Work Text:
Bob stood rooted to the spot, his brain racing as he processed the fact this might be the worst idea he ever had. Not because of the girl—no, Linda was everything, everything he wasn’t. He could tell from a glance that she was too good for him, her silky black hair cascading over her shoulders, her crooked yet alluring Red Frames, and her captivating smile.
He could feel the anxiety growing in his stomach as he knew this was the worst idea, and he’d end up making a fool of himself. Working at his father’s restaurant was an exhausting task on its own, and the pressure of trying to win Cady Barbash’s affection made things worse. She’d laughed at his attempt to give her chocolates, a gesture his mother had encouraged him to do. The humiliation he felt was so intense that it lingered for years before he could bring himself to ask out someone else. Sure, that someone ended up being Barbara Bunkley, a nice enough yet distant girl who agreed to be with him. However, their “relationship”, if you called it that, didn’t last very long. She was more interested in studying objects and other people than him, and the constant sound of her smacking gum was so irritating to him. And whenever her friends showed up, his presence dissipated, leaving a silent void.
Then, like a miracle, “Dr. Love’s Love Testometer”, a wooden machine he was so enthused about, gave them a ‘Red Hot’ rating, but she didn’t even bat an eye. Instead of beaming, raising an eyebrow, or acknowledging the achievement, she yawned. Making a big show of it, she stretched her arm out as well. And, without a second thought, she spun on her heel and the fabric of her dress rustled against her skin as she began talking to a stranger instead of her supposed boyfriend. Bob’s patience had been exhausted, and around him, the air became charged with his anger.
“What is wrong with you?”
He wished he could take back the edge in his voice, but it was too late.
As she turned to face him, her gaze was fierce and unwavering. “Excuse me?”
“I—you…” He noticed heat flooding his cheeks worse than any dam. “Why…?”
Barbara’s eyes widened in distress as she bit the bottom of her lip, a habit she had formed when she felt upset. “Oh, for God’s sake, Robert, can’t you do anything right?”
This rendered him speechless for a moment, his mouth hanging open.
“You can’t even talk without stammering.” She rolled her eyes and prepared to converse with the stranger more.
To his relief, he found his voice again. “Then why are you dating me?”
She made a noise that was a mix of a scoff and a huff, her lips curling in disdain. “There you go again, making everything about you.”
He felt the heat rise in his chest and almost smacked his palms down on the love machine’s treasured table in his frustration. “Since when has everything been about me? You don’t even talk to me!”
“It’s called having a social life. And we have this exact conversation every time I’m trying to catch up with people. If you’re trying to make me feel sorry for you, it’s not happening.”
He didn’t want to process the fact they were having this conversation in a bar. People must have already started staring, thinking they were glad they weren’t this couple.
“Barbara.” He looked her dead in the eyes. He couldn’t hold back any longer. “I don’t think this is working.”
She smacked the table, bringing his previous fantasy to life. “Are you that sensitive? You can’t handle me having friends?”
“That’s not the issue. The issue is, I don’t think you even see me when I'm with you. Despite your lack of interest, I put in a lot of effort because this meant something to me.” It felt so good to express his feelings at last.
It took him by surprise when he felt her hand collide with the side of his face, leaving behind an angry red mark that was beginning to sting.
“I want you to know I just felt bad for you.”
The sound of her voice lingered long after she had rushed away, the last thing he heard her say. Rubbing his cheek, he tried processing what had happened. He knew for a fact he never wanted to see her again. But her being gone didn’t mean her presence wasn’t. Her words echoed through his mind, like a needle on a record skipping the same phrase.
Can’t you do anything right?
I want you to know I just felt bad for you.
Bob then realized he was leaning his head on the apartment door. How long had he been reminiscing? Maybe there was still enough time to leave. Yes, he could go home and apologize to Linda later. Perhaps tonight he caught the worst case of stomach flu out of nowhere. Or his father wanted to visit his mother’s grave with him.
No, too soon.
But he couldn’t stay anymore. It was unbelievable enough that a woman like her looked at him with such surprise and admiration and even paid him a compliment about his mustache. Well, maybe complimented—he didn’t know who Tom Selleck was. A date between them would never work. Besides, he was at a loss, not knowing how to feel until they had a proper conversation. Once they met, they began staring at each other, and they shared one long, awkward look while the redheaded woman next to her cackled with laughter. Getting a ring caught in a mustache is quite an unpleasant feeling.
The lady’s actions had caused a sudden stillness between them, and he assumed it would be over. However, with a flourish, Linda scribbled something on a napkin, and then, almost in a fit of excitement, tossed it at him.
Her name and phone number.
No one had shown interest in him like this, and so fast, too. Maybe this was why he was so drawn to her. But what if she felt bad for the ring? This must have been her way of apologizing. There couldn’t be any other explanation.
He turned to leave, defeated when someone saw him from inside. He cursed the fact there was a window he somehow never noticed. The woman at the window, the same redheaded lady from the bar, turned. It muffled her voice, but it was unmistakable. “Linda, your date’s here!”
There was no going back now. He took his place at the door again, body rigid, and sighed.
✧ ✧ ✧
Linda jammed her foot into her second heel, muttering curses under her breath. They were her one nice pair of shoes, but she’d neglected to notice how much her feet had grown. She had to make do somehow, considering Bob was already here.
Bob. She still remembered the sight of him writing his name and number on the same napkin that she had written hers. She remembered the look of alarm on his face when he realized the mistake he had made. At the last minute, she had a stroke of genius and tore the napkin in half, so they each had the other's details. He seemed grateful for her quick thinking.
When she got a good look at his face for the first time, his strong jawline and his deep brown eyes captivated her. Her shrimp story remained all but forgotten in those glorious few minutes because it no longer mattered. His eyes appeared exhausted, but also seemed to tell a million stories she couldn’t discern. She’d have to hear about them from the host. They also crinkled at the sides, almost as if there was an inside joke just he could hear. Linda also noticed the way his fingers ran through his hair, the glossy shine reflecting the light, and she wondered what he used to keep it so healthy. She felt her cheeks flush, deciding to keep the question of what conditioner he used to herself. She didn’t know if she’d like the answer.
Despite that, she loved the way his hair was so wild and full of life, and his mustache—
“If you don't hurry, he’ll be gone before you even have a chance to say hello.”
She jumped, startled by the unexpected interruption of her thoughts. “I’m almost ready.”
“You’ve been telling me that for an hour.” Ginger sat on the edge of her bed. “Are you nervous?”
She didn’t sound judgmental, just concerned.
“No.” Linda then squeezed her foot in at last. “I don’t know.”
“You’ll be fine. I know you. You can charm any guy you want.”
“He’s not—he’s not just any guy, Ginger.”
She grinned. “Ooh, getting serious even before the first date, are we?”
“I mean it, he’s different.”
“Different like Oliver, Jared, and Hugo?” Ginger crossed her arms at the last name.
Her lips pursed as she noticed the sound of her hair rustling against her shoulders and pondered if she should tie it up. “This won’t be like them. I’m telling you, I can feel it.”
“You better be right, because I’m not helping you write another breakup rap.”
Ginger ran her hand through her long hair and lay back on the bed. “I’m saying all this because I care about you. You and Hugo were engaged. Things were getting pretty serious. And after all that, all it took was this one nice guy for you to change your mind.”
Linda paused in her hair tying, struck by Ginger’s words. When Ginger put it this way, Linda realized how long she and Hugo had been together. How he had proposed to her under a beautiful apple tree, the meaning of it resonating with them both. The sound of his sobs when she told him it was over still lingered in the air. She realized how sudden all this must’ve been to Hugo and Ginger.
“I appreciate you looking out for me, Ging, but I left Hugo for a reason. You know how long I wanted to say something to him. This gave me the push I needed.”
“He was pretty terrible.” Linda gave her a look. “What? I can say that now.”
“I hope the house is still standing when I get back. No smoking, please.” She inhaled, the smell of her hair product lingering in the air as she debated if the ponytail was too much or not. “Here I go.”
She darted past the doorway and then raced back into the room with a flurry of movement. “Is my crimping iron unplugged?”
“Linda!” Ginger hopped off the bed and pushed her out the door. “I thought you were ready. Don’t back out now.”
“I’m feeling great. I’m not backing out. Is it a crime to be concerned about our appliances?” She held her breath, her heart pounding as she forced her feet to carry her to the living room, feeling the chill of anticipation.
All it took was this one new guy for you to change your mind.
What if it’s not different from Hugo?
As her hand released its hold on the doorknob, it seemed to hang in the air, heavy with defeat.
Well, I’ll never know unless I try.
Not waiting for another second, she swung the front door open.
Bob was there, looking just as she remembered, but with a more sophisticated air. He was wearing a beige suit with patches on the elbows, and a white bowtie with a gentle sheen that made him look adorable.
Adorable? She closed her eyes and took a moment to compose herself. He couldn’t be distracting her already.
He had slicked back his hair with a sheen, and she was impressed with the effort he had gone to impress her.
“Hi.” She gave him what she hoped was a welcoming smile.
“Hi.” He gave her a small once-over, rubbing the back of his neck. “You look—wow.”
Her cheeks betrayed her by warming, “You don’t look bad yourself.”
She double-checked the strap of her favorite blue dress, the fabric clinging to her curves. “Thanks for agreeing to this. I know how we met was a little—”
“Crazy?”
“Yeah. I wanted the chance to talk to you more. It’s not every day you meet someone with a mustache like yours.”
Too much, Linda.
When she heard his laughter, a wave of warmth washed over her, calming her nerves. “I’m glad you enjoy it so much. My girlfriend hated it.”
Wait, what?
She was about to question him about this new information when he spoke first, supplying an explanation.
“Ex-Girlfriend, sorry, sorry. I should have made that more clear. Wow, I’m bad at this.”
It was unusual to mention exes so fast, but it didn’t bother Linda. She also had thoughts, “Well, no wonder you’re not together anymore. She had poor taste.”
He laughed again. Wow, twice in a row. She felt a sense of calmness and comfort as if she could get used to this, even though they hadn’t even gone anywhere yet. His presence made her feel secure like she could take off her mask and just be herself. When she was around him, she felt like she could turn up the volume on her personality and he would celebrate it.
✧ ✧ ✧
An unknown view outside the restaurant window caught Linda's eye, and she soon became distracted. She placed her hand on the glass, and the reflections of the room around her glimmered on its surface as her eyes filled with awe.
There was part of him content with letting her entertain herself with the window the whole time. Nonetheless, his curiosity was too great to remain quiet, and he spoke up. “What’s happening out there?”
He was careful not to let his tone become judgmental, just reflective of his inquisitive nature.
“Oh!” She said. Her head snapped back to face his direction. Her cheeks turned a shade darker, and her eyes were darting all over the place, not wanting to meet his. “I—well… it’s not important. I get distracted by anything that moves.”
He let out an involuntary laugh, surprised by how relaxed he’d been feeling this entire night. Even when he talked to people he liked and knew well, he always felt an overwhelming sense of fear, for many various reasons. An icy chill always ran down his spine at the thought of not meeting their expectations, not doing it right, or saying something inappropriate. With each thought of a date with someone new, his fears seemed to amplify to an unbearable volume.
With Linda, though, it was different. He noticed the absence of the familiar feelings of fear that used to hover around him. He had been apprehensive before they arrived, but the moment they stepped through the door of the restaurant, everything changed—the soft music, the warm lighting, and the pleasant aromas created a sense of ease in the best way he could imagine.
“You can tell me. I won’t make fun of you.” He took another bite of complimentary bread, savoring the plain yet satisfying flavor.
“I, well…” Linda said. She took one last gaze out the window before facing him again. “I watched a little brown dog trotting along the sidewalk. It was balancing something small on its nose. It gave him a lot of focus.”
Bob noticed her wringing her hands, an unconscious expression of her guilt as if this was something to be ashamed of, and he wanted to take it away. Even if he wouldn’t have paid so much attention to a dog himself.
“A dog? That’s cute,” he said, and he felt a sudden connection between them as he realized his hand was now resting on hers. “Oh god, sorry. Just forget I did that.”
He yanked his hand away, but Linda kept hers there for a few seconds longer, listening to the sound of their breathing.
“No, I liked it.” She gave the hand, which had come into contact with his, a look, one he couldn’t quite describe. “It made me feel safe, like seeing the dog.”
Bob felt a wave of heat wash over him, despite being compared to a dog. It was a new sensation for him, hearing someone say he made them feel secure, and it brought a feeling of contentment to his heart.
To divert his attention from his inner turmoil, he asked, “Are you an animal lover?”
“I don’t love every animal I see, but the ones I do fill me with joy. I would always ask my parents to get a cat because my sister and I both wanted one and thought it would be a blast. We could cuddle, and get annoyed when they knock over our stuff. But they weren’t a fan of the idea.”
He heard the sadness in her voice and felt the urge to laugh, though the laugh was small and hollow. “I found a stray dog outside my restaurant once.”
Linda's eyes lit up and her grip tightened on the edge of the table as she said, “I didn’t know you have a restaurant!”
“Oh! Sorry, I should have been more clear. This was my dad’s restaurant, which I worked at when I was a kid.”
Why did I call it my restaurant? Why can’t I just talk like a normal person?
“Ooh, family business.”
He resisted the urge to roll his eyes at the thought of his father. “Well, he was pretty controlling, but that’s not the point. This brown dog was just like the one you saw, and I'd treat it to occasional scraps. My dad was fuming when he found out, and he let me know it, ranting about how the dog could never fend for itself anymore.”
“Aw. You should be proud of yourself for taking care of it. But I’d much rather deal with people than animals, that’s for sure. Maybe it’s the same for your dad, which is why he owned a restaurant.”
He shrugged, considering this, as the waiter brought them their meals. “I… am not a big fan.”
“Of restaurants?” Linda asked, her fork clinking against the plate as it twirled the pasta within. She hoped it wouldn't hit the lobster and mashed potatoes, which were also present.
“Of people.”
She gave a dramatic gasp as her fork slipped out of her hand, hitting the side of her bowl. “You’re kidding.”
With a puzzled expression, he opened his mouth, unsure of her reaction. Before he could say anything else, she continued talking, “You’re not kidding. Wow, why aren’t you?”
He was a bit taken aback by this question—he wasn’t sure if there was a simple answer. “I don’t know. I'm not a fan of small talk, and I just can't bring myself to care about other people's lives. And people are very…”
He debated if he should be this honest and said, “... Judgey.”
“They can be, but learning about other people is my favorite! Everyone has such an interesting and colorful past, like you.”
“I wouldn’t call working at a restaurant interesting and colorful.”
“Oh, hush, it is! I also discovered our waiter is from Cancun, and his tone was so cheerful it made me smile.”
“I—How did you learn that?”
She seemed contemplative as she took a bite of pasta, “I asked. Everyone has endured their own battles, with dreams, struggles, and stories from their past. Look around!”
He followed her gaze around the restaurant at the many patron’s conversations, deciding to take a bite of food. “Everyone here could be anything, and you can never know unless you ask. It’s the beauty of life.”
Her perspective was one he hadn’t encountered before, her words ringing with clarity. He could never imagine seeing others with as much fascination as she did, but he respected she did. It was almost refreshing, to meet someone who wasn’t as jaded about humanity as him. “Well, you don’t have to get so upset.”
He looked up, saying, “I’m not upset.”
“Then why’s your face so red?”
He could feel his cheeks warming up, but he assumed it was from the embarrassment of blushing again. As he reached up and his hand brushed against the swollen area, a realization hit him like a thunderclap. He looked at his plate and heard a voice in his head reminding him he had asked for no lobster in his salad, yet there it was. Another reason he still wasn’t a people person—but that wasn’t important. He was very allergic to seafood, despite living in a bustling coastal town where the smell of lobster filled the air during their annual celebration of it. He was grateful to have his epi-pen, otherwise, the date would’ve taken a nasty turn. Linda opened her mouth in surprise after hearing the clinking sound of the metal object being removed from his pocket. Then he felt a wave of nausea wash over him as he remembered his intense dislike of needles.
“Uh… Linda?” He asked, giving her a pleading look. “I know this is sudden, but I kind of need you to stab me with this so I don’t die. I would do it myself, but every time I need to use needles, they make me feel nauseous.”
“Incredible. They even have shots that can cure food poisoning?”
He said nothing, but the feeling of satisfaction was palpable as he watched her follow his instructions. He made sure his eyes were closed as they entered his leg, and he took a deep breath. When it was all wrapped up, he felt an unexpected sense of peace—an emotion that was foreign and unknown to him for first dates and moments like this. On a normal day, he’d be mortified he’d almost died in front of anyone, let alone someone like Linda. But without a second thought, she had helped him, and now he could feel the sun on his face for another day.
How many people he knew would do this? And made him feel this way?
Then he realized his head was still spinning. He put a hand to his forehead and wished more than anything he hadn’t adjusted his tie so much before leaving and made it so tight against his chest.
“Bob? Are you all right?” She asked. With a tender touch, Linda laid her hand on his arm, and for a moment, he almost felt all right. However, the room began spinning again, and before he could respond, everything turned black.
✧ ✧ ✧
Linda's footsteps echoed off the walls as she paced in front of the door the receptionist had said belonged to Bob. After she called an ambulance and heard the paramedics had stabilized him, a wave of relief flooded her body and she could feel the tension release from her shoulders. She didn’t think she’d be able to relax if that hadn’t been the case. She assumed the combination of his nervousness and food poisoning had caused all this trouble in the first place, despite her stabbing him with a mysterious needle to help. Poor guy.
Against all odds, though, she’d had a good time, more so than any other date she’d been on. Hugo’s dates were far from memorable, and her experiences with other guys had been just as uninspiring. To her surprise, one of her former boyfriends had become a criminal on the run, and he was one of the more decent ones. Bob separated himself from her other exes, though, with his individual quirks. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but he was special. She could tell, even back at the bar where they’d met, and this night had proven she needed him in her life.
She was hoping he’d still be up for talking after everything that had happened. She pushed open the door, seeing him sitting a bit in his bed with an IV in his arm. He didn’t appear to be in pain, just tired. In fact, he had a hard time keeping his eyes open.
“Oh, there’s my Bobby.” The nickname had slipped out without her thinking about it, as well as her using a possessive pronoun.
He seemed to relax a bit at her presence. “Bobby?”
She looked away, embarrassed, “Saying it just felt right. Do you like it?”
“I do.” He was silent for a moment, and she was about to fill it when he spoke again, sounding much more serious. “Linda, I’m… I’m sorry I ruined our date. You had to stab me with a needle, call an ambulance, and come all the way to the hospital because of--”
“Bobby, stop it.” The nickname slipped out again, and she came closer, determined to get him to stop talking down to himself. “I had fun, and doing all that doesn’t change that fact. I did all of it because I wanted to, and you needed me to. But wow, we need to fire off a complaint to the restaurant right away. Who makes food so terrible you pass out?”
“Well, it’s because I had an allergic—never mind. I’m glad you had fun. But you deserve someone who doesn’t have to be hospitalized on the first date.”
“You hush, mister. This first date was the best one I’ve had. I felt my cheeks hurting from smiling so much.”
“You had time to buy flowers?” He looked down, admiring the colorful carnations.
“When I first saw you, I had these for you, but I got so caught up in our conversation that I forgot to give them to you, so I went back home to get them. I want you to understand it doesn’t matter if this happened. I’d stab you a thousand more times if it meant spending more time with you.”
He lifted his head to meet her eyes, and he seemed stunned. “You mean that? You would stab me with a needle a thousand times?”
“Yeah! I must sound crazy right now, but I would. It doesn’t matter that we haven’t known each other for very long. I enjoy helping you.” She sat on the edge of the bed and noticed how drab and unwelcoming the walls were. They’d painted the walls of the hospital a dull gray, and the air was heavy with sadness. No wonder everyone was always in a bad mood there. “I'd like to learn more about you if you'd like to learn more about me.”
He opened and closed his mouth in surprise, making a sound like a goldfish. “Are you asking for a second date?”
“And a third. And a fourth!” Linda’s voice shook as she raised her hands in the air, her enthusiasm palpable. “I mean if you want to.”
“Of course, I want to. Did that sound too eager?” She glanced down and saw their hands, their fingers entwined in a loving embrace.
As memories of their first encounter came back, they filled her with the same fluttery feeling that she'd felt before. It must’ve shown on her cheeks, but she couldn’t find it within herself to care. He’d agreed to try more dates! She couldn’t believe how lucky she’d gotten. Here was this guy whose food poisoning had been unbearable, yet he still found the energy to show her romantic gestures and make her feel special.
She realized she didn’t need any big gestures. Not when she’d gotten this hand hold which meant everything. When he touched her, it felt like it’d created a spark and she wanted to keep that spark alive. She didn’t know how long she’d be able to wait until they’d get to see each other again. How many days would it be? How long would she spend looking at her calendar until at last, he pulled up in his car--
“Oh! I didn’t know you had a visitor, Mr. Belcher.” The nurse walked in, her mouth open in surprise. Her all-white scrubs hugged her stocky frame, and her bright, curly blonde hair stood out against the fabric. She was holding a clipboard, which seemed to be Linda’s cue to make a hasty, but not ungraceful, exit.
Her face grew warm as she realized how close she and Bob were. “It’s no problem, I was just leaving--”
She felt a jolt of warmth in her chest as Bob's hand encircled hers. He gave her a pleading look, and her heart felt as if it would implode. “No, you can stay. I want you to stay.”
Linda wanted to, more than anything else she had ever desired, a longing that seemed to echo through her whole being. However, when she first went on this date, she knew there’d come a time she’d need to leave. The knowledge pained her, but her heart told her this was a perfect time. Bob had experienced a lot, and although being together was what they both desired, some space and time alone would help him. It might even do her some good.
“No, I… I’m sorry, Bob. I have to get going.” She gave him a small, and what she hoped was a warm, smile. “You better call me, though. This isn’t the last time we’re seeing each other.”
She noticed his disappointment, yet he still understood. When she said the last thing, he couldn’t help but crack a small smile of his own.
“Well, if you--” The nurse began again. Linda interrupted her again, though. She felt a tightness in her throat as she tried to form the words, and she knew they wouldn’t do justice to what she had to say. Besides, leaving with just words wouldn’t be her in the slightest. No, Bob needed something to remember her by, to remember they needed to have some more time together.
She delivered a quick yet meaningful kiss to Bob's cheek as she leaned in close. Taking a deep breath, she leaned forward and felt her heart racing in her chest, and for a moment, she felt like turning back. She felt a tightening in her chest at the thought of expressing even a little affection. Well, in all honesty, it wasn’t little—not to her, at least. And the way it made her feel wasn’t little in the slightest. Her worries evaporated when her lips touched his soft, sweet cheek. She was no longer wondering if their next date would end without a hospital visit. She was no longer wondering if her parents or Ginger would approve.
All she could think about was him. She felt a warmth radiating through her body, a comforting heat that seemed to fill her from the inside out. Afterward, she felt the overwhelming warmth of her face when she touched it, and sure enough, it was like she had stuck her hand in a furnace. Linda turned to see what Bob's reaction had been and saw his face change from confusion to understanding, like a computer loading a complex program. He took a moment to reflect, and then his face lit up with a peaceful smile.
When he smiled, it was like a ray of sunshine that filled the room with a cozy glow. After all she’d learned about him tonight, she knew that if he smiled, it was genuine. It was one of the many things she already enjoyed about him.
“I’ll see you soon.” The promise hung in the air as she made her swift exit out the door. Closing it, she pulled her phone out as fast as possible. She knew the number by heart, and the sound of her own voice saying it aloud brought her a feeling of security. She was relieved when the person on the other end answered. “Gayle! Are you free right now? Oh my god, there’s so much I need to tell you…”