Title: The Bad Date (One Shot - T version)
Summary: An online first date gone bad. A guy with a bad attitude and a pushy demeanor may be too much for Tris to handle. Will a handsome dark-haired stranger come to her rescue in time?
Part I: Getting Ready
** Tris POV **
Hmmm, what to wear tonight?
Running my own events planning business always has me on my feet, or I should say it always has me in heels. Whether I am coordinating a high school reunion, bar mitzvah or a five-hundred person wedding, appearances are everything. I'm paid top dollar to appear calm and collected at all times while running their show flawlessly. It's a high stress job, but I love it. The thrill I get after a successful event is incredible. Even so, I am really tired of dressing to the nines since I have to do it for work all the time. I look at my sweatpants longingly.
Stop it, Tris. You need to at least try to give this date a chance.
I am twenty-seven years old, single, and my profession does not make it easy to meet guys. I laugh thinking about the Jennifer Lopez movie, The Wedding Planner — so romantic, yet so unrealistic. Sadly, Mom saw it, too, and she keeps warning me not to fall for any of the grooms. Um, yeah — I'll try to control myself, ha! As most of my friends are settling down and starting families, I am taking matters into my own hands, and I'm trying this online dating thing.
Slowly blowing air through my lips, I pull up the weather on my iPhone again.
Ugh. Typical South Florida rain. Awful thunderstorms one minute, open skies the next. Of course now, just as I will need to walk several blocks to a sports bar, it is like a monsoon out there. My car had two flats this afternoon, and by the time I was able to get it to the tire shop they were about to close and didn't have my model of tires in stock. I must've driven through a construction site, since they found nails embedded in all four tires. So, I am vehicle-challenged this evening.
At least my date seemed cool when I asked to change the location of dinner. We had initially agreed on a sports bar in the middle between Miami and Ft. Lauderdale, but with my car troubles I didn't want to take an Uber so far. We agreed to meet at Bokamper's, a great sports bar right on the Ft. Lauderdale intracoastal. Aside from the fun atmosphere and great food and drinks, it's also possible to watch the yachts and boats going by, whether sitting at the outdoor bar or at a table.
It is also several blocks from my duplex apartment, so I can easily walk there. What I was not anticipating, however, was this tremendous downpour. I'll look like a drowned rat for sure!
I settle on a maroon A-line skirt, short heels and a black, fitted top. I chuckle as I stare in the mirror at my perfectly straight, long hair. Once the rain gets to me, it will bounce right back to the naturally loose curls I am always blow drying out. I bite my lip and wonder if my umbrella will be enough to keep me looking presentable. I think about the pictures we've exchanged — my date is really good looking. Just my type, too: blond and built. I'm hopeful we will hit it off. I'd love to turn off my dating profile.
The chime of my cell phone breaks me out of my own thoughts, and I pick it up to see who has texted me. Smiling, I read his message:
Hey Tris! I'm really looking forward to meeting you for the first time at our date tonight.
Before I can overthink it, I write back:
Me too, Eric. Would you mind picking me up at the corner of my block? I'll be the girl with the red umbrella.
++++o++++
Part II: The Bad Date
** Tris POV **
I step out of my apartment duplex ten minutes before we agreed to meet down the block. There is a covered bus stop, so I'll be able to get out of the rain. A girl can't be too careful; I don't need a guy I haven't met yet knowing where I live. Turning to lock the deadbolt with my key, I'm startled when I hear someone clear their throat right behind me.
"Tris, I assume?" Eric says, his voice sounding very confident and charming.
My eyes widen as I whirl around, shocked.
"Sorry! I didn't mean to frighten you. I was planning to surprise you with these," Eric says while handing me a large bouquet of red roses.
I smile and thank him. It crosses my mind that he now knows exactly where I live. Just great.
Eric smiles. He is just as handsome as every photo he posted on his dating profile. It throws me that he insists on waiting outside as I put my flowers away. It's not like I asked him to come in.
He's parked right in front of my duplex. He mentions what a coincidence, since he had planned to be waiting at the corner with red flowers in hand to match my red umbrella. I smile at him, relaxing some. That is a sweet gesture.
As Eric opens the passenger door to his BMW, he compliments me. "I like the bar you picked, and it has great reviews on Yelp."
"Yeah, it's a really fun place," I reply tightly. I am still feeling a little nervous as this is the start of the date.
"Don't get me wrong, this was quite the drive all the way from Miami, but I can already tell that you are worth the effort," Eric says with a smirk as he fastens his seatbelt.
I nod politely as I push away the weird vibe I am getting, reminding myself this is just one dinner. Another reason why I'm single, aside from my crazy work schedule, is that I'm too picky and closed off with men. Some of my happiest friends had rough starts with their now-husbands. Dating is hard, for me at least.
What I'm hoping to avoid is the uncomfortable drop off when the night is over. Now that Eric knows where I live, I may need to be firm that he is not coming in at the end of our date. I'm not into one night stands. I've learned from personal experience that guys don't usually mean it when they say, "I'll just come in for one drink." To each their own, but hooking up so quickly is just not for me.
After Eric valets his car, I hear him tell the hostess he would like a table with some privacy but also with a clear view of the water. Typical Florida, it's not raining now. We are led to a booth. As Eric ushers me into my side of the table I notice how obvious he is about staring at my ass. He doesn't even try to hide it. I shift my eyes and pretend I didn't notice.
The hostess, who saw the whole thing, quickly hands us two menus and then takes off. I glance around the room; it is a pretty busy night, but also pretty tame. My friends and I love coming here for big sports games or trivia nights.
Before I can open my menu, I am surprised to feel Eric's hand on mine from across the table. I glance up to see what he has to say.
"I just want to say how nice it is to not be disappointed by one of these online dates," Eric says smoothly. I smile politely, thinking about how nice he is. Until he continues to speak, that is.
"I can't tell you how many times I pick the girl up and she is a dog. I've actually asked dates who they paid to let them use their photo for their dating website," Eric laughs.
I blink rapidly. Although a compliment to me, I'm instantly put off at how rude he is being. My lips pressed together, I stay silent. What can I say to that? I've also been on internet dates where the man must have used a picture of himself taken a decade or two prior. I never saw the point of being rude about it.
"I have to admit, I'm a total tits guy. At first, your pictures made me think twice. I wasn't sure your small, perky boobs would do it for me. But let me say, your fine ass makes up for it," Eric smiles seductively at me. "You are a gorgeous woman, Tris. You have an amazing body with the most beautiful mouth I've ever seen."
The waitress standing at our table clears her throat. My eyes are the size of saucers, while Eric scowls at her for interrupting him.
"Hey, guys. My name is Tori, I'm your waitress tonight. What can I get you started with?" she says confidently, immediately striking me as someone who doesn't take any crap. If she heard what Eric was just saying to me, she's not letting on.
"We will start with two Coronas. Please keep the beers flowing. I'm not going to be happy if I end up with an empty bottle. Got it, Rory?" Eric says coolly while watching me intently.
"Sure thing," Tori mumbles while not correcting him on her name.
"Excuse me, may I also have a glass of water?" I ask politely. I'm unnerved by the direction this date is going.
"Sure thing, miss," Tori says while retreating, giving me a sympathetic look the moment Eric glances away from us to check out the score of the game on the television.
My mind is racing — is this guy for real? We haven't even gotten our first drink and he is talking about my breasts and butt? How is he also a guidance counselor at a high school?! I lean back on my side of the booth, resting my chin on my hands that are propped up, my elbows resting on the table. I'm making it a point to block my subpar "tits" from his view.
I fight to keep the scowl off my face. In that moment, I decide this will be the fastest dinner in the history of man, and then I will get myself home with an Uber. Eric begins rambling on about his online poker ring, and how good of a player he is. If he can find enough suckers, that's when he makes the big money.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see a handsome, brown-haired man enter the outside seating area and make a beeline for a group I noticed earlier. They're having a small family celebration, a birthday dinner for the adorable baby at their table not too far from mine, although it looks like their meal is almost over. I smile softly at how happy his friends are when he arrives. When the brown-haired man looks my way, we lock eyes, and I feel an instant spark of connection. He is staring at me intently, too. For a moment, I wonder if we know each other. I've worked so many events, between guests and different vendors, it's definitely possible.
Mm-mm, he is so damned good-looking. His friends seem normal, too, and he is probably not an asshole like my date.
Then I remember I am here on a date, and although it's been a shitty start, I am not going to be that girl. Blushing deeply, I force myself to look away from the handsome stranger and focus on my beer, which I haven't yet touched. Stealing a glance at Eric, I see that he is engrossed on his cell phone and didn't notice my wandering eyes.
Wait, is Eric looking at sexy chick pics on his cell?! I force myself to look away again. I don't even care.
"Where the fuck is that waitress? She sucks, and she has a bad attitude. What a perfect combination," Eric mutters grumpily.
I frown at his rudeness, having no idea what our waitress could have done to make him so cranky. She has kept his stupid beers flowing. I decide to change the subject. I can't stand to hear people rag on servers that are only guilty of working their asses off.
"So, you're a guidance counselor… how was work today?" I ask pointedly. I am done listening to him bitch about our waitress.
"My day was the usual bullshit. Working at a ghetto high school in Miami is never boring between the sluts, druggies, and moron jocks. And that's just the students. My annoying coworkers and asshole boss are always up my ass, too," Eric grunts while rolling his eyes.
I have nothing to say to that, so I just bite the inside of my cheek and remain quiet.
"Oh, I had one girl offer me a blow job in exchange for me signing off on a semester's worth of counseling sessions she didn't get done!" Eric howls with laughter. "But then I remembered we had this date. Hey, don't worry — I turned her down."
My eyes widen in shock, is he kidding right now?
"Here is your beer, and I'm ready to take your order," Tori snaps at Eric. She has a frown on her face. She obviously heard him.
As Eric and Tori discuss the menu, I feel the hair on the back of my neck prickle. I glance at the bar and see the handsome stranger is getting a round of drinks for his table and is charging them to his credit card. I notice the way he smiles kindly at the older gentleman tending bar, and as he sits to wait, his eyes immediately find mine. Butterflies are tickling in my chest, and I can't ignore the warm, jittery feelings he gives me. He's staring at me intently again. And then I see a frown cross his face as he glances away from me.
I forget all about the brown-haired stranger as my attention is immediately snapped back to Eric, who's now standing at my side of the booth and moving to sit down right next to me.
I frown at him and shake my head no before I can formulate words.
"Come on, Tris. Unless you want to sit on my lap, which I wouldn't mind, scoot over and make room," Eric says snidely as he slides into the booth next to me.
"Eric, I would rather you stayed on your side. We don't even really know each other yet, and—" I begin, feeling flustered. I have zero desire to sit so close to this jerk.
"You're being silly, just move over," Eric commands as his hip rams into mine and he forces his way into my booth.
Accepting that I am not going to convince him, I slide over as far away as possible. Ugh, this date just keeps getting worse and worse.
When Tori brings over the nachos we ordered as an appetizer, her eyes almost bug out of her head upon seeing the new seating arrangement. This time I give her the "please help me" look, and she purses her lips. I decide in that moment that this date needs to end as soon as possible. The sooner the food is gone, the sooner I can leave. I'm so over this night. I want to go home and put my sweatpants on. This experience has made me regret going on this date at all — I'd rather be single than date jerks like this.
I begin eating quickly, regretting the burger I ordered. As I am inhaling the nachos, I decide I can ask Tori to put my meal in a to-go box and just bill me for my portion of the food and drinks. I'm not even bothering to fake small talk at this point.
I just want out.
Eric starts laughing at me. He is well into his third beer at this point. I frown and brace myself, I can tell from his evil smirk he thinks he has something amusing to say to me.
"Well, at least I know you can swallow, right?" Eric says really loudly.
Stunned, I drop my fork and it crashes with a loud clank onto my plate. My cheeks instantly turn flaming red; I can feel the heat making its way down my neck and chest.
I am livid. In my twenty-seven years of life, no man has ever talked to me this way. Enough is enough.
"Eric, that was completely inappropriate!" I hiss at him. My eyes burn with anger.
Eric rolls his eyes while waving his hand in a 'shoo' type motion, and says, "Oh, calm down! I was going to find out in a few hours anyways."
My back stiffens, he basically just told me he expects me to suck his dick later tonight.
I'm so done.
"This date is over. Get the hell away from me. Move!" I say forcefully. "I want out of this booth."
Eric doesn't move to let me out of the booth. Instead, he leans closer to me. I teeter between anger and utter confusion. My brows furrow as I instinctively lean further away from him.
Suddenly, Eric's face is cold and hard. His eyes narrow as he leans closer to me again. "Sweetheart, I picked you up. I know where you live."
For the first time in my life, I feel scared of a man. This lowlife knows exactly where I live. I suddenly feel clammy and sick to my stomach. I lower my eyes, biting the inside of my cheek to keep from crying.
I don't know what to say or do.
++++o++++
Part III: A Hero
** Tris POV **
Before I can decide what to do about my situation, the handsome man appears and is standing over our booth. He looks at me sympathetically for a moment before directing his gaze coldly to Eric. The stranger grabs a nearby chair and places it at the edge of our booth. He sits down and joins us, essentially blocking Eric into the booth. I feel Eric's body stiffen next to me, and for a moment, I worry Eric may lose it and things may get physical.
As Eric and the stranger stare each other down, I can't help but notice how incredibly attractive this man is. I'm guessing he is a couple of years older than me. He's wearing a dark grey suit that fits him perfectly. He has brown hair, dark blue eyes, and the most gorgeous face. His lips are plump and look extremely kissable.
I realize this is not an appropriate time to have these thoughts, but hey, I'm not blind.
Eric is full-on scowling while looking the man up and down. The stranger quickly pulls out his Fort Lauderdale Police Department ID and puts it on the table for Eric to see. Eric's eyes widen, his demeanor instantly changing. Instead of being ready for a fight, he cowers back into the booth.
"Hopefully you are capable of reading my ID. I am Detective Eaton," the man says coldly. "I was quietly celebrating my goddaughter's birthday with my dear friends when I distinctly heard you threaten this young lady. Would you care to explain yourself?" Detective Eaton says firmly, a serious look on his face as he stares at Eric.
Eric is nervously wringing his hands. "I, ah, well, um, you see…"
Detective Eaton glares at bumbling Eric. "That's what I thought. Now see, the police take a very dim view of that kind of thing. So, right now I'm deciding if I want to have some of my buddies come pick you up," the detective says calmly.
I can physically feel Eric trembling next to me. "Oh! Um, well that…" he stutters.
Cutting Eric off, the detective quietly says, "But that would disrupt everyone's dinner, so how about this: you hand me your ID, because I wouldn't want you running off on me, and I'll wait here while you settle your full bill. This young lady shouldn't go hungry on account of your very poor behavior. Or we can go with the first option. I'll leave it up to you."
I sit quietly, watching the exchange and feeling a tremendous sense of relief and gratitude.
Quickly handing the detective his ID, Eric says, "No, no! That's perfectly fine!" in a high-pitched voice. He sounds terrified.
Almost as scared as I was feeling a few moments ago.
After the detective looks over the ID, he then scowls at Eric, "Well?"
Eric scurries to stumble out of the booth, having to quickly squeeze past Detective Eaton. Eric rushes over to Tori, who waves the bill at him with a smirk on her face. She was watching the entire exchange from the bar and was ready for Eric to settle the bill.
I watch as the detective pulls a small notepad out of his inside suit pocket and begins jotting down the details from Eric's ID.
"Sorry about that, miss, I hope I'm not intruding. It just seemed like you could use some help," the detective pauses to look at me, and instantly the spark is there again. His eyes glance at my lips and then he quickly catches himself and looks away for a moment. He glances at my eyes again before turning his attention back to writing Eric's information down. "Oh, and don't worry, if you want to pursue this further, I'll have some of the boys pick him up on his way home. We can definitely have charges pressed," he finishes.
"No charges, I really just want to forget he exists. Thank you so much, Detective Eaton. And my name is Tris Prior, by the way." I smile gratefully at him, and he gives me a small smile in return. "He's awful. I wanted to run out of here from the moment the date started. But as you heard, it just kept getting worse and worse. The joys of internet dating..." I joke, suddenly feeling self-conscious.
I look down, biting my lip. I'm embarrassed to find myself in this situation at all. I'm not a teenager, I should have put the brakes on much earlier. My biggest mistake was having him pick me up anywhere near my home.
Detective Eaton clears his throat to get my attention back on him. "Well, I'm here with some close friends — more like family, really." He suddenly stops writing in order to make eye contact, giving me his full attention. I gulp nervously, his gaze is so intense. "It's my goddaughter's first birthday dinner celebration. Perhaps you'd like to finish your meal with us? I can take you home afterwards, unless you'd prefer to call someone else?" the detective finishes softly as he continues to hold my gaze. As if I could look away.
I smile with relief, the knot in my stomach unraveling as I realize how incredibly kind he is. And let's not forget handsome. I fight to control the strong urge I have to touch his beautiful face and devour those full lips. He is so gorgeous, and all I can think about is how I want to–
"Um, Ms. Prior?" the detective tries to get my attention, raising his eyebrows and smiling.
"Yes?" I can't believe I let my mind wander to those places, and I pause, flustered. "I mean, yes. That would be really nice, thank you so much!" I say excitedly, smiling at him with relief. The thought of walking out of here alone and waiting for an Uber sends chills down my spine. I was really shaken up by Eric's threats. "Please call me Tris," I add, loving the way his eyes warm up and he steals another glance at my lips. Oh my, could he possibly feel even one-tenth of the attraction I do? My cheeks flush with warmth.
"Only if you call me by my first name. It's Tobias," he says calmly while smiling at me. Tobias's eyes then become cold and serious as Eric quietly approaches the table, his head down.
Eric looks embarrassed. When he glances up to stare at me, I immediately feel uncomfortable and shift further away, making myself a smaller target. He then turns his attention to Tobias. "Uh, so, I've paid the bill, if I could have my ID back now?"
Tobias stands up to face Eric head on. "Here you go." He hands the ID back to Eric. "Now, I have your details right here," Tobias says while showing Eric his notepad. "So, I highly recommend you don't contact or go near this lady ever again."
Eric gulps, apparently realizing the severity of the situation. "Yes, yes of course. I'm so sorry!"
Eric runs out of the bar without even giving me a second glance, and Tobias watches him leave.
Tobias then sits back down in the chair he had pulled over, and we smile at each other a little awkwardly, neither of us saying anything.
Tori arrives at the table with a big smile on her face. "I charged Eric for the burger she ordered, and I made the personal decision to add one of our specialty items, the strawberry milkshake that's made for two people to share. The food and shake will be coming out shortly." She eyes us mischievously.
I bite my lip as Tobias and I lock eyes. I see a slight flush to his cheeks. I can tell he is waiting for me to say something.
"So, do you like strawberry milkshakes?" I smile at him and raise my eyebrows questioningly.
Tobias grins at me. "My absolute favorite! Come on, Tris, my friends and I would love to have you join us."
He stands up and offers me his hand to help me up. I smile at him as I take it, immediately impressed by his firm grip.
++++o++++
Part IV: Dinner with Friends
** Tobias POV **
I shoot Zeke a look to let him know she is joining us before standing and offering Tris my hand. I'm oddly excited; there is something about this girl that has me completely intrigued. She is not just gorgeous, there's also a warmth and intelligence to her that I find very attractive.
I'm of course relieved that dealing with her obnoxious date went smoothly, but there was a little part of me that would have enjoyed pummeling him had he given me cause. Only in self-defense, of course.
I've seen a lot in my line of work, and that little bastard was pushing the envelope. I'm pretty good at reading people, and I can honestly say that I don't think he was actually joking.
The moment I arrived, I sensed something was off with my group of friends. Before they could even get me up to speed, I happened to glance around the room and that was when I saw her. She was just lovely, and her expressive eyes captivated me immediately. Had Tris been sitting with a group of girlfriends instead of being on a date, I would have walked right over to introduce myself.
And I never do that. Ever.
Tris nervously gives my hand a squeeze as we arrive at the table, my friends eagerly awaiting us. Most wave excitedly; they love a good show. I can see Zeke looks a little disappointed. He had told me before I walked over to confront Eric that he would be ready to assist in the event the jerk overpowered me.
As if.
I slowly run my thumb along the inside of Tris's palm to reassure her. I'm surprised when my own heart skips a beat at the contact.
When I approach, I give a quick introduction to my group of friends:
❖ My best friend Zeke, and his wife Shauna. And, of course, the birthday girl, Leah, who just turned one, and who is also my goddaughter.
❖ Uriah, who is Zeke's younger brother, and his fiancée, Marlene. I mention that Marlene and I share godparenting duties as she is Leah's godmother.
❖ And lastly, there is Lynn, who is Shauna's sister, and her girlfriend, Josie.
Tris smiles politely as I introduce her to the group. I smile, noticing that someone has already pulled up another chair and made room for her right next to my spot. I look at Zeke while nodding at the chair, and he smiles and motions to Uri.
"We were hoping that Four's damsel in distress would successfully be saved, and therefore join our party, so I went ahead and got your seat ready," Uriah says with a bright smile.
"Well, I'm glad she did decide to join us," I say confidently as I usher her into the empty chair next to mine. Tris grins at me the moment my hand makes contact with her back. Shit - I am so into her already, and it's throwing me for a loop.
Once we are seated, the festivities resume. We are having a small birthday gathering, since Leah already had a huge party with family, other kids, and the families from her daycare class. Shauna resumes opening Leah's birthday gifts. We laugh at Uri's gift, which is a shirt that says "I got my good looks from my Uncle!"
Without having being conscious of it, both Tris and I have moved so we are sitting very close to each other, her shoulder even resting against mine as she leans towards me. I've caught her looking at me a few times, while I know she has caught me gazing at her lips appreciatively. God, I wish we were alone. I need to get to know her better. I have this feeling that she is someone who is going to be a really important part of my life.
Tris leans in close enough to whisper in my ear. "A table full of couples… Um, is your girlfriend coming late?"
I try very hard to control the huge smile that her question elicits. I'm hoping she's asking because she likes me. I lean closer to her, slipping my arm around the back of her chair while being careful not to actually touch her. Tris smiles and leans closer as well, seemingly anxious to hear my answer.
"Tris, I'm completely single," I assure her.
Tris giggles. "Funny, so am I!" We both laugh as I move my arm around her shoulder and give her a small hug. Tris doesn't seem to mind at all as she draws into my arms.
"I have your milkshake, are you two ready to share it?" Tori teases. Tori is a longtime friend of our group, and she alerted me right away that she had a possible problem at one of her tables. What most people don't know is that Tori's husband, Bud, is a lead detective in my department, so Tori is not someone you want to mess with. Bud makes me look like a Girl Scout. Tori places the large milkshake between us, two straws sticking out at opposing angles. Tris and I both smile and lean in at the same time to try a sip.
Our eyes meet, and I feel my throat tighten up. I see that her cheeks are flushed. After a few moments of Tris and me sharing the milkshake while making eyes at each other, I notice the stunned looks on the faces of all my friends — except for baby Leah, of course. I know they've never seen me like this. I'm a workaholic, and I haven't even bothered to date in the last couple of years. I've chosen to be alone, especially after a string of annoying dates.
As gift-opening time continues, Tris's burger and my steak arrive. Tori smiles and sets down our meals, commenting that we haven't made much of a dent in the shake. Tris eyes my dinner, seemingly confused that I'm just eating now when everyone else has finished their meals. Uriah notices her confusion as well.
"Oh, yeah. One thing you should know about Four — he is a workaholic. He is almost always late to gatherings. Like he was tonight." Uri laughs while devouring his piece of cake. Gee, I'm sure that's making me sound really attractive to Tris. I shoot Uri a grumpy look. I'll deal with him later.
"Well, to be fair, Four here is one of the youngest detectives in the Fort Lauderdale department. He has worked his ass off to be successful and, you know, put bad guys away. So we cut him a break," Zeke says confidently as he stares at Tris to make sure she's listening.
Tris smiles, first at Zeke and then at me, before speaking. "My friends would probably say the same thing about me. Except with my job, I'm not even late. I usually can't make it at all."
"Oh, what do you do?" Shauna asks curiously.
"I'm an event planner, and I do try to keep my jobs in the South Florida area, but sometimes a client will convince me to plan their out-of-town event," Tris says calmly. "Depending on the package the client selects, I can either just run the event the day of, or for some of our more elaborate events, the client may want me at every single meeting they take. I can't even count how many cake tastings I have been to!" Tris finishes with a laugh.
Marlene's eyes almost bug out of her head, "Oh my God, you're a wedding planner?! What company are you with? I finally nailed Uri down on a wedding date, so I'm ready to start planning!"
Tris laughs at Marlene's dramatic explosion, while Uri smirks as he eats more cake. I'm relieved he finally gave that poor girl a date; she was starting to bounce off the walls. Zeke and I would tease him that if she killed him in a rage, it would make my job very difficult, as I would be sympathetic to her plight.
"I actually have my own company. I interned in events management starting when I was a freshman in high school, so after college I decided to just go for it and be my own boss. I have a decent-sized team working with me. I own Prior Engagements," Tris finishes softly. I can tell she is starting to get embarrassed. She shoots me an apprehensive look. I love that she is successful and hardworking, as I like a strong woman. I'm finding her more and more attractive with each moment that passes.
"Holy shit! You own Prior Engagements?! That is one of the top event management companies in South Florida. Wow!" Marlene says while squeezing Uriah's hand in what I can only imagine is a painful manner; he looks tortured while staring at her grip.
"That's amazing, Tris," I say reassuringly as I smile at her. She smiles back. For a moment, it feels like we are the only two people in the room. I'd lean in and kiss her if we were alone — or at least strongly consider it.
After a while, the subject of Eric comes up. I'm not at all surprised, really. It's not like half of the outside seating area didn't hear what was going on at her table. Eric was not being very discreet with his harassment.
"Um, yeah, Eric. He was an internet date gone bad," Tris admits sheepishly.
Lynn, who is the abrasive little sister I am glad I never had, says, "Um, that was dumb. Why would you let a guy you met online know where you live?"
Shauna's hand slips under the table, to poke or pinch her sister, no doubt. Lynn flinches, and then tries to soften her comment. "I mean, you seem like you have your shit together…but that was still pretty dumb."
I feel Tris stiffen, and I want to comfort her, so I slip my hand into hers under the table and give her a reassuring squeeze. I then turn my attention to Lynn and give her a death stare. Lynn gives me the "What now?" face, probably thinking her last comment was a big improvement.
"You're absolutely right, Lynn. Looking back, I wish I would have handled the situation differently. Long story short, at the last minute I asked Eric to pick me up at the bus stop at the end of my block. I even left my duplex ten minutes early, thinking that I wouldn't be risking him seeing me leave," Tris sighs. "Unfortunately, he was already waiting outside of his car and saw exactly which unit I came out of. He even had flowers, and offered to wait outside my door while I put them in water."
I frown hearing this; Eric sounds very conniving and deliberate to me. Most men would expect a date to not let the flowers die, and thus she would then go back home to put them in a vase with water. An opportunistic man with bad intentions would use this as his chance to find out where the woman lives. I steal a glance at Tris, so lovely and sweet. The thought of anyone preying on her and hurting her makes me feel both angry and fiercely protective.
Marlene and Shauna basically verbalize what I have been thinking, exclaiming that Eric sounds like a predator and that he probably planned the whole thing. Tris nods quietly, and I can see she is putting on a calm face. But it also seems that this bothers her more than she is willing to let on.
As the group talks about various horror stories they've heard, I lean closer to Tris to whisper in her ear. She smiles tentatively and scoots closer to me. Having her so close, I inhale a deep breath to steady myself.
"Tris, promise me you'll be more careful if you should decide to go on any more internet dates. I'd hate for anything to happen to you," I whisper to her, our foreheads almost touching. Tris is looking at me intently, blatantly watching my lips as I talk. It takes every bit of self control I have to not close the gap between us and kiss her.
Tris blushes crimson; she looks even cuter when she's flustered. Meeting my gaze, she smiles slightly and nods in agreement. Damn, I really like this girl. I hope she will date me instead, and then never have to go on another blind or internet date again.
I hear Zeke cough, his traditional attention-getting sound. I glance over to him and he motions to his cell phone. I realize that he has sent me a text:
Dude, you look like you want to throw her on the table at my kid's bday dinner and have your way with her. Relax. You don't want to scare her off. We are wrapping up soon, so ask her out.
I feel my cheeks flush hotly. I didn't realize I was being so obvious about my feelings. I'm way out of practice with flirting and dating. I nod silently to Zeke. He's right — I need to let her know I'm interested in her.
If she doesn't feel the same way, I will accept it, of course, even though I already know that I'll be very disappointed.
But at least I will have tried, for once.
I glance over at Tris. Like me, she is eating her dinner while the group around us is laughing and talking. I see that Tori has split the bill by couple, and then me. I smirk, remembering that Eric already paid for Tris's meal and our milkshake.
It's now or never.
I casually touch my hand to her back to get her attention.
I smile at Tris, and she automatically smiles back.
"The rest of the group is heading home for the night. Would you like to stay here with just me?" I ask nonchalantly, even though I'm anxious to hear her say yes.
"Maybe make a date of the rest of evening?" I add casually, not wanting to push too hard. I need to remember what she just went through with that loser.
Tris bites her lip, as though she's thinking about it.
"Just maybe a date?" Tris asks directly, her eyes studying me.
Realizing immediately she is calling me out on my wishy-washy crap, I shake my head at my stupidity and try again. "Tris Prior, I would love it if we could make the rest of this evening a real date. After dinner, I'd like to take you for a walk on the intracoastal and watch the boats." I grin, feeling more confident now that Tris looks so happy. "I will bring you safely home afterward, like a true gentleman ought to do. I promise!"
"I'd love that, and I'm glad it will be a date!" Tris says emphatically, her eyes glinting with a bit of humor.
I lean close and firmly kiss her cheek, dangerously close to her lips.
I can already tell this is going to be the start of something pretty damned good.
++++o++++
Part V: The New Date
** Tobias POV **
After the group leaves, Tris and I are alone at our table and look at each other awkwardly until we both crack a smile and laugh. We start talking, and it turns out we have a lot in common. We both take our careers very seriously, we're both workaholics, and we both have realized that most of our social circle has settled down or is working towards it.
"So how old are you?" I ask carefully. "If you don't mind me asking, of course!"
Tris laughs. "It's fine, I was about to ask you that myself. I'm twenty-seven. You?"
I smile. "I'm twenty-nine, and I think this is the year I get to stop aging, so you met me just in time," I tease. I love her laugh, her entire face lights up when she does.
After talking and getting to know each other more, we decide to take that walk along the intracoastal that I suggested. I casually slip my hand into Tris's and our fingers intertwine. It's turned into a beautiful night and the skies are clear, so there are many boats out on the water. It makes for a very romantic evening.
"I noticed that all of your friends call you Four, but you told me your first name was Tobias. Is Four a nickname?" Tris asks.
I had expected that she would pick up on that. She seems to pay very close attention to details, which makes sense, given her profession. I take a moment to clear my throat before answering.
"I stopped using the name Tobias many years ago. Pretty much everyone in my life calls me Four now." I pause, deciding how much to tell her. I don't want to freak her out. "When I met you, it just felt right to tell you my real name, even more so given the circumstances. I needed you to know you could trust me."
Tris smiles at me, but I can see by the expression on her face that she doesn't really understand what I am trying to say. I pull her over to the side of the walkway so we are not blocking the main path. Slipping both of my hands into hers, I pull her close. Tris is now staring at me intently.
"Tris, the truth is that I never date. My job is crazy, and most importantly, I've never felt a real connection with anyone before. Either I'm always focused on a case, or I'm simply being a complete loner." I pause to breathe. I know I need to be honest with her.
"The moment I walked into that bar tonight and we locked eyes, I felt as though the wind was knocked out of me. And then I realized you were on a date, and I was so bummed," I confess. "So, after everything that happened tonight, I have to admit that I loved hearing my real name on your lips."
Tris turns her head to the side to study me, her eyes bright and calm. She pulls her right hand out from my grasp and gently touches my face.
"I felt just as affected when I first saw you, Tobias," Tris whispers softly, moving her body closer to me.
She leans up and presses her lips to mine softly, and then quickly pulls away. She looks up at me expectantly, perhaps worried that kissing me was too bold.
I follow my gut, wrapping my arms around her tightly and pulling her body close. Our eyes are focused solely on each other.
"Tris," I murmur.
"Tobias," she breathes roughly.
I press my lips against hers and kiss her deeply. Her arms pull me even closer as our kissing becomes more and more passionate.
We stand out in the open on this beautiful Florida night, holding each other and kissing as though we are the only two people on the street. I'm not usually okay with public affection, but for the first time ever, I don't care.
The only thing that matters to me is this beautiful woman I am holding in my arms.
My date.
+++o+++ Story End +++o+++
Author's note:
Loosely based on a true story: hero-cop-story-throwawayforpancakes/?utm_content=inf_10_2558_2&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=socialedge&tse_id=INF_c78403e0811a11e7b54e3f059c156cd3
Article Title: Idiot Guy Treats His Date Horribly But Then This Off Duty Cop Overhears Their Conversation
Huge shout out to amazing beta and reader B2KU for all of her help with this story, aside from fixing my crappy grammar she kicked this story back to me after her first read, and she was right. I loved it 100x more after making key changes. :)
Enjoy!
xo, FourTrisHEA
