Summary: Seth improvises when his and Audrey’s first date plans don’t work out. Super fluffy.
Between their completely opposite schedules, it takes Seth and Audrey almost a month to find a day to have their first official date. They see each other, of course, but usually just for a few stolen moments here and there, and occasionally long enough to hang out on the roof. One night, as they’re eating Chinese take-out and watching the sun sink behind the buildings, Seth tells her that he wants to take her out.
“On an actual date,” he explains. “Not just cheap beer on the roof.”
He looks almost nervous, but his eyes crinkle in amusement as she tells him she’d love that.
“Why are you looking at me like that, Iowa?” he asks, and Audrey knows she must have the most ridiculous smile on her face.
Audrey bumps his shoulder with hers. “No reason. You look nervous.”
Seth grins. “Maybe. You’re an up-and-coming actress, you know. I can’t take you to just any old restaurant. What if it’s not five stars? What if there are cockroaches? What would the press say?”
Audrey rolls her eyes, laughing. “Very funny. If you take me somewhere with bugs or tiny portions, you have to feed me again after the actual date.”
“Ouch. I haven’t even taken you out yet, and you’re already expensive.”
“But so worth it,” she teases him.
He smiles and takes another drink of his beer, even though he still looks a little worried, like he’s trying to plan the perfect date out in his head.
“Seth,” she says, covering his hand with hers and squeezing. “Just take me somewhere with actual edible food and hang out with me. That’s all I want.”
“I feel like this might be a trick,” he says a bit skeptically.
“It’s not,” Audrey insists, then has an idea and says, “You know…I’ve really been wanting to go to the Santa Monica pier. But it won’t be as fun if I go by myself. We should go there.”
Seth raises an eyebrow as they finish their beer and he helps her to her feet. “Seriously?”
“Seriously.”
“That’s not a real date,” he protests.
“Says who?”
Eventually she persuades him she means it, and doesn’t want some fancy, awkward dinner, and he laughingly tells her he’s never met anyone like her in L.A, or anywhere, really.
“I hope that’s a good thing,” she says as they head back inside.
She has an early day tomorrow on set, and he has a late comedy slot tonight, so she knows she probably won’t see him tomorrow.
“It is,” Seth reassures her. “A really good thing.”
He waits for her to unlock her door before telling her good night and turning to head to his own apartment.
“Hey,” Audrey says, snagging the hem of his shirt.
Seth turns, his lips quirking up as she pulls him closer and brings her lips to his. He kisses her deeply, burrowing his hands in her hair, before stepping back with a hint of a smile on his face.
“Good night,” Audrey says softly.
“Good night, Iowa.”
~~~~~~~~~~
A clap of thunder and rain tapping against the window wakes Audrey the day of her planned date with Seth, and she frowns as she glances at her phone. It’s early, but the rain is so insistently noisy that she can’t get back to sleep. She climbs out of bed, making a pot of coffee and watching the rain come down outside. It shows no sign of letting up.
Of course, Audrey thinks. The one day they both have off and make plans, the relatively nice weather they’ve been having is nowhere to be found.
She texts Seth a little later when the rain is still coming down in sheets.
Guess the date is off. 🙁
Her phone pings when he answers.
Don’t be sad, Iowa. Santa Monica Pier will still be there after this. I hope.
Despite her disappointment, Audrey laughs.
Date doesn’t have to be off though, he texts again a few seconds later.
Oh? What did you have in mind?
He doesn’t answer, but there’s a knock on her door a few minutes later. Seth is dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, and, for some reason, a beanie. He hands her a few DVDs, then notices her staring at his head.
“Oh, right,” he laughs, reaching up and pulling it off.
Audrey grins at the way his wavy hair sticks up all over the place.
“Why the hat?” she asks as he tries in vain to press his hair down.
“My mom,” he explains. “Every year about this time, she sends me a box of all this stuff she’s baked and a winter hat to not-so-subtly guilt me into visiting for the holidays. She FaceTimed me this morning.”
His hair stubbornly refuses to cooperate, no matter how hard he tries to flatten it. Audrey grabs the hat and pulls it back over his head.
“You embarrassed by my hair, Iowa?”
Audrey points to her own slightly tangled hair. “Please. Have you seen what I have to deal with?”
He wraps one of her curls around his finger, then slides his hand into her hair and tilts his head down. Her breath hitches at the feel of his mouth hovering just over her ear.
“I bet my mom would get you a hat, too,” he breathes, and Audrey laughs, pushing against his shoulder.
Seth is grinning when she playfully shoves him away, and there’s still a bubble of a laugh on her lips when he kisses her. She loops her arms around his neck, teasing her tongue over his lower lip and shivering at the quiet way he groans. They’re both flushed and a little breathless when they pull apart, Seth cupping his face in her hand.
“I know it’s not really a date,” he says, caressing his thumb over her cheekbone, “but I was thinking we could watch some movies. Order take out. Eat our way through the dozens and dozens of cookies I now have.”
They sit together on her beat-up couch, watching obscure comedies she’s never heard of but ends up nearly crying with laughter at. Audrey can tell it makes Seth happy that she likes them, sees him glancing at her out of the corner of his eye with a smile on his face when she laughs especially hard. She’s surprised when the last movie finishes and she realizes it’s dark out. The rain has finally stopped, and one of the streetlights filters hazily in through the blinds.
“Want to order food?” Seth asks.
They’ve shifted as the movies played, Seth lying on his side behind her, his hand resting over hers. Audrey rolls carefully to face him.
“In a minute,” she murmurs.
She runs her fingertips over his cheek and his jawline, his stubble pleasantly scratching her fingers, then brings their hands back together. His fingers play over hers, lightly tickling her skin.
“What is it, Iowa?” he asks quietly.
Seth squeezes her hand, then resumes his gentle tracing motions.
“Nothing,” she answers. “I’m just happy we still got to hang out today.”
“Me too,” he murmurs, leaning in and pressing his lips lightly to hers.
They kiss slowly, taking their time and being in the moment together. She shifts closer, letting go of his hand to slip hers around the back of his neck. Seth’s fingers trail up and down her back, just touching above her waistband. Audrey brushes her nose over his when she leans back.
“This was still a really good date,” she says.
Seth shakes his head. “This wasn’t a date, Iowa. I still owe you a real one.”
“A real one?” Audrey asks pointedly, her lips spreading into a hint of a smile.
He laughs, and she squirms as he tickles her side playfully. “Well, I’d like more than a date,” he replies.
She loves the way his face lights up, his eyes crinkling and his lips quirking into a genuine smile when she says, “I’d like that too.”