The Lucky Ones [1]
Pairing: Bartender!Tom Holland x Reader
Words: 3,018
Warnings: Swearing, talks of bad dates
Summary: You want a relationship and Tom wants to find his “one person.” The want to not be lonely left you both going on a string of bad dates. And you both had your usual spots you would go to sulk about it but, as a coincidence would have it, your spots are closed on the same night leading you both to same exact diner. And as another coincidence would have it, your server serves you each other’s meals, leading the two of you to meet.
A/N: It’s here!! I hope you guys like this!! Lemme know what you guys think!! Next chapter will be up on Thursday!!
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You’re sitting alone at a table, looking at the window that’s lit with the street lights and signs from across the street. The lights reflect off the wet pavement, cars swooshing by every so often. This is not your usual spot. Your usual spot is Gino’s down the street but they’re closed for a remodel for the next week and this was the next best place. Kind of.
You have this routine, one you wish to break, where you stop at Gino’s after a bad date and eat alone, listening to a playlist or an audiobook or a podcast. Anything really to make yourself seem busy and not like a loser sitting alone at a restaurant at 11pm. For you, it’s better than going to your shared apartment with your best friend, and telling her about yet another bad date, hearing how you’ll find the right person one day. It’s all gotten a little old.
And then there’s Tom.
As chance or luck or fate or whatever you wanna call it, has it, he’s sitting alone at his own table across the room from you. He, too, has a routine of going out after a bad date. His usual choice is a coffee shop, the opposite way of Gino’s but that coffee shop is closed due to a family event. It’s a small, family-owned and run coffee shop so every once in a blue moon, a wedding or graduation occurs and they close for the day to celebrate. So, Tom comes here. Unfortunate, really, that he has such a routine just because dates don’t go as planned but similar to you, it’s a easier to be alone than to go home and feel like a disappointment or get pity from his best friend.
“If you need anything, just holler.” The server says quickly, walking away just as Tom looks at his food.
“Uh, excuse me?” Tom calls, hand slightly raised in the air, seeing the blueberry pancakes are definitely not what he ordered but the server is already at the only other table with a person, delivering his food.
Tom sighs, watching and hoping she’ll notice or that you will notice but neither of you do. The server walks off before the you can comment about your wrong meal. Tom watches and you look about as defeated as he does and it doesn’t look like you’re about to bring your food up to the counter and that’s not what Tom wants to do either. You might be the only two customers in the diner but Tom doesn’t want to be a bother to anyone so, he picks up the plate and makes the short walk to the your table.
As Tom gets closer, he takes notice in how you’re dressed and your makeup. You’re not dressed like someone who just wanted to come to some random diner to eat alone. Your makeup matches your red dress while a white wire falls in the center of your chest, earbuds in both of your ears. The closer he gets to you, the more he notices there’s nothing else at your table.Nothing that indicates you’re even waiting for someone. And he wonders would drive you to be alone at the diner, too.
“Um…” Tom clears his throat, holding the plate closer to him than the table. “I think…she mixed up our meals.” Tom says quietly, you just looking up from your phone with doe eyes.
You pull out an earbud, brows furrowed. “Sorry, what?”
Tom uses his free hand to point at the plate on your table and then the plate in his hand. “I think our meals got mixed up.”
“Oh.” You let out a huff, cheeks heating up. “Yeah, I guess they did. Thank you.” You give him a soft smile, pushing his food towards him as he puts the plate down in front of you.
He has light brown hair, gelled, the front swiped over to the side. Not like a comb over, the front is swooped up to give his hair volume. And he’s wearing a burnt orange button up, matching a tie loosened around his neck, and black slacks that seem a little too big. Interesting.
“You, uh, you alone?” Tom asks and he doesn’t even know why he asked. It’s not even his business. It was a little rude in hindsight but he’s alone, so he’s not judging, just curious.
“Mm,” You hum, brows are furrow just a bit and the corner of your mouth twitches into something Tom can’t tell is a smirk or a grimace. “Because if I were alone, I’d want to tell some random guy that.”
“T- that’s…I….sorry.” Tom stutters, shaking his head in embarrassment.
You laugh softly. “It’s okay, my best friend knows where I am, shared location.” You shake your head, pulling your plate closer to you. “I am. You?”
“Yeah.” Tom chuckles, rubbing the back his neck. “I am.” He sucks in a breath, dodging eye contact.
“Why?” You scoff, unwrapping the silverware to grab a fork. Tom furrows his brows, eyes narrowing, taken aback by your bluntness. “Sorry!” You shake your head. “I just mean that it looks like you wouldn’t be.” You’re kicking yourself and feel more embarrassed than you have in ages. You did not mean to come off so blunt and rude. You gesture towards his outfit, “I didn’t mean to sound rude or anything. It just....looks like, uh, you were...I don’t know.” You suck in a breath, furrowing your brows and shaking off the embarrassment. “Wanna sit?”
Tom chuckles and puts his plate down, opposite you. "Sure." Tom slides into the booth, using the extra set of silver wear that's wrapped in its own napkin. "Why're you alone?" He asks.
"I technically asked you first." You bite a piece of pancake from your fork.
"Said yourself you were a bit rude so..." Tom grins, cutting into his skillet.
"Ohhh, touché." You laugh. "Bad date, didn't wanna go home and listen to my friend talk about me finding someone perfect for one day." You mock with the roll of your eyes. "Your turn." You point your fork at him.
"Same." Tom laughs, taking his own bite.
"Ha-ha, very funny." You look to your plate, certain he’s messing with you.
"Oh, no wish I were joking. I'm sadly serious. I, uh," Tom furrows his brows, shrugging his shoulders. "Typically got to Ginger's coffee but they're closed." He clears his throat. “My friend thinks I should give up though, not like your friend.” A cornered smile crosses his lips when you look up to him.
"Gino's." You chortle. "Closed for remodel."
"Wow." Tom chuckles in disbelief.
What are the odds of that all happening? A million to one? How strange that the two of you have bad dates and your usual places are closed and now you're sitting together. And the fact you both go on so many bad dates that you actually have a usual spot to sulk about it. If either of you didn't know any better, you'd both swear you were being set up.
"I'm Tom." Tom reaches across the table, hand opened.
"Y/n." You shake his hand, taking notice how calloused his hands are.
"It's nice to meet you." Tom smiles softly. "So, uh, what was so wrong with your date?" Tom asks, going back to his food.
"Oh, lemme tell you." You take a bite and leans forward after you swallow. "Pretentious asshole." You gesture a hand with a slight wave, fake shock on your face.
"Oh?" Tom raises an eyebrow, interested in what you’re about to say, mostly because you seem like you’re dying to talk about it.
"He was just so bleeeeehhhhhccckkkk." You scrunch your nose, making Tom laugh. "Like, he was trying to tell me why Lord Of The Rings was a bad trilogy and everyone likes because they're Harry Potter alternatives like what? They're nothing alike and it's not like he had a valid point or anything. It wasn't just an opinion. He tried saying shit about the score of the films and effects as if he knew what he was talking about. And then he said my shoes clashed with my outfit because of cOlOr ThEoRy." Your eyes grow wide with the biggest eye roll you can manage.
"I'm sorry." Tom laughs. "I've never seen Lord of the Rings but he sounds like a dick anyway. Color theory." Tom scoffs, looking to the side and under the table to see your shoes. "What's that even supposed to mean? Your shoes are black?"
"First of all, clear a weekend to watch those movies.” You shake your head. “Second, right????? I was on a date, not some art gala or fashion show."
"Mmmmmm maybe. Aren't they like 3 hours long or something?” Tom squints his eyes, knowing he doesn't normally watch movies that reach past the two-hour mark. “ What'd you do? Like...to leave?"
"Return Of The King is almost three and half." You laugh. "But I enjoyed my free meal, then left. Blocked his number on the walk here, did not want him to think that went well." You purse your lips before chuckling softly. "How about you? What happened?"
"That's, uh, that’s an absurd runtime, you know that, right?" Tom smirks before shaking his head. "I don't know, she....I don't care if people are materialistic. Everyone has different priorities, ya know? But, uh, she just wouldn't stop talking about money and all these nice things she has. She was bragging kind of, and hey, good for her but, uh, it came off....arrogant? And she was asking what car I drove, stuck her nose up at it. Asked what I did, also stuck her nose up at that. Thought it was weird I live with my best friend as if the housing market isn’t shit." Tom scoffs. "It was just a bit insulting at the end, how she was looking at me for having less." Toms shrugs, the lack of smile or grin on his face making you feel sorry for him.
"It's the perfect runtime for a good movie." You quip but your smile fall. "I'm sorry. That sucks. She sounds like a stuck-up bitch. I don’t know you but I don’t think you deserved that, from this little conversation. How'd you leave?"
"If you say so.” Tom huffs but a smile comes back to his face. “Um, yeah finished our meal, I paid for the record, she said she had a good time and walked to her driver. I didn't think I needed to say anything, based on how she reacted to everything I said." Tom sucks in a breath before letting out a sigh. “Then, uh, walked here.”
"Mm, sounds like we need better taste in people, I mean since you have a regular spot you go to after your dates, too." You snicker with the roll of your shoulders, leaning back in your seat.
"Yeah," Tom chuckles. "Guess so, I swear it's like every date I've been in in months has been bad."
"You're telling me," You scoff. "Trust me, I have been on worse dates."
"I don't know, I've been on some pretty bad ones." Tom smirks and it's like this silent competition started between the two of you. Who's been on the worst dates.
It's definitely not a conversation either of you have had with another stranger before, but there's something a bit freeing about it. When it's with your friends, you both feel like you'd just be complaining, especially lately. Or that maybe you're just being too picky about who you want to date which is not true but everyone should be picky about who they want to date and who they don't. But, with the two of you talking about your bad dates together, it feels like you aren't really alone in it, your streaks of bad dates is turning into a fun and light-hearted, open conversation. And it doesn't feel judgmental or pitting and you both take responsibility when you don't handle the dates well either. It's fun for you both and before either of you even know it, an hour has gone by, plates shoved off to the side with your utensils resting in the empty dishes.
"Okay, I had this one where she invited her friend." Tom says, arm resting on the back of his seat.
"Oh, so horrible," You fake pouts.
"Nah," Tom shakes his head. "That's not the bad part. I didn't even mind, wish she would've asked first or given a heads up but it was fine, until I realize I'm like the third wheel." Tom laughs as he runs a hand through his hair.
"Noooo." You giggle.
"Yeah! We, uh, get to the movie and her friend is with her, so okay that's fine.” Tom’s brows pinch together for a millisecond. “So, I offer to pay for her friend as well, some people are more comfortable with a friend. But then, I end up sitting next to her friend, I made 3 trips to the concessions for 'em, they whispered to each other the whole time. I tried to make a comment and her friend told me to be quiet because she was watching the movie. And so we go mini golfing after, I'm not kidding I don't think either of them said five words to me!"
You bursts out in laughter. "That's so rude!"
"I know! I tried to make conversation but they ignored me the whole time. It sounds like I'm being dramatic about it and I wish I was." Tom laughs, knowing that was the weirdest date by far he's been on.
"I would have been pissed," You shake your head. "I had this guy once, invite me on a date to his house which, hey, red flag but I went anyway." You sigh but your smile stays. "Turns out, he didn't want a date, he needed someone who had 'motherly vibes' to come over and babysit for him. It was like his nephew or something."
"What?" Tom asks, voice riddled in confusion.
"Yeah! He told his sister he'd babysit for extra cash and we're like 21 or something, but he didn't know the first thing about kids so his thought process was to get on a dating app and scope out women to help him. And I had to be gone before his sister got back so she wouldn't know some random person was there with her child."
"What'd you do?"
"Oh, I mean I stayed because I did not trust that man with a child." You chortle. "And then I found his sister on Facebook and told her what happened because she should know what her brother is up to. She was thankful I told her."
"That's so stupid." Tom groans with his head back.
"I know! Gosh," You sigh, leaning back in your seat as your phone dings.
Are you ok? Getting worried 😩
There’s disappointment in reading the text. You don’t really want to leave. Sure, talking about bad dates doesn’t sound like fun, but it is with Tom. Actually, this is the most fun you’ve had with a stranger in months. He’s really good company, and he’s funny, and really nice to look at. But, with the text from your best friend, you know it’s about time to head home. You have work in the morning anyway.
"Uh, Jess is getting worried." You rest your phone back on the table. "I have an idea."
"Oh, no." Tom jokes.
"So, we have not settled who's been on worse dates so how about we go on dates once a week, new people, and see who can go on the worst dates. Worst like we laugh about it, not worst as in dangerous ones, we meet up here after and talk about it." You offer, biting your bottom lip, hoping he’ll agree just because you want to see him. You know if you were to ask him on a date, he’d end up being another bad date and you’d like to not ruin the idea of him so soon.
"Doesn't that sound.....I don't know...a bit crazy?" Tom chuckles.
It sounds crazy and like a bad idea. As far as Tom's concerned, he considers you both lucky these are the kind of bad dates you've been on so far. Going on bad dates on purpose, seems like tempting fate a little bit. But, on the other hand, he is having a really good time with you.
"Absolutely but, clearly, we both have shitty taste in dating potential so we might as well make it fun if we're gonna go on bad dates anyway." You wiggle your eye brows and offer him a teasing grin.
"Yeah, okay." Tom agrees, leaning forward. "What works best for you?"
"I work 9-5 Tuesdays through Friday, 9-noon on Saturdays. So, anytime after those hours,"
"I work until 4 to 10 Tuesday through Friday and Saturdays I work till 5 to midnight. So, Mondays and Sundays are easiest."
"What do you do? Those are gross hours." You grimace at the thought of working from the middle of the afternoon until late at night.
"Bartender." Tom holds up his glass of water. slightly tilting it back and forth.
"Huh, didn't expect that." You raise your brows quickly and you’d like to see him in his element. You always stop to watch the bartending videos on TikTok.
"What were you thinking?" Tom chuckles softly.
"Until I heard your hours, some office job." You snort.
"I couldn't sit still that long, don't have the attention span.” Tom shakes his head, the idea of an office job making his skin crawl. “What about you? What do you do?"
"Vet tech." You beam with joy.
"Didn't expect that," Tom grins. You gesture a hand out, urging for him to explain, "Expected retail until you said your hours were consistent."
"Yeah, no not since college luckily." You look at your phone as it dings again. You shake your head, unlocking it and bringing up the messaging app and to a new message screen. "Here." You slide your phone to Tom. "Send a text to yourself, we'll have each other's numbers."
"Right, yeah." Tom chuckles, taking the phone and sending himself a smiley emoji from your phone. "All set." Tom gives you a cornered smile.
"Well, I'll...text you then?" You ask, getting up from your seat.
"Okay." Tom gains a soft and bashful smile as you grab your things, walking past him and towards the door, leaving him alone in the diner but feeling a lot less lonely.
next chapter
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