Work Text:
Ravi checks the time as he leaves the bathroom.
8.02 PM.
Two hours has passed in the blink of an eye.
He walks back over to the table where May is fixing her lip-gloss. She smiles widely at him as he takes his seat.
"So. You paid 1600 dollars for a two-hour date. I'm sorry to tell you that your two hours are up," Ravi says.
"And yet you're still here," May points out, raising her eyebrow.
"I am. I wouldn't leave before dessert." Ravi grabs one of the dessert menus the waiter had brought while he was in the bathroom. May takes the other menu, but keeps her eyes on him. He feels stupid for not noticing just how beautiful those eyes are before tonight. The entire time they've been at the restaurant he's had a hard time looking at anything else.
"So it's jus the dessert that's keeping you here?" she asks innocently.
Ravi can't help but smile. In fact, he's been smiling most of the evening. His cheeks are starting to hurt, but it's very much worth it.
"The company's not so bad either."
As far as first dates go, this is definitely the least awkward one Ravi's ever been on. In fact, it doesn't even feel like a first date. Usually first dates are filled with basic facts and stories that have been exaggerated and stretched to the edge of truth, all in the name of impressing the other person. But there's none of that here. Ravi already knows all the basic facts about May. And there's no need to impress her with stories about being a firefighter, because to her, there's nothing impressive about it.
They've never hung out by themselves before, but if tonight has proven anything, it's that they definitely should have. Everything about this, about them, feels just right.
"I hope you got your money's worth," Ravi says once the waiter has finally brought them their dessert.
"Well, spending 1600 dollars on a two-hour date with a guy I could talk to for free is definitely not the smartest financial decision I've ever made," she says and licks cream off her spoon. "But I don't regret it."
"Good. And I'm glad you decided to be irresponsible with money," Ravi says.
"I couldn't let any of those other women take you out, could I? If they deserved to go out with you, they would have bid on you first."
"That's the reason you kept on bidding? To save me from undeserving women?"
May looks down at her plate with a flustered smile on her face. Ravi's heart starts beating faster. Seriously, how has he never paid attention to how beautiful she is? He doesn't believe he can fall in love in one night, but he's definitely developed a crush by now.
"You looked so sad when nobody was bidding on you. I felt sorry for you," May says. Her smile falters just a little and her spoon stills halfway between the plate and her mouth. "And once the bids started coming in, I felt… jealous."
Ravi has to admit that having someone be jealous over him feels flattering.
"I'm glad you won. I doubt I would have had as much fun with any of those other women."
He knows that if it was any of the other women in front of him right now, they would be discussing something boring and shallow. Later they may or may not end up having sex, and then they would never talk to each other again. It's different with May. He hasn't had time to think about what comes after this date, because he's been so caught up in the moment. But he knows now that he wants more. More time, more dates, more her.
When they finally leave the restaurant, he regrets parking just around the corner. He doesn't want the night to end. So he asks if she wants to walk around for a bit, and to his delight, she agrees. Their arms keep brushing against each other as they walk around aimlessly and laugh among each other. At one point May stops to fix her shoe, she grabs his arm for support. And when they continue walking, she doesn't let go. Anyone walking past them might think they've been together for a long time. Her hand is warm against him even through his sleeve. If he was brave enough, he might just grab it and lace her fingers between his, but he doesn't want to step too far. What he's found tonight is too perfect to be ruined by rushing into things.
They walk around a few blocks and somehow end up back at his car all too quickly.
"I should take you home," Ravi says, fiddling with his car keys.
"You should," May replies. She doesn't make any moves towards getting into the car. Instead, she just stands in front of him, much closer than she has been the entire night. She's half a step away from him. It would be so easy to lean down and kiss her. He has to fight against the urge to do so. He can't ruin this.
Even in the dark, illuminated only by the street light on the corner of the building, her eyes are beautiful. He could get lost in them forever. If she asked him to kiss her, he wouldn't be strong enough to say no.
He has to stay strong. He has to remind himself not to ruin things by rushing.
He's over-estimated his willpower. Her eyes do all the talking, and his strength crumbles.
Fuck it.
He takes the missing step forward and pushes her back against his car. His lips find hers and her hands reach up over his arms to his shoulders. He uses one arm to wrap around her waist and the other to support them against the car. Her lips are soft and taste like cream and strawberry-lip-gloss. May sighs against his lips, and Ravi thinks he might die. If he did, he would die happy. His only regret would be that he didn't do this sooner.
A car passing by reminds him that there is a world beyond May. They pull apart and he rests his forehead against hers. Her fingers brush against his neck. His are gripping the back of her shirt. They stand still, catching their breaths and not caring that a group of people walk past them, whistling and shouting something embarrassing and inappropriate at them.
"So. Home?" Ravi asks, finally opening his eyes.
"Yes, please," May replies, her voice still breathless.
Ravi opens the passenger door for her and she slips into the car. He drives her home in silence. It's the only prolonged moment of silence tonight since their date started. For a moment he worries that maybe that kiss ruined what they had. But then, when he stops at a red light, May reaches over and squeezes his hand, and all those worries disappear.
He parks right in front of her building. Before getting out of the car May leans over and kisses his cheek, making Ravi's heart flutter. She whispers a soft thank you, and then she's gone.
Ravi knows that the next day at work he's going to be greeted with a bunch of knowing grins and nosy questions. Right now, he doesn't care. He's found something special which was right in front of him the whole time. Who cares if he's going to be interrogated about this date later?
He stays and watches as May slips inside the building. Once the door closes behind her, he takes out his phone and sends her a text.
When can I see you again?