Chapter Text
Chapter Two
"Afterglow"
Ravi
Ravi: You looked great tonight, by the way
Ravi put his phone on silent immediately after sending that message, trying to limit his distractions while driving home. It had mostly worked—he didn't swipe down his status bar to check if she had responded every other minute—but the whole way home, he was buzzing with excitement from the charity and was trying not to speed to get there faster.
May? Of all people, May Grant bet on him? May Grant wanted to talk to him? May Grant wanted to get to know him?
Holy shit. Holy shit!
As Ravi pulls into his parking spot, he slowly exhales a breath to calm his nerves. He shuts off the engine and the car lights go with it, bathing him in darkness. He reaches for his phone and relaxes into the drivers seat.
May 🩷: Loved your message "You looked…"
Ravi sucks in a breath, his heart dropping at the underwhelming reaction. But he reminds himself that it has been a long night and that May is probably just tired.
She had seemed interested outside the venue, and she's probably not the type of woman to lead him on. Ravi's smile finds its way back to his lips as he laughs.
"May Grant," he beams, staring at her contact name. "She likes me."
He looks down at the hearted message one more time before closing the app and heading inside his apartment building.
"I can't believe you didn't tell me!"
Ravi shakes his head at Buck's whining and adjusts his collar. "And I'm surprised you didn't get all up in my face last night to ask who my date was."
Buck rolls his eyes. "That's because I wasn't expecting it to be May!"
"I wasn't either!" Ravi shoots back, throwing his hands up.
Eddie chuckles from the doorway, sinking his hands into his pockets.
Ravi sighs, letting his arms hang in front of him. "I'm never going to hear the end of this, am I?"
Eddie smiles and shakes his head. "Nope."
"Yeah, says the guy who used my sister to bet on himself," Buck huffs.
Ravi's mouth drops open, making Eddie laugh harder.
"Yeah! Found that out this morning too. This guy got my sister to get on the phone and bet two-thousand, five-hundred dollars on him. My sister," Buck emphasizes, pointed hand coming down to slap his thigh.
Ravi shakes his head, planting his hands on his hips. "Eddie, you do realize May said that you could make a thousand-dollar donation, right? Like, you are aware that you didn't have put on all of those theatrics?"
Eddie frowns, running his tongue over his lips. Then, his eyes widen just a tad as he zones out on the floor in front of him. Embarrassed, his cheeks flush and he clears his throat.
"Yeah, I did," he lies, scratching his arm and turning on his heel to leave the locker room.
Buck sighs and stares exasperatedly at Ravi.
"Hey, at least he's not dating your sister," he points out with a finger gun.
Buck smiles. "You're right," he says, pointing back. "You are."
Ravi's mouth drops. "That's not fair!"
"Hey, do you know what type of food May likes?"
Buck frowns and continues kneading his bread dough. "Shit, I don't know. I haven't paid attention. I mean, she likes Chipotle? But I doubt that's what you're looking for."
"Damn," Ravi sighs, taking the spot next to Eddie at the bar. "You don't know either?"
Eddie shakes his head, crunching down the last bite of his cookie and dusting off his hands. "Nope."
Ravi sighs again, twiddling with his phone.
"Just text her Rav," Hen laughs, teasing him from her spot on the couch.
"No! I need to put this together myself!" And after a pause, "but do you know what she likes?"
Hen shrugs with a suspicious grin and looks down at her book.
"Is there anything French around?" Chimney suggests. "Or, back when Maddie and I were in the early stages of our relationship, I took her to this 'revolving' restaurant. Maybe that's something May would like?"
"Oh hey I remember that!" Buck laughs. "Isn't that the place where that one lady got pinned behind her table on the pole?"
Ravi grimaces, sending a nervous glance to Chimney.
"Yes, Buck, that's the one," Chimney sighs shaking his head.
"Then I'll pass on that one for now," Ravi winces.
"What about something Italian?" Buck tries, separating the dough into two loaves.
"Ooo," Hen agrees. "I think there is. I forget where it's located, but I know it's a nice place. I'll have to go with Karen sometime."
"We could leave the kids with Buck and do a double date," Chimney teases.
Hen closes her book and shuffles up to the bar, leaning over to Buck with her head in her hands. "When are you free?"
Buck rolls his eyes while Eddie and Ravi exchange amused chuckles.
Ravi: Does May 4th work for you?
May 🩷: Typing…
May 🩷: May 4th? That's a bit far out don't you think?
Ravi frowns, pulling down on his phone screen to check today's date. Feb, 27th, 2026.
Ravi: SHIT
Ravi: I meant March :(
May 🩷: LOL
May 🩷: That'll work :) Where are we going?
Ravi: Can't tell you yet
Ravi: Are you okay with me picking you up?
May 🩷: Yes I am
Ravi: Okay. I'll make the reservation tonight and text you the details later
May 🩷: Sounds good! Thank you
A smile tugs at Ravi's lips, and he rubs his nose to displace it.
Ravi: My pleasure
Ravi pockets his phone and stands up from where he migrated to on the couch. He dusts his pants off and adjusts his collar, and turns to see his older coworkers smiling excitedly at him.
"Oh fuck off!" he laughs, shaking his head.
"Ravi's got a day-ate! Ravi's got a day-ate!" they all sing.
Ravi slaps his hands over his eyes as his cheeks burn in embarrassment.