Work Text:
“You know with the way you stay smiling at your phone you’d think that you’d want to actually meet him.” Keeley said, breaking your attention from your phone screen. You gave her a look as she sat down. You were meeting over your lunch breaks.
“Keeley, you know what happened last time,” you sighed.
You were on a couple of dating apps when you first moved into the city—it just seemed like the easiest way to meet people. You realized very quickly how wrong of an assumption that was. Sure, you weren’t really looking for anything serious at the time either, but you wanted a little bit more than a hookup. It wasn’t long before you realized you probably needed to go about meeting people a different way. You were lucky that you’d moved to be closer to Keeley. She’d been your friend for years, and her being in London for a bit before you meant that she’d already had a solid group of people that she could introduce you to.
“I do, but Bantr is different, babes,” she sat down next to you, peering over your shoulder to see what you and your match were talking about, “it’s all about your connection, nothing physical. Well, not yet anyways…” Your face flushed, and you gave her a shove as she began to laugh.
She was right; Bantr is different. You’d been talking with KCFB75—whoever that was— for a couple of months now, and you knew more about him than you ever found out about anyone from the other apps. That did not, however, dispel the anxiety you felt about the possibility of actually meeting him in person. He’d brought it up before, but you’d panicked and ghosted him. After a week of not answering his message, he sent another one which solidified in your mind how different he was from the people you’d met on other apps. It was an apology for making you uncomfortable; he said you didn’t have to respond, but that he’d wanted you to know that upsetting you wasn’t their intention. You decided to continue talking with him, shocked at his kindness.
“I think I would like to meet him…eventually,” you told her after she stopped laughing. “I’m just scared.”
“I think it’s clear that he understands that. He apologized after you ghosted him, babes. Just take your time, it doesn’t seem like he minds.” She encouraged you.
“You’re right.” You smiled, locking your phone and looking at her. “We’re still on for tonight, yeah? Who all is coming?” Keeley was hosting a small party for a new company that she was doing PR for.
“Oh, right! Well, the brand invited some other people that are doing sponsorships with them. Then there’s you, me, and Roy obviously. Beard is coming, and he’s bringing his girlfriend Jane. Rebecca is coming. Ted is coming. And oh! I actually decided to invite Jamie.”
“Really? What prompted that?” You ask. She’d told you Jamie was getting better since coming back to AFC Richmond, but you were not expecting her to invite him.
“I think I’m ready to give him a second chance at being in my life. Not as a boyfriend or anything, I love Roy, but just as a friend. He and Roy have actually been getting along, too.” She replied. You continued to talk for the remainder of your lunch before going your separate ways for the rest of the work day.
You’d just finished getting ready when you got a text that Keeley was at your door. You give yourself a brief look over before grabbing your things and heading out the door.
“Stunning!” Keeley shrieked as you got into the car beside her.
“Me?” You joked. “What about you?” She waved her hand.
“You should’ve invited your match to meet you tonight. Their jaw would have dropped.” She replied.
“You still haven’t met him yet?” Roy interjected. “Fucking hell, it’s been what? Two months?”
“Roy!” Keeley exclaimed.
“No, Keeley, he’s right. I’m not doing either of us any favors by holding off…and I did ghost him once.”
“Why’re you so scared?” Roy asked, looking at you through the rearview mirror.
“I don’t know…” You looked down, playing with your hands. “I just…what if he decides I wasn’t worth the wait?”
“Y/N…” Keeley started.
“Bullshit. You ghosted him and then came back and things went to normal?” He asked. You nodded. “And you think he’s just going to see you in person and decide he’s done?” You nodded again. “Then you’re a lot fucking dumber than I thought you were.”
“Roy! That’s so rude!” Keeley exclaimed. Roy put the car in park; somehow, this conversation had lasted the whole ride to the venue. He took his seatbelt off and swung around to face you.
“Any person with fucking eyes would see that you’re worth the wait. And any person with a brain would know why. You’ve held their attention this fucking long without him knowing what you look like. Why’re you so bloody scared?” He said.
“I…I…you’re right. I’m gonna do it.” You pulled out your phone, pausing to turn towards Keeley. “Would you mind if I…invited him? They’d be late and I know you had to turn in a list for security but—” She cut you off.
“Right, um, babes…I’ve been keeping something from you.” She started. You raised your eyebrows. “I kind of…knowwhoyourmatchis.” She spoke the last part incredibly fast, as if it were one word.
“Come again?” You asked. If you heard her right, you were going to lose your mind.
“I…I know who your match is. I figured it out after you ghosted him.”
“What?!” You exclaimed. “And you didn’t tell me!” You were baffled.
“Well, no, because I wanted you guys to work it out! You’re such a good match. And actually…he’s on the list. He’s going to be here tonight.” She grinned.
“Are you joking? Tell me you’re joking.” You replied. She shook her head. “Did you know about this?” You asked Roy. He nodded his head. “Who is it?”
“I don’t know that part. Apparently I can’t keep a fucking secret,” he grumbled.
“You can’t!” Exclaimed Keeley. “You just yelled at her for not meeting already, and if you knew who it was you would’ve said it!” He rolled his eyes with a grunt. She turned her attention back to you. “Look, why don’t you text him. Tell him I’m a friend of both of you and—if you both want—you’d love to meet him in person tonight. I think he’d say yes.”
“You know what? I will. If anything so we can both be upset with you,” you huffed.
“Come on,” she smacked at your arm. “You can’t be too mad!”
“I guess not…” You rolled your eyes at her with a smile. “I’ll do it.”
“Yay!!!” She clapped her hands. “Alright, well, I guess Roy and I will meet you inside, yeah?” You nod, and they leave you to send your message. You pull out your phone and type the message. With a deep breath, you hit send. Too late to turn back, you think to yourself. It isn’t long before your phone beeps.
KCFB75: You’re kidding! Well, I’d love to finally meet you face to face for some light bantr (get it?)
You smile at the corny joke and message him back, deciding to meet at the front passed the security team.
As you walk up, you try to shake off the nerves that are starting to bubble up again. You get through security and wait near the door. It was then that you realized you had no idea who you were waiting for. You were pulling out your phone as someone behind you called your name. It was Ted.
“Oh, hey Ted! How are you?” You greet him with a smile.
“Doin’ dandy. How about yourself? You look great, by the way.” You flushed at his compliment.
“I’m well, thank you. I’m just waiting on someone,” You responded.
“Really? Well, I’m waiting on someone myself. You mind if I stand out here with ya?” You shook your head, welcoming the conversation to keep your nerves tame.
“So, how’s the team? You think they’re ready for next week?” You ask. They had a big match coming up against West Ham.
“You know, they’ve actually been more of a team lately than I’ve ever seen. I think they’re gonna go great.” He responded. You continued to talk about the team before turning the topic to the event you were both waiting outside of.
“You know, it’s been almost twenty minutes. How long is Beard going to make you wait?” You joke.
“Huh? Oh, Beard and Jane are already here. I’m waiting on someone else,” He responded.
“Oh?” You say, curious.
“Yeah. Actually,” he chuckles, “it’s gonna sound crazy, but I don’t really know who I’m waitin’ on…” He replies. And that’s when it hits you. KCFB. Kansas City Football.
“Oh my god…” you whisper.
“…but they said they’d meet me out here,” Ted continued on.
“Ted.” You say, interrupting him. He stops to look at you. You pull out your phone and open Bantr. “Are you KCFB75?” His face flushes.
“Ope, uh, yeah. Yeah, I am. I guess that could only make you—”
“READ22” You say together.
“No wonder Keeley seemed so excited when I told her my match had started talking to me again,” he said. “She knew this whole time, didn’t she?” You nodded.
“She said she figured it out when I ghosted you…I assume because you showed her that I did. Uh, sorry about that by the way.” You said with a nervous laugh.
“I mean, we’re here now, right? Don’t worry about it.” He smiled. “This…isn’t an ideal place for a first date, but what do you say we pop in to say hi to little miss matchmaker and then head out? We can do casual…maybe dinner at the greek place?” He asked, holding his arm out for you.
“I’d like that,” you smile, looping your arm in his as you walk in together.
You head over to where your friends are gathered. Keeley sees you first and rushes up with a squeal. The others follow, not understanding her reaction.
“Fucking Ted? You were nervous about meeting Ted?” Roy exclaimed. Keeley smacked his arm.
“She didn’t know it was Ted, you arse!” she replied.
“Ladies and gents, may I introduce to you READ22 and KCFB75?” Ted announces to the group. Suddenly, it seems to click in Beard and Rebecca’s heads.
“You know, I think Bantr did a good job with this one,” Beard said.
You chatted with the group for a few minutes before heading out. You worried that Keeley would be upset about you leaving her event, but she was ecstatic to see you two heading out on a date.
“Were you really nervous about meeting me?” Ted asked as you were seated at the restaurant.
“Well, yeah,” You replied. “Talking with you was so easy. You seemed like the perfect guy. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“I just don’t understand what you feel like you have to be nervous about,” Ted answered. “It felt easy to talk to you, too. I loved talking to you as you—before Bantr—too.”
“Well, that’s sweet,” You smiled. “I liked talking to you, too. Keeley actually wanted to try and set us up last summer. Did you know that?” You laughed. He shook his head. “I was too nervous that you’d be weirded out.”
“Well,” he shook his head, “Between that and ghosting me for a week, we’ve just lost too much time. I don’t know if I can forgive you.” He smiled as you swatted at his arm.
“Oh, stop being mean! I just told you I was nervous!” You laughed.
“Well, hopefully you’re not as nervous now. I’m glad you decided it was time to meet in person.” Ted said.
“Me too,” you replied with a smile.
After the date, you and Ted walked hand-in-hand back to your flat. Somehow, you guys never ran out of things to talk about.
“That was really, really nice. Thank you, Ted.” You smiled at him.
“Thank you,” he responded, “you’re the one that made it happen. I think I’d like to make it happen next time though…if you wanted to go out again?” he asked.
“I’d love that,” you answered, squeezing his hand. He leant down, his lips brushing your cheek.
“I’m glad. Good night, Y/N” he said, his eyes sparkling.
“Good night, Ted.” you responded, watching as he walked back down to the street.
For a dating app, that went way better than you ever thought possible.