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Phil is a little nervous about tonight. Finally, after years of happenstance meetings across the globe he has gotten Sam the Surfer's number. He and Sam (just Sam now) have been mostly texting: getting to know each other, plenty of flirting and suggestive selfies—well, mostly flirting and suggestive selfies—and today is finally the night of their first date.
It is a bit of a random one, Sam has an extra ticket to a book reading and signing tonight and has invited Phil to come along. It is not exactly the romantic and carefully thought out first date with plenty of time for built in for chatting that Phil would normally want, but it is fine. They can grab a drink after.
Phil has never heard of the author before, he is a professional surfer turned motivational speaker—right up Sam's alley—but Phil wants to make effort so he got a copy of the book on his e-reader and read it earlier that week. It was—fine. Mostly just not very interesting. Phil is sure that the surfing accomplishments are impressive, not that he would know, but it hadn't seemed like quite enough content to make a book out of, and the motivational stuff Phil hadn't found, well, motivating.
It wouldn't be his first suboptimal first date, so Phil does up his hair, puts on a favorite of his nice shirts, and heads out to the bookstore. Sam had texted him that he was already inside to get a good seat so Phil walks right up to the entrance. There is a—surely it can't be a bouncer. This was a bookstore and that is one of the tallest twinks he has seen in his life, he has barely more substance to his arms than Phil does, but he is definitely posted at the door.
"Ticket?" Tall twink says.
"Oh—um." Phil pats his pockets helplessly. He knows he doesn't have a ticket. "My, um, date must have it." He points inside. "He got here already, I didn't know we needed them."
Tall twink rolls his eyes. "Honestly, you really don't. There's no way this guy would draw enough of a crowd to merit ticketing, seems like he just wants to foster a sense of exclusivity. You can just go in, I really don't give a shit."
The guy looks dead serious, he really doesn't seem to give a shit. Phil grins, "Okay, great! Thank you, um…"
Tall twink nods. "Dan."
"Thanks, Dan. I'm Phil."
With a dramatic sweeping of his hands Dan waves him inside, "Alright, Phil, enjoy the show."
Inside it is a fairly normal sized bookstore for the city, with chairs set up chairs for today's event to the side. Two chairs and mics are at the front, and about 40 or so chairs facing them, backed all the way up to the checkout counter. There are folks milling around, but Dan is right, it doesn't look like nearly as many people as chairs. He sees the back of Sam's blonde head in the front row.
"Sam, hi!"
"Phil!" Sam stands up to give him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "So glad we're finally doing this," he says, returning to his seat.
"Me too!" Phil goes to sit and sees that the chair next to Sam's has a coat on it. "Oh is that yours?"
Sam glances down. "Oh, no. That's Sarah's. Just met her tonight, she's a huge fan too, super cool!"
Looking around, Phil asks, "Where's my seat?"
Sam smiles, "Oh, there was just the one seat left up here so I grabbed it."
It is more surprising that upsetting, Phil can't guard his response. "Seriously?"
Sam looks at him, seemingly surprised that Phil is upset. "Yeah! It's not like we could talk during the reading anyway, Phil. It won't make a difference."
Phil nods, "Right, sure."
Frowning, Sam looks down to Phil's hands. "Did you forget your book?"
"No," Phil says, "I read it on e-reader."
"Then what are you going to have him sign?"
Again, seriously? "Nothing?"
"Phil, kind of rude to come to the event and not have anything for him to sign, don't you think?" Sam lets out a weak laugh. "They've got copies for sale here, just go buy one."
Resisting an eye roll, Phil grits out a smile, "Yeah, sure. I'll go do that. I'll just grab a seat too, it's starting soon. I'll see you after?"
Sam smiles up at him, "Sounds great, babe."
Phil can't help but roll his eyes at the "babe" as he walks back to the counter. He's immediately disappointed in himself for it. Sam's right that they wouldn't get to talk, and it doesn't really matter they can't sit together even though Phil would have chosen to prioritize time together on a first date. He wants to keep up a positive vibe for the rest of this evening, he can't let the universe down by giving up at the first speed-bump after it worked so hard shoving them together again and again.
Tall-Twink-Dan is at the counter now. Phil grimaces at him."Hi, I'd like to get a copy of the book."
Grabbing a copy, Dan smirks back, "Big fan, huh?"
Phil rolls his eyes again. "I did read it. Apparently that wasn't sufficient and I need a physical copy to get signed."
Dan rings him up, "Well I'm sure it makes a lovely paperweight."
Phil giggles at that, "You're not a fan?"
Dan looks down with a small smile. "Sorry, shouldn't be rude about the subject of the event when they're in the building. I read it, I read all the books for our guests. Just not my thing I guess."
"Not a self help guy?"
Dan quirks an eyebrow, "No, I like self help. I just like it to be helpful."
Phil lets out a proper laugh at that one. "Well, maybe I'll have to come back another time and get some proper recommendations."
Dan looks a little sheepish at that, and hands over his book. "You know where to find us. Well, enjoy the rest of your date."
That's the goal. Phil gives a polite smile, "Will do."
A lot of the seats are full now so Phil settles into a chair at the back row; if he's not sitting next to his date he'd rather not sit next to a stranger if he can avoid it. The moderator comes out to announce the start of the reading, and the author comes out to enthusiastic applause, especially from the front row.
A shadow slides in next to Phil, startling him.
"This seat taken?" Dan asks.
Phil shakes his head no. Maybe a bit of company would be nice after all.
"Where's the boyfriend?" Dan asks, stage whispering under the author's long-winded introduction.
Shaking his head Phil whispers, "Not boyfriend. First date." He points to the front, "He's a big fan."
Dan quirks an eyebrow and says loud enough for Phil to cringe, "He took you on a first date to a see guy you don't care about and won't even sit with you?"
Some heads turn to look at them and Phil gives an apologetic wave.
"Shh," he scolds. Dan seems amused.
Sorry—Dan mouths with an exaggerated eyebrow raise and they turn their attention to the talk.
The talk goes as the book did, a bit dry, more than a bit self-indulgent. Phil would be totally spacing out if not for the fact that Dan is quite engaged in the talk, with snorts of condescension and muttered commentary the whole time.
He's funny, really funny. Should be a book critic as far as Phil can tell. At one point he makes Phil laugh out loud, responding to the authors anecdote about a time he was able to overcome a tough time by telling myself I was strong, with an "O.K. Rachel Platten."
That gives them another few stern looks from the rows in front, and Phil finds himself sinking deeper into his chair while he tries to hide his giggles.
The talk goes by faster than he expected, and eventually everyone is up and shifting around for the signing.
Sam passes by them on the way to the line. "Gonna get to the front! Come join when you can!"
They both watch him hurry away as Phil grabs his belongings.
"Well, I'll give you that he's fit. Hopefully he's a good fuck too, to be worth putting up with the shit he's put you through on this date."
"Dan!" Phil hisses. The woman from the row in front of them is properly glaring now.
"What? If I were you I would have walked away the second the guy abandoned me outside without a ticket. There's faster and less painful ways to get dick this day and age, you know."
"It's not—" Phil doesn't think he has time to get into the universe's role on the situation so he just say, "He's nice. I'm giving it a shot."
Dan gives a glance to the back of Sam's head. "Nice and friendly are two different things, but good luck with that." He pats Phil's shoulder. "Enjoy the lay."
The line is long by the time Phil gets over there and Sam managed to grab a spot about halfway up. He's talking enthusiastically with the person Phil assumes is Sarah from the front row.
"Hey babe," Sam squeezes his hand and kisses a cheek. "What did you think?"
Phil considers how to say this kindly, "It was about what I expected."
Sam gives him a sideways glace, "Sounded like you were a little distracted in the back."
Phil winces, "Oh, it was just Dan—he works here. He was um, telling me some stuff."
Sam sighs, "I really wish you had given this event a little bit more respect, Phil." He squeezes his hand again and turns back to Sarah.
The word respect is swimming in Phil's mind as the line inches forward. He should have given this event more respect.
Nice and friendly are two different things.
Phil grabs Sam's shoulder and he turns.
"You're right Sam," Phil says with an artificial smile. "You deserve someone respectful. Hopefully the next date is that. Here," Phil shoves the brand new book into his hand, "Maybe he'll like a signed copy of the book, give you both something to talk about on that first date."
Phil spins to walk off.
"Phil!" He doesn't turn around. Nobody runs after him. Phil doesn't blame him, he'd hate to lose that precious place in line.
When Phil gets back to the checkout counter Dan blinks at him in surprise.
"Need another copy?"
"Definitely not. One fewer copy maybe. Do you have plans after this?"
A slow grin spreads on Dan's face. "You guys looking for a third?"
Phil laughs out loud at that. "No. I mean who know what he's up to tonight, but it won't be me." His mouth quirks at the accidental innuendo.
Dan looks down to Phil's empty hands. "You know you could have returned the book, right?"
Oh. "Um, well. I think I made a dramatic point, so maybe that was worth the £25."
Dan laughs. "Well, my plans for tonight mostly involved sitting on my couch in my pants playing Mario Kart. But I could be persuaded otherwise."
Phil sighed longingly, "That sounds perfect actually. Do you mind some company?"
There's a dimple on Dan's cheek that is out in full force now. "I know I said there are easier ways to get dick, but I'm not quite that easy," Dan teases.
Phil blushes, "Oh my god, I'm sorry. I meant genuinely. Sitting in my pants gaming is actually my normal Friday night. And it was nice chatting with you, really. I'd like to get to know you more."
There's a blush on Dan's cheek now too. "I'm just fucking with you, for someone like you I am that easy. But thanks. Yeah, come on over. We'll start with trousers off on the couch and see where the night takes us."
Phil giggles. God, this guy is fun. "Sounds perfect."