Chapter Text
Olivia's POV
Olivia was at the bar, nursing a mai tai while watching her friend Jess dance and grind a complete stranger on the dance floor. Today was Olivia’s birthday and her friend insisted on taking her out to have a good time, but it seemed like Jess was the one having a good time instead. She kept checking the time on her phone and debated on bailing for the night till someone tapped her on the shoulder. “Is this seat taken?” She turned to look at who was talking to her. She had to blink a couple of times. It was Dan Avidan. If she were a teenager, she’d probably start freaking out at this point, but being 34 she was too old for that crap. She kept herself in check while she answered him. “No, it’s not taken. I don’t think my friends coming back to sit down anytime soon.” She nodded off toward her friend and Dan followed her gaze and sat down. “You look like you want to be here as much as I do.” “What happened? If you don’t mind me asking.” “My girlfriend dumped me yesterday. My friends wanted to take me out, have a good time tonight but I don’t really feel like it right now.” If this was anyone else, she’d think he was trying to get her sympathy so she’d hook up with him for the night, but this was Dan. She knew he wasn’t like that. “I’m so sorry. May I ask what happened?” He swirled the ice cubes around in his water glass and kept his eyes down. “I work a lot and she got tired of waiting around.” “I’m sorry.” And she really meant it. She knew he was a great guy and her heart hurt for him.
He turned to fully face her. “Wanna get out of here? There's a coffee shop on the next block that has good tea and I need a break from this music. Then you can come back for your friend. My treat.” Liv immediately wanted to say yes but she didn’t want to give the wrong idea. She needed to be up front with him. “Full disclosure, I know who you are Dan. I really am sorry for you. Tea sounds good but if you want to rescind your offer, knowing I’m a fan, I understand and wouldn’t be offended.” He searched her face, seeing nothing but honestly in her eyes. He stood up and held his arm to her as an invitation. She smiled up and him and hooked her arm through his and he led the way out of the bar.
An hour later and they were still sitting in the coffee shop talking over their tea. He was right, it was good tea. Dan was the first to notice the time and cursed. “Shit, I didn’t see what time it was. Arin’s my ride home. I’m gonna go make sure they didn’t leave without me.” “I should probably check on Jess but I doubt she noticed me missing.” They walked back to the bar together. Liv found Jess, still on the dance floor but Dan scanned the booths along the wall and found a different group of people sitting in the one him and Arin and the rest were in. He checked his phone and saw a missed text from only ten minutes ago from arin. ‘Saw you leave with a girl. We’re getting tired and are gonna head out for the night. I’ll pay you back for an Uber tomorrow if you needed one.’ Dan found Olivia back at the bar talking to her friend and he caught part of their conversation. “It’s getting late. You wanna take off?” Jess shook her head. “No, I’m not done dancing. If you wanna take off, I’ll be fine. I’ll call a cab and I’ll text you when I get home.” Liv saw Dan coming up behind Jess with a crestfallen face. “Did you find Arin?” “No. They saw me leave with you and assumed I wasn’t coming back. I’m gonna go call a ride.” “Do you want a ride home? I’m heading out anyways.” Jess looked back and forth between the two of them. “You were gone before? And you’re offering a stranger a ride? Are you crazy?” “I know him and we went down the street for tea for a bit. I’m fine.” “Oh, well. Night then I guess. I left your present in the car. Open it when you get home.” “Night Jess.” “Night Liv.”
Jess went back to the dance floor and Liv turned back to Dan for an answer. “Want a ride? I’m not expecting anything out of this, just helping out a friend, so we’re clear. My turn to give back to you.” She held out her and and he took it and she led him out and down the street to her car. Dan gave her the address. It was only twenty minutes away. He saw the present in the back seat. “Is it your birthday or something?” “Yeah actually. She wanted me to have fun tonight but I think she did more than I. I got to meet you though, so I guess it wasn’t too bad.” She smiled over at him and he returned it. Once at his house, she pulled in the driveway and sat with the car running. He was the first to say something. “Thank you for the lift. Tonight did end up being fun. I trust you’ll keep my address to yourself.” “Of course! I would never share that. I respect you guys too much.” “Thank you. Do you wanna come in for a minute? You can open that inside.” Liv debated on that for a moment then turned her car off. “Sure, if you don’t mind. I’m not too far from here and it’s not that late for me yet.” She reached behind her for the gift bag and followed Dan inside his house.
Once inside, he shrugged out of his jacket, kicked his shoes off and put them away. “Do you want any water or tea or something?” “No, I’m good, thank you. If I drink anything else tonight, my bladders going to wake me up earlier then I want to be up.” “Understandable. So what did your friend get you?” She set the back on the nearby coffee table, pulled the tissue paper out and peered inside. What she saw made her laugh. “What? Is it something bad?” “No.” She pulled out a Blu-ray copy of Moana. “She remembered i was pissed when they took this off Netflix streaming. It’s one of my favorite new Disney movies. Haven’t been too impressed with them after the 90’s.” “I haven’t see it yet. You want to watch it?” “It’s almost midnight. Don’t you have work in the morning?” “Not till two. Arin always sleeps late.” “Sure then.” She kicked off her shoes by the front door and made herself comfortable on his couch while he put the disc in.
Halfway through the movie, Dan turned to her and lightly brushed some hair out of her face. “Thanks for the company tonight.” “Thank you for trusting me.” Before he could think better of it, and she could say anything, he leaned in to kiss her. She instinctively returned it and went to wrap her arms around his neck, heart pounding in her ears, before her brain caught up with what was happening. One of Dan’s hand went up underneath the back of her shirt. She stopped herself and placed her hands on his chest, lightly pushing him away. “Dan…” He pulled back with a hurt look on his face. “I’m sorry. You have to think I’m a jerk.” “No, of course not. Your girlfriend just broke up with you and I think you just wanted company tonight. I'm not the rebound girl. I don’t think this a good idea. Do you really want this to happen with a stranger when you just had your heart broken?” Tears began to form in his eyes and threatened to spill over. He looked away from her and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. Her heart hurt for him and she pulled him in a hug. He rested his head against her shoulder facing away from her. She rubbed his back as light tremors wracked his frame. “I’m sorry. We were together for over a year. This just came out of nowhere.” She pulled away from him and wiped a tear from his cheek. “I think I should go before we both do something we’d regret.” She kissed him on the forehead and got up from the couch. She pulled a business card from her wallet and placed it on the end table. “My cell’s on there if you want to talk more later, i'll listen. Good night Dan.” She turned and left before she did anything else she’d regret and headed to her car. Once inside, she remembered the movie but couldn’t bring herself to go back in. She leaned her head back against her headrest and breathed in deep before turning the car on and headed home. She didn’t see Dan watch her from the front window.