inspired by brainrot with @concretejunglefm
happy Valentine’s Day everyone❣️
bartender!Noah below the cut
・❥・
you might be fucking miserable, but hey, you look too good to let the hours you’d spent getting ready — doing your makeup, putting on that red dress you’d bought just for the occasion — go to waste. no matter the fact that you just got dumped. on Valentine’s Day no less.
fucking asshole.
a drink doesn’t sound half bad. at any rate, you’re sure to be in good company. you can’t be the only one drowning your sorrows on a day like today, although truthfully you’re currently less heartbroken and significantly more pissed.
walking into Bad Decisions might just be the best decision you’ve made all day.
“not a fan of the holiday?” a voice pipes up across from you, gentle and soft spoken, as you take a seat at a stool.
you look up and meet the warm brown-eyed gaze of a devastatingly handsome bartender. “maybe next year.” you smile somewhat self-deprecatingly.
the brunette cocks his head slightly at that answer, studying you as if intrigued. “that’s too bad. you look killer in that dress.”
he slides you a beautiful drink over the counter, clearly a specialty cocktail by the looks of it; it’s a work of art. “on the house.”
“oh, um, thank you.”
you don’t know if he’s even heard you because he’s across the bar before you can blink, quick and efficient as he takes orders and makes drinks.
you feel a flutter of attraction deep in your stomach as you watch the way his hands move with the practiced motions of someone who’s spent countless hours behind the bar.
he’s not wearing his jacket, which leaves him in black pants and a black tee that only accentuates the way his muscles shift with every shake of a drink, every movement he makes… and don’t even get you started on the tattoos.
you bite your lip as you watch him, sipping the cocktail he gave you. it tastes faintly of strawberry, sweet but not overly so, the flavor lingering pleasantly on your tongue.
there’s nothing wrong with looking, or so you tell yourself. after all, it’s not like you’re not going to act on it. you just happen to be enjoying the view.
nothing like a bit of eye candy to help get your mind off the breakup.
“so…?”
he’s back in front of you, leaning on his forearms on the bar, and it’s a fight to maintain eye contact when all that ink is splayed out right in front of you like an art exhibit for you to admire.
it’s a losing battle, your eyes dipping down to sneak a peak.
when you look back up, there’s a soft smile playing at the corner of his lips. “so…” you echo.
“who ruined it for you?”
“what?”
you find the proximity of him a little dizzying, the scent of his cologne filling your nostrils.
“Valentine’s Day.”
“oh…” you suddenly find the condensation very interesting as it drips down your glass. “my ex.”
“yeah, exes do tend to do that, don’t they?”
“he, uh, broke up with me. today,” you say. “but hey, at least it happened at a very fancy restaurant. got my money’s worth, right? I definitely didn’t think he was going to propose or anything.”
“shit, I’m sorry.” he frowns, and you can tell he’s genuinely sympathetic. “I’ll get you another drink.”
it’ll be something a little stronger than the last, sounds like you could use it.
you laugh. “this one on the house too?”
“no,” he shakes his head. “no, this one’s on me.”
“well, thank you…” you trail off. you don’t know the cute bartender’s name.
“Noah.”
“thank you, Noah.”
he grins sheepishly. “I’m sorry your ex is a dick and broke up with you on my favorite holiday.”
“favorite holiday, huh?” you muse. “let me guess. you’re in an annoyingly happy relationship with someone who absolutely adores you. you’re probably looking at rings.”
“single actually,” he corrects you. “what can I say, I’m a romantic.”
“ah. I wish I remembered what it was like to be young and naive.”
Noah chuckles softly. “you’re the same age as me.”
“you don’t know that.”
he rolls his eyes playfully. “generally speaking. excuse me, one second.” someone’s flagging him down at the other end of the bar. “I’ll be right back.”
he closes out a customer’s tab before settling across from you again.
“so, you live around here?”
“yeah, actually. I walked here. this is my first time coming in though.”
“you gonna call an Uber?”
“I’ll be fine to walk back, I’m not planning on drinking that much. just thought the dress deserved a night out on the town.”
“well, I’m glad you came out. red’s your color.” and it’s a good thing, because your cheeks flush red with the compliment.
he pauses as if contemplating something. “you’re a local, you ever been to that diner on Corner Street?”
you shake your head. it doesn’t ring a bell.
“best milkshake you’ll ever have, I swear by it. they’re open twenty four hours. I’ll take you after closing if you don’t mind hanging around,” he offers. “we can get some fries. split one. I’ll even let you have the cherry.”
it’s cute how badly he’s trying to salvage your night.
“you’re worried I’m gonna hold it against the holiday, huh?”
he pouts. “I love Valentine’s Day. I can’t let one asshole ruin it for you.”
“I could go for a burger, too.”
“then you’re in luck.”
・❥・
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