, then I know we can all be good friends." There was a loud snort followed by more roaring laughter from everyone. I squeezed Zayne from behind and laid my chin on top of his head. "What's everybody laughing about? I was being 100 percent serious there."

Zayne chuckled, "Oh Jack-my-bee, that's why everyone's laughing."

"Huh?"

"Well I got to admit Zayne. You picked a real winner here. Your last boyfriends were total closet cases." Doug nodded.

"You're telling me," Rocky chimed in "didn't your last ex leave you for some beard?"

Rhode nodded, "Yep. Man I wish I could have punched that guy when I had the chance for hurting our Zayne."

"Oh! I know that guy!" I waved my hand "I hit him. He flew through a door."

Both the twins looked at me, then at each other, then back to me with their arms spread. "My man!" They spoke at the same time as they both embraced me for a hug. That's how I became quick friends with the twins.

"Holy shit, you hit that guy? What happened? Paint me a picture!" Tucker was looking eager.

Zayne held out his hands, "Alright boys, that's a story for another day. For now..." Zayne turned to me smiling "...Jack, I need you to head to the employee locker room. We have your brand new uniform in there inside your own locker with your name on it. Be sure to get a good look at it to let us know we got the right size." Zayne winked. I smiled giddily then leaned down to give Zayne a quick kiss. I winked back at him and then practically skipped towards the locker room as I hummed excitedly to begin my job at Dream Gale.