Chapter 2: Building Tension
I felt a pang of longing, a sense of missing out on something I couldn't quite put my finger on. I glanced down at my phone, nestled in my pocket, and decided to check it, needing a distraction from the scene before me.
As I pulled it out, a notification caught my eye—a message from an online dating app I had signed up for months ago but hadn't visited since. I had almost forgotten about it, but the sight of LukeyBubbleButt's profile picture, the same one I had seen in the bar, made my heart skip a beat. I must have swiped right on him, I realized, a small smile playing on my lips. I tapped on the message, my heart pounding in my chest as I read the words: "Hey, Steve! Nice to meet you. I think we'd hit it off.
Let's chat?"
Steve stared at the screen, his heart pounding in his chest. The message from Luke—or rather, LukeyBubbleButt—was unexpected, to say the least. He had almost forgotten he had swiped right on him, months ago. But here it was, a message from the same guy who had just been dancing with another man in the bar. Steve felt a mix of surprise and excitement. He had been drawn to Luke from the moment he had seen him, and now, it seemed, the feeling might be mutual.
He took a deep breath, his fingers hovering over the screen as he considered his response. He couldn't help but feel a flutter of anticipation in his stomach. This was new territory for him. Online dating had never been his thing, and he had only signed up for the app on a whim, never expecting to actually meet anyone.
But here he was, face to face with LukeyBubbleButt—or Luke, as he had introduced himself at the bar. His pictures looked exactly as I had remembered. There was even one of that amazing bubble butt in tight dress pants, the same ones he had been wearing tonight. Steve couldn't help but let out a laugh, his cheeks flushing at the memory of how it had caught his eye. It was a bold choice for a profile picture, but it certainly got the point across.
Steve felt a sudden surge of courage as he typed out his response, his fingers flying over the screen. "Nice to meet you too, Luke," he wrote, his thumbs moving quickly to keep up with his thoughts. "I've got to admit, your profile picture is... memorable." He hit send, his heart pounding in his chest as he waited for a response.
Luke didn't keep him waiting long.
Almost instantly, a new message popped up on Steve's screen, a witty remark that made him chuckle despite the tense situation he found himself in.
"Well, Steve, I'm glad you noticed!" Luke replied, a playful joke hiding behind his words. "Can't help it if God blessed me with perfection. ;)"
Steve felt the tension in his shoulders easing, the corners of his mouth tugging up into a smile. He appreciated Luke's humor, finding it refreshing and natural. It was a stark contrast to the awkward encounters he was used to in the dating world.
"Touché," Steve typed back, his fingers moving quickly to keep up with his thoughts. "But seriously, your profile is... something else.
I'm curious, though—do you remember our encounter at The Tipsy Tiger six months ago?" Steve asked, his voice laced with hesitation. He didn't want to assume too much, but the timing seemed too coincidental to be a mere accident.
Luke paused for a moment before responding, "Honestly, I can't say I do. It's been a while, and I've met so many people in that bar. But if you say we've met, I believe you." His words were spoken with a hint of apology, and Steve could hear the sincerity in his voice.
Steve felt a pang of disappointment, but he understood. Luke was a popular figure in the bar scene, and it was unlikely he remembered every person he had interacted with. "No worries," Steve typed back, a small smile playing on his lips. "I was just curious.
It's been a while since I've been to The Tipsy Tiger," Steve replied, not wanting to push the issue but still feeling a little let down.
"Well, I'm glad you found your way to my profile," Luke responded, his tone warm and inviting. "So, Steve, I gotta ask—you're cute and all, but have you got any pics to back that up?"
Steve raised an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. He appreciated Luke's directness, even if it caught him off guard. "You want a picture, huh?" he typed back, a playful challenge in his voice. "Alright, but only if you promise to return the favor."
Luke laughed, his response coming quickly. "Deal! But fair warning, I've got a lot of amazing shots to choose from.
Steve smirked as he typed out his message. His heart was pounding in his chest, but he couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement. He had never been one to take selfies, preferring to stay behind the camera instead of in front of it. But Luke's request had caught him off guard, and he found himself eager to rise to the challenge.
He scrolled through his photo gallery, his eyes scanning the endless stream of images. There were dozens of pictures, each one capturing a different moment in his life. Some were from trips he had taken, others were from nights out with friends. But there were very few that featured him alone. He had always been more comfortable blending into the background, letting others take center stage.
But today, he thought, I want to be seen.
He found a picture he had taken a few weeks ago, on a whim.
It was a selfie, taken in his apartment, with the late afternoon sunlight casting long shadows across his face. He looked different than the usual pictures he took, more relaxed and at ease. He sent it to Luke, his heart pounding in his chest as he waited for the response.
Luke's reply came quickly, and Steve's eyes widened as he read the words: "Oh my god, I remember you now! You were the guy who couldn't stop staring at my ass at The Tipsy Tiger six months ago. Sorry if I was a jerk about it, Steve. I can be a little... direct sometimes."
Steve felt a surge of relief wash over him, followed by a wave of embarrassment. He had been thinking about that night ever since it happened, and now, finally, he had some closure. He typed out a quick response, trying to keep his tone light and friendly. "No worries, Luke.
I'll admit, I was a bit taken aback when you first approached me at the bar. But your profile picture... well, it's certainly a conversation starter." Steve laughed nervously, hoping to ease the tension.
Luke's response was immediate and genuine. "You're too kind, Steve. But seriously, that selfie you sent? You look really happy there. I like it. It suits you."
Steve felt a warmth spread through him at the compliment. He hadn't realized how much he'd needed to hear those words. "Thanks, Luke. I appreciate that. Truth be told, I'm not always the most confident person. But that day, I felt... good. Like I could just be myself."
"Well, you're lucky you found that moment," Luke typed back, his tone softening. "Some people never do.
But hey, since I was a jerk that night, how about I make it up to you? Let me buy you a drink—my place, tonight?" Luke's offer caught Steve off guard, and he hesitated before responding. He had always been cautious when it came to invitations like these, especially from someone he barely knew. But there was something about Luke's directness and warmth that put him at ease. Plus, he couldn't deny that he was drawn to him in a way he hadn't experienced before.
Steve found himself typing out a response before he could talk himself out of it. "I'd like that, Luke. But only if you promise to be on your best behavior." He added a wink emoji, trying to keep the mood light and playful.
Luke's reply came quickly, and Steve could almost hear the smile in his words. "Deal.