Player!ChrisxSweetheart!Reader
The next morning feels quieter than it should.
Not awkward—just… tender. Like the world is still yawning after the party, stretching out its limbs, pretending nothing happened while everything did.
She stands in front of her mirror, fixing a curl that absolutely refuses to cooperate. She’s changed outfits twice already, finally settling on something simple: jeans, a soft sweater, the kind of look that says I didn’t try too hard even though she very much did. Her phone sits on her bed, face up.
Which means, realistically, he’ll show up at eleven. Or eleven-oh-five. Or not text until he’s already outside.
She’s halfway through convincing herself to sit down when her phone lights up.
“…of course,” she murmurs, grabbing her bag and practically tripping down the stairs.
When she opens the door, he’s already leaning against his car like he’s got nowhere else to be. Sunglasses on despite the overcast sky. Hoodie. Hands shoved into his pockets. Completely, unfairly calm.
But the second he sees her, something shifts.
It’s subtle—barely there—but his posture straightens, and the corner of his mouth twitches like he’s fighting a smile.
“You’re early,” she says, a little breathless.
He shrugs. “Couldn’t be late to my first official date.”
The word date hangs between them.
Her smile is instant, soft and unguarded. “You didn’t have to be five minutes early.”
“I know.” He opens the car door for her anyway. “Wanted to be.”
That makes her heart do something stupid.
The drive is easy, filled with low music and even lower conversation. Not the forced kind—just little comments, small laughs, the comfortable quiet of two people who already know more about each other than they’re pretending.
“So,” Chris says, glancing at her as they slow at a stop sign, “you sure about this place?”
“You did say the pastries were terrible.”
“They are,” she admits. “But the coffee’s good. And it’s cozy. And the lady who runs it calls everyone ‘baby.’”
He hums. “Sounds like your kind of place.”
“Yeah,” she says softly. “It is.”
When they pull up, the café is exactly how she remembers—slightly crooked sign, foggy windows, two mismatched chairs out front. It looks like it’s been there forever, stubbornly surviving out of pure charm.
Chris takes it in, lips quirking. “I’ve definitely driven past this a hundred times and never noticed it.”
“That’s tragic,” she says, mock-serious. “You’ve been missing out on burnt croissants.”
He snorts before he can stop himself.
Inside, it smells like coffee and sugar and something vaguely nostalgic. They order—she helps him navigate the menu like it’s a moral obligation—and slide into a small corner table by the window.
Chris watches her as she talks, chin resting on his hand, expression unreadable in that familiar way. Cool. Relaxed. Like nothing ever really gets to him.
But when she laughs—bright and genuine, the kind that fills the space—his eyes soften.
“You’re different today,” he says casually.
She tilts her head. “Different how?”
He shrugs again, but this time it’s slower. More thoughtful. “Happier.”
Her fingers curl around her mug. “I think I had a good night.”
“Yeah?” A pause. “Me too.”
The barista sets down their pastries with a sympathetic smile. “Good luck with those.”
She giggles. Chris raises an eyebrow.
“See?” she says. “Worth it.”
He takes a bite, immediately grimacing. “Oh, that’s bad.”
She laughs harder, covering her mouth. “Told you.”
He shakes his head, but he’s smiling now—really smiling. Not the effortless, player-charm one. Something quieter. Real.
“Still,” he says, nudging her foot under the table, “kinda glad you picked it.”
She looks at him, warmth blooming in her chest.
“Yeah,” he replies, easy and certain. “I think I like your taste.”
Outside, the world keeps moving. Cars pass. People walk by.
But inside the little café on the corner—with the terrible pastries and the good coffee—it feels like the beginning of something neither of them is rushing to define.
@mattspillowprincess @leahfaith @babyt0matoes @sturnskiss
A/N: greetings, i haven’t been on tumblr much💔 i’ve been super busy in my personal life, i think after february i’ll be back lol😭
