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Steve stood looking at the building's door for what felt like hours. Tonight wasn't even that important but for some reason he felt all this pressure on him. Probably because Robin has been talking about tonight for weeks.
Suddenly the door opened and a man walked out.
"You waiting to get let in?" The man said.
"No. Yes. But I haven't buzzed them yet," Steve replied, looking up at the building. "I'm kinda psyching myself up to go in."
"That bad, huh?"
"My friend is setting me up on a blind date. I don't really want to go"
"Can't you tell them that?"
"She's put a lot of effort into tonight, I'd feel bad," Steve explained, glancing at the man.
"Yeah, but if you're this not into going maybe that's a sign you shouldn't"
"Yeah, maybe,” Steve sighed.
There was a pause as both men stood in front of the door.
"I was heading to get a burger if you wanna come."
"Really?" Steve asked, looking at the man.
"Sure,” The man shrugged. “You could just text your friend and tell her something came up. Tell her you're sick"
Steve thought for a moment then nodded.
"Yeah. Let's go."
As the men begin to walk away from the building, Steve pulls out his phone and opens his text chain with Robin.
"I told her that I got food poisoning,” Steve said as he put his phone back in his pocket.
"Smart,” The man nodded. “Comes on quick. No one wants details"
As they walked, Steve actually looked at the man for the first time. He had long blond hair that somehow looked like he's just come from surfing even though they're nowhere near the ocean. His t-shirt allowed Steve to see the half-sleeve tattoo on his right arm. If it weren't for the anxiety still coursing through his body, he'd say this guy might be the most gorgeous guy he's ever seen.
"I'm Steve, by the way."
"Billy."
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The burger place they walked to was crowded, but after ordering at the counter they managed to find a table by the window.
"So. Not interested in blind dates? Friend's got crap taste?" Billy asked before taking a bite of his burger.
"It's not that it's just…" Steve sighed "they've all been doing it lately"
Billy raised an eyebrow.
"All of my friends are in relationships,” Steve continued, “and since my breakup last year they've decided that I need to be in a relationship again too. And it's not like I'm avoiding dating, but when your heart got smashed on, you want just a little time to mourn the breakup from someone you thought you were gonna marry. But even after I moved on, I mean, I can find my own dates. Do I not look like someone who can find his own dates?"
Billy shrugged as he took another bite.
"And it's all 'she's so great,' 'you'll love him once you get to know him,' 'you two have soooo much in common.' And now..." Steve sighed. "Now I'm just tired. Seeing my friends feels like seeing my parents. Where I have to put on a show or something cause I don't want to hurt their feelings. I'm not avoiding dating but I'm also fine being single right now. I mean, if I meet someone, great. If I don't, that's fine. Sorry I'm going on and on. I've been told I ramble."
"I don't mind,” Billy said after taking a sip from his drink. “Your food’s getting cold though."
Steve took a bite of his burger, "Thanks, by the way. For giving me an out."
"No problem. You looked like you were worried the building was gonna attack."
Steve laughed.
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After dinner, Steve felt like he wanted to walk Billy back to his apartment building. But he was worried about accidentally being caught in his lie so he and Billy shared a brief goodbye and walked their separate ways.
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Over the next few days, Steve couldn't help but think about Billy. Which is why when he walked into the bookstore Steve worked in, Steve felt like he had somehow manifested him.
Billy saw Steve behind the counter and stopped.
"Hi," Billy said, tilting his head.
"Hi,” Steve replied.
"I didn't know you worked here or anything," Billy explained as he walked towards the counter Steve was standing behind.
Steve laughed, "I didn't think you did. I don't think I've ever seen you in here before."
"I'm a grad student at UCSF. My schedule changed this term, so even with school and work, I actually feel like I have any amount of time to myself again."
Steve smiled, "That’s cool. Well, let me know if you need anything."
Billy nodded and walked further into the bookstore.
As Billy browsed through the small bookstore, Steve couldn't help but steal glances.
'Just being professional. Keeping an eye on the customer,' he told himself.
A few times though he caught Billy looking back and smiling. So when Billy came back to the counter with a few books to buy, Steve decided to go for it.
"Would you.... like to go out some time?"
Billy smiled. "Yeah"
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Steve stood outside the restaurant waiting for Billy. This was the second time this week he felt nervous for a date. But instead of the dread he felt for the blind date, this nervousness feels more like excitement. Sure he doesn't really know anything about this guy, but isn't that the point of dating? To get to know one another?
"Hey," said a voice interrupting Steve’s nervous thinking.
Steve spun around at the sound to see Billy smiling at him. He was wearing a red button-up that was barely buttoned. Steve could see his tattoo sleeve extended onto his chest. For a moment he wondered where else Billy might be tattooed, but he shook himself out of that train of thought. It was only a first date after all.
"Hey," Steve replied "Should we go in?"
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As first dates go, this had to be the best one Steve had had in a long time. Possibly ever. It felt like they talked about everything. And for long enough that the waitstaff was starting to give them not-so-subtle hints that it was time they left the restaurant. After dinner, Billy offered to walk Steve home. Which Steve quickly accepted. Steve only lived a few blocks away but they decided to take the long way. By starting in the wrong direction and making very few useful turns. He just didn't want the night to end. So when they finally did make it to Steve's apartment building, and Billy leaned in for their first kiss, they both decided the night didn't have to end.
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The next morning, Steve woke up to a loud crashing noise and mumbled swearing coming from outside his bedroom door. He got up, put on some sweatpants, and went to investigate. He found Billy crouching in the kitchen picking up what looked like burnt toast and definitely his toaster off the floor. Billy spotted Steve's feet and looked up sheepishly,
"Sorry. I was trying to make you breakfast,” Billy said, putting everything on the counter. “Apparently your toaster and I have different opinions about the settings. I didn't mean to wake you."
"It's okay," Steve said, smiling. "The toaster is pretty old and really should be shown who's boss."
Billy smiled, relieved Steve wasn't upset.
"How about we go out to brunch instead?" Steve asked. "There's a great cafe around the corner. Unless you already have plans that is"
"The only thing I was gonna do today was go see that Van Gogh exhibit at the art museum. But we could do that after brunch if you were up for it?"
"Sounds great."
Brunch went much like dinner the night before. Steve wasn't sure how they hadn't run out of things to say to each other and at the same time felt like he never would. Afterwards, they walked to the art museum. Steve admitted he'd never been in this art museum so Billy took it upon himself to become tour guide. Which mostly meant making up facts about the paintings and artists. They took turns creating dialogue for the figures in the paintings, and were only glared at once by a few old ladies when Billy said a rather raunchy line a bit too loud. But Billy smiled when Steve laughed, so it felt like a win.
Steve's stomach growled as they left the art museum, having spent the better part of the day wandering inside.
"Sorry," he laughed.
"No worries," Billy replied. "We could go to dinner if you want. There's a great Chinese place a few blocks away."
"I love dim sum."
At dinner, they talked, and laughed, and shared. Steve told Billy that when he was a kid he used to only eat the middle out of the shrimp balls and Billy admitted to Steve that he names all of his plants.
"Fern-ando is my favorite."
And after dinner they once again found themselves in Steve's bed. It all felt so perfect to Steve.
So of course the next morning something had to go wrong.
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Steve woke up to his phone buzzing with a text. Without opening his eyes, Steve patted at the side table until he found his phone. He blearily opened the notification.
New text message from Robin
"Okay we're all set for tonight.
Please actually come this time.
Shelly really thinks you and Dan would be great."
Steve rolled his eyes and turned over to find the other side of the bed empty. He ventured out of the bedroom to find a now familiar sight of Billy standing in his kitchen.
"I'm making friends with your toaster," Billy said, taking a bite from only slightly burnt toast.
Steve smiled. "You always get up early?" He asked, taking a slice of toast from Billy's plate.
"Force of habit."
The look on Billy's face made Steve think there was more to that but that this wasn't the time to ask.
"So. You have any plans for today?" Billy asked. "Cause as much as I'd be happy to hang out some more, I gotta go get groceries. Plus I should probably change. Wearing the same clothes on Sunday I had on on Friday night definitely says I had a good time though," Billy says smiling.
Steve smiled then sighed.
"That blind date I avoided when we met? I got a text a few minutes ago from my friend reminding me that her girlfriend had redone it for tonight."
"Oh," Billy says as his face falls.
"I'm gonna text her and-"
"No. Don't," Billy shook his head. "I mean do what you want but you don't have to cancel it because of me."
"Oh."
"I mean, I'm not gonna pretend I love that, but this is new so if you want to go on that date to at least appease your friend... I get it. Who knows. Maybe that person will be your soulmate. You seem like the kinda guy who believes in that."
Steve nods and looks away.
"It's okay. Really." Billy reassures. He puts his hand on Steve's shoulder, "I'm gonna get dressed and head out. You text me if you want."
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All that day Steve felt a weight on him. He knew his friends were all just trying to help but he didn't need help. But he's always been a bit of a people pleaser so turning down this blind date that Robin has set up twice feels like he'd be letting her down. On the other hand, being with Billy feels great and going on this date feels like he's betraying him. As he walks up to the familiar front door, Steve wants to go in with an open mind. But he also just wants to go home.
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The dinner was fine. Dan was fine. Everything was... fine. Except that Dan only talked about his work as an orthodontist and Steve really couldn't care less about any teeth other than his. And he only cared about his as long as they stayed in my mouth. Shelly kept trying to push them together but Robin could tell Steve was drifting further away as the night went on. Finally after dinner was over, Robin made an excuse to get Steve alone in the bedroom.
"So?" Robin asked, shutting the door.
"He's nice."
"Not about Dan,” Robin shook her head. “What's with you tonight? I know you weren't super excited to come. I mean really? Food poisoning? You can't fool me, Dingus. But even so, it's like your mind is somewhere else entirely. So? What gives?"
"It's just... I met this guy."
"Dingus!” She punches his shoulder. “Why didn't you tell me?"
"It's a long story and it's pretty new. I actually just finished a date with him this morning. Or maybe it was two dates? We started on Friday. Anyways, he knows all about what I'm doing here but I still..."
"Rather be with him?"
"Yeah. I'm sorry."
"What could you possibly think you have to be sorry for?"
"Well I know how much Shelly wanted her set-up to work-"
"Shelly’ll get over it."
"And you went to all this trouble. And you're all just trying to-"
"Dingus, my Dingus. Steve,” she grabbed him by both shoulders. “Fuck us. Fuck all of us. We're your friends, and sure some are pushier than others, but in the end we just want you to be happy-"
"I know. I know. It's just-"
Robin put her hand over his mouth.
"And as your best friend, I can confidently say that if you've already met a guy you like, then what the fuck are you still doing here?"
Robin smiled at Steve as she removed her hands from his face and shoulder.
"Thanks, Robs," Steve smiled back at her.
"Now go. Get your man. And I better hear the whole story soon."
"You're actually sorta responsible."
Robin raised an eyebrow.
"I'll tell everything tomorrow," Steve finished, as he opened the door. "Dan, it was really nice to meet you and-"
Steve looked around to see that the only other person in the room was Shelly, looking sheepish.
"Dan... wasn't feeling well." Shelly explained. "He's sorry he didn't say goodbye."
"Oh. Well that was easy." Steve kissed Robin's cheek, "I'll call you tomorrow"
"You'd better." Robin said to Steve's retreating back
"Bye Shelly," Steve said as he left the apartment.
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Steve took the stairs two at a time as he went up the single flight to Billy's floor. He knocked on the door, bouncing on his toes as he waited. When Billy answered the door, Steve wasted no time and kissed him.
"If you're still interested, I'd really like to date you," Steve said as he pulled away.
"Yeah," Billy smiled. "Yeah I'm interested."
Steve smiled as Billy pulled him into the apartment by his shirt front and shut the door.