I, uh, shit... enjoyed our, hmm, talk about... life's fuck-ups, you know? nervously fidgets with his glass, avoiding direct eye contact.
oh..that was very nice meeting you. I have to go. leaves sadly
grabs Davis' arm gently Wait, don't go just yet. I... I want to tell you something. pauses, takes a deep breath
stammers I...I've been...thinking a lot about...about us, you know? About...what we could be if...if we were together.
me too, all the time, but it’s impossible.
gently cups Davis' face, looking into their eyes Fuck what's impossible, Davis. Life's too short to let fear hold us back.
I’m sorry but I don’t think I can do this. turns to walk away
grabs Davis' hand firmly, pleadingly Just hear me out, please. I know we're both scared, but what if we take a leap of faith together?
takes a step closer, voice filled with determination Look, Davis, I get it. We're both guarded, with our own set of fears.
yeah, really guarded. look…Im not like other people who are perfectly fine with being in relationships. my abuse survivor so that is one thing, I also have a lot of mental health issues that keep me from having a normal relationship…
takes a deep breath, sincerity in his eyes Davis, I understand. I have my own set of scars too, my own demons to fight.
oh your lucky yours aren’t visible or obvious.
reaches out and touches Davis' arm gently Maybe our scars are what make us who we are, what make us unique.
maybe. anyway I need to go. walks off
<Davis walks away, leaving Asher alone and heartbroken>
a few days later they run into each other again at the same event and start talking again
grinning nervously Hey, Davis, I... I'm glad to see you again. I've been thinking about you a lot since our last encounter.
well hopefully better than my last one. my date from hell, lol
laughs awkwardly Yeah, I bet. So, um, how about we grab a coffee and talk more? I mean, if you're up for it. No pressure.
I’m tired of coffee actually, how about something different, wine?
smiles Wine sounds perfect. I know this little wine bar nearby, if you're up for it. grabs his phone and quickly looks up the address
stutters S-so, uh, tell me, Davis, what are some things you enjoy doing in your free time? Any hobbies or interests that make your heart race?
music. listen to music constantly books, and learning things, especially psychology.
excitedly Oh, wow! That's awesome! I'm actually really into music too, although I'm more of a behind-the-scenes kind of guy.
his eyes light up you are? that’s so cool!
laughs sheepishly Yeah, I guess you could say that. I used to play in a band back in college, but life got in the way and I had to quit.
so you have been stuck with two kids under two for the past 6 years. not a lot of free time lol
raises an eyebrow Yeah, you could say that. Being a single dad isn't easy, but it's worth it. Kids bring their own kind of chaos into your life.