synopsis ∶ every friday night, your bar fills with the rhythm of ballroom dancers fresh from the studio. all laughter, tequila, and glittering smiles. you know most of their faces by heart, but there’s one that always lingers longer than the rest: a blonde whose laughter feels like a song you can’t stop replaying.
warnings ∶ romantic tension, mutual attraction, flirtatious dialogue, alcohol use, lgbtq+ themes, emotional intimacy, slow-burn connection, late-night setting, soft seduction. image credits. english is not my first language, but I hope you enjoy it. constructive feedback is always welcomed! wc: 1.3k
Inevitable.
Every Friday night, you were graced by the ballroom dancers. After their lessons at the studio down the street, they would head to the bar for countless drinks, eager to make the most of open karaoke night. Over time, they became your regulars, always leaving generous tips, great conversation, and some subtle, not-so-obvious flirting in the air. That night, the final round of the tournament had just ended, and once again your regulars walked through the bar doors, laughter echoing in before the wind shut them behind. You couldn’t quite tell if it was victory or defeat, their expressions were unreadable, energy humming low and tight.
You leaned against the counter, a bar towel draped over your shoulder, one elbow propped on the dark wood. Curiosity danced on your face, your brows arched, waiting.
“So,” you asked, voice soft but teasing, “What’s the verdict?” watching each member of the group, a small smile playing at the corner of your lips. There was a moment pause, eyes met yours, then shifted toward the blonde woman, her lips breaking into a grin she could no longer contain. The group erupted in cheers.
“We won!” the tallest man shouted.
You reached beneath the counter, grabbing a neat row of shot glasses and a bottle of tequila, pouring quickly, your own glass among them and raising it high. “To the best dancers in Chicago!” each of them held a glass, bringing them together in the middle in a clinking toast amidst laughter and pure joy.
After downing their drinks, they thanked you and said they were heading straight to karaoke. You smiled, nodding, already turning toward the tall shelf of liquor, remembering some drink orders that had come in before the group arrived. Moving fast, half-focused, until you realized one dancer was still standing there, waiting for your attention.
“Hey! You ready to order?” you called out, offering a small smile, cocktails already half-prepped in your hand. The woman shook her head slightly, seemingly having a silent debate with herself about this conversation, but she continued nonetheless. Two shakers rested on the counter, each with ice and equal parts of liquor, fruit, and soda. As you locked the metal tins, you began to mix the drinks.
“Yes and no…” she started, fingers fidgeting as she tried not to grin. “First, do you date women?” the question became almost rhetorical as her eyes traveled over your outfit, your hair, and the accessories that completed your look. Small details that gave you away.
“Most of the time. You?” setting the shakers down, you grabbed two tall glasses and poured both drinks, placing them on the counter and garnishing them with orange peels before handing them to the couple to your left. But you could feel the dancer’s light eyes burning into your skin.
“Well,” she said finally, voice low but steady. “This is me trying to go out with one. And I hope it's you.” she confessed, smile contained, her eyes half-lidded.
On the other hand, you pretended that your heart wasn’t racing, you had been admiring this stunning blonde for weeks, maybe months, every Friday night as she sang the same two songs at the top of her lungs. You poured her usual drink, offering it with a smile deep enough to show your dimples. Noticing this, the smile she had been holding back broke free, enough to outshine the neon behind you.
“Is that a yes?”
“Sounds dangerously fun…” you said, leaning closer. “Guess i’ll have to clear my schedule.” you attended to a few other customers while the shorter woman took her phone out of her bag. When you turned your attention back to her, she handed the phone with her contacts open. You held it in your hands and typed in your number, saving it with a fire and heart emoji. Before you handed it back, you called your own number and let it ring once. “Now I have your number, too,” you said, smirking. “Just in case you don’t call me tomorrow.”
She laughed softly, shaking her head, even more intrigued by you. “I wouldn't be crazy enough to do something like that.” that was the last thing she said before walking away towards the karaoke stage, leaving you surrounded by the scent of her perfume hanging in the air like a dare.
It was past two in the morning by the time you finally locked up the bar. Most of your coworkers had already left, as they were scheduled to close the next night. The quiet felt heavier than usual. Your thoughts drifted back to the interaction from earlier. Every time she had been there, always with a visibly older man, he would wrap his arm around her waist and even dance with her on the karaoke stage. Why did you notice all this about just one customer? It was normal to have a rapport with regulars, but the attention you knew you paid the blonde was entirely different.
Streetlight spilled across your hair and made it shine against the pitch-black of the early morning. Your walk to the car was calm until you noticed a silhouette leaning against its black metal frame. Your eyes narrowed, trying to make out who it was, and for a split second, you cursed yourself for not wearing your glasses or contacts. Only when you were a few steps away did the shape resolve into her.
“I thought you went home with Jiminy Cricket,” you teased, taking her hands and caressing the back of her palms with your thumbs. Her hands were soft like cotton. Her eyes searched for yours, and when they found them, you raised an eyebrow. “What made you wait so late?”
“I wanted to see you before I went home... To make sure you’ll have good dreams.” she held your hands firmly and pulled your body between her legs. Her grip on your jacket was sure, and her eyes shimmered with a desire you thought you’d never witnessed. “When are we going to have our date?”
Your expression showed that this was exactly where you wanted to be. With one arm propped on the car and the other wrapped around her slender waist, your body and the blonde’s were radiating heat, as if calling to one another in a comforting silence. For a moment, your eyes didn’t stray, simply replaying every word she had spoken, memorizing the shape of her mouth. Your right hand was drawn to her face, fingers resting on the curve of her jaw as your thumb gently caressed her rosy cheek.
“Are you busy tomorrow afternoon?” you finally asked, taking in the full, captivating smile in front of you.
“Nothing planned. Yet.”
“Then we’re going on a date. I’ll plan it! Just…” you were about to ask for her location for later, but your protective side took over as you realized she had no way to get home, having dismissed her friends' ride to wait for you. “Get in the car. I’ll take you home.”
“We’re here.” you whispered.
She’d fallen asleep somewhere along the drive, her arm propped on the window, cheek resting gently on it. The city lights flickered against her skin. You’d been lucky she gave you her address earlier, a downtown central apartment building. She didn’t wake at first, so you parked and let the engine cool, watching her face in the quiet glow of the dashboard. When her lashes finally fluttered open, she smiled faintly.
“Sorry, today was exhausting... Thank you so much for the ride! See you in the afternoon?!” you could feel the rush in her words. She seemed a bit embarrassed, but you kept that to yourself, not wanting to prolong her sense of urgency.
You got out of the car, walked around to the passenger side, and opened the door for her, helping her with her purse.
“I’m already excited about it... Well, the princess has arrived.” cupping her face gently, holding her as if you didn’t want to let go. Then you leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead. Her breath slowed. Her shoulders eased. “Rest well, Bobbie.” you murmured.
She nodded and turned toward the building, leaving you leaning against the car, watching her go, the night air humming with something that felt dangerously close to falling in love.
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