Double Date (Part 13)

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You asked for it and I finally got around to it so you better enjoy it or else...

For this chapter to have the right impact you need to read Stepping Out, Meeting Once Again, Carter and the Boy, Returning to Work and Returning to Work: Continued

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Donovan pushed through the door to the cafe, the coffee-scented space inviting him in. The interior looked like a library transformed into a coffee shop with bookcases lining the walls stacked with books for coffee drinkers' perusing.

The barista smiled at Donovan as she took his order. Coffee in hand, Donovan cut through the maze of round tables to one in the back near the windows.

"I found a new literary love," Donovan said.

He dropped into a seat across from Tyler and set his satchel down on the ground, the books piled inside tumbling over.

"I read Then There Were None and Murder on the Orient Express," Donovan continued. "Which means I went on an Agatha Christie binge. Poirot is my favorite by far. Here I brought you some of the best."

Donovan pulled out a collection of five books and slid them across the table to Tyler. He nodded and scanned over the titles. Leaning back in his seat, Donovan eyed his friend and took a sip of his coffee.

"These look interesting," Tyler mused.

His response was half-hearted and Donovan saw it. Tyler leaned over and extracted five books from his backpack and set them on the table.

"I liked the top one, The Scarlett Pimpernel," Tyler said. "The other four are Raymond Chandler mysteries. You should like them."

Donovan accepted the books, half looking over them and half glancing at Tyler. His manner was subdued and he stared out at the coffee shop instead of inspecting the books Donovan brought him like he normally would. After sliding his new books into his satchel, Donovan crossed his arms.

"What's up?" he asked.

Tyler peered at Donovan through his glasses and shook his head, feigning ignorance.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"Come on man, you realize that we've been meeting up every couple weeks for a year, I know when something is up."

Tyler sank back in his chair, contemplating the table, saying nothing. Donovan continued to drink his coffee, knowing silence always proceeded answers. Both his parents had taught him that.

"You remember dinner the other week?" Tyler eventually said.

Donovan nodded. His brothers had been in town and so Donovan had invited Tyler over for dinner so he could meet them all. Tyler dragged a hand through his hair.

"I don't know," he said.

"Dude spit it out," Donovan said.

"You're going to think I'm ridiculous."

"I don't care, but you not acting more interested in the books is bugging me, so just say it."

Tyler didn't respond but Donovan saw the words building until they eventually escaped.

"I want what you have, okay," Tyler said.

"I don't think you want my brothers, they are annoying and abusive."

Tyler laughed. "No, man. I want what you have with Carter."

At this, Donovan raised his eyebrows. "I thought we covered this, you can't have my wife."

"No, I mean...watching you two I could see how much you loved each other. It wasn't anything mushy." Tyler grimaced and placed his laced hands on top of his head. "I sound pathetic. But she would look at you and you could see it. And the way you spoke about her..." He dropped his hands. "Never mind."

"When was the last time you dated?" Donovan said.

Tyler snorted. "Too long. I'm getting to be a grouchy old man who only reads and gets annoyed with youngsters."

Donovan laughed. "Sounds like you need a girl. Want my help?"

"Does your wife have a sister?"

"No, but I have someone in mind."

*******

"A double date with the first guy I had a crush on and the first girl who didn't piss you off, this should be interesting," Carter said.

She stood in front of the bathroom mirroring, brushing out her hair.

"I think it will go well," Donovan said, crossing the room to her.

Carter raised an eyebrow at him but he didn't retract his statement. Without comment, he took the brush from her and continued to the task for her. She'd never told him but somehow he knew that she loved when he did this. Once it had been a source of shame that she was too weak to do it herself, but now it reminded her how much he cared for her.

"How did Kia respond to the offer?" Carter asked.

"She was surprised but interested. She said she'd been so busy lately that having a personal life had been pushed to the side."

Carter eyed his reflection. "Should I be worried that you could so easily contact her?"

Donovan ignored her pointed look. "If you think going through the case file we wrote up for the senator mission, tracking down our contact, not finding any info from that point then calling everyone connected to the senator to finally get a hold of her is easy, sure you should be worried."

Sightly embarrassed, Carter dropped her pointed look. "You did all that for Tyler, seems dedicated."

For a moment, Donovan didn't say anything as he tied back Carter's hair.

"He's one of the closest friends I've had outside of my brothers, you and Link. I know what it's like to feel alone, to want to share your life with someone, so if I can help him then I'm going to."

Carter rose and kissed Donovan gently.

"What was that for?" he asked.

"Because sometimes your FBI agent exterior makes me forget how kindhearted you are."

"You approve of tonight then?"

"I do, and I'll do whatever I can to make it work between them."

"Thank you."

When Carter and Donovan walked into the restaurant, Carter spotted Tyler right away. He stood up as they carved their way through the maze of tables to him. He'd dressed in a neat pair of slacks and a button-down shirt.

"I'm not going to lie," he said, sounding completely calm. "I think I might pass out from nervousness."

Carter laughed and put her hands on his shoulders inspecting him.

"You look great and you have nothing to worry about," she said. "Besides if you pass out, Donovan will distract Kia and I will pour water on you, she'll never know."

Tyler gave a tight laugh but Carter noticed that his shoulders relaxed. As they all went to sit, Carter received a text and glanced at it.

"Hi Carter, it's Kia. I'm outside the restaurant. Can you come meet me?"

Excusing herself, Carter headed back into the cool night air. Kia stood there, fingers knotted. She smiled at Carter.

"Thanks for coming. Donovan gave me your number," she said. "So..." she held out her arms. "How do I look? Good? I just haven't done this in ages."

Kia wore a deep purple dress that complimented her skin tone. She'd pinned up her hair but small tendrils hung loose, curling around her face.

"You look perfect, feminine enough that it should downplay how intimidating you can be in a pantsuit."

Kia laughed. "It was the reason I went with the dress, I scare most of the men in the office that none of them see me as worth dating. Which works well for me, I don't ever plan to date someone I work with, too many complications."

Carter smiled, remembering how much she liked this girl, level-headed and blunt. For a brief moment, she wondered what high school life would have been like if she'd had a friend like Kia. She imagined they would have been an unstoppable pair.

"Come on, he's inside," she said.

Taking in a steadying breath, raising her chin, Kia strode forward.

"I spent the past few days searching everything I could about him, so I'm prepared."

"Yeah, don't tell him that," Carter said. "He'll feel like he should have done the same."

As they rejoined Donovan and Tyler, both men rose. Tyler gazed over Kia, stunned.

"Wow," he said. Gathering himself, he smiled and held out his hand. "I'm Tyler Hayes, it's a pleasure to meet you."

"Kia Mitchell," Kia said. "Likewise."

When they all settled in, Carter sat between Kia and Donovan, which gave her a clear view of Tyler across the way. She noted the way he looked to Kia with admiration but fiddled with the cuff of his shirt. Kia appeared to be all composed, her smile welcoming but Carter saw the twitch of her fingers as she neatened her napkin on her plate. After drinks and dishes were ordered, a beat of silence invaded the table.

"So," Kia said, displaying the headstrong side of her. "Tyler how do you know Carter and Donovan."

At the question, Tyler relaxed a bit. "It's a funny story, Carter and I attended high school together."

"Oh, so not Donovan's friend?" Kia said.

Carter understood the assumption since it had been Donovan who initiated the blind date for Tyler, not Carter.

"No," Tyler said. "I hadn't seen Carter since high school until last year."

Kia glanced between the two of them, trying to solve the puzzle. "Did you two date?"

Tyler looked uncomfortable but Carter drew the attention to herself.

"No, we only ever had one interaction. I bumped into Tyler in the hallway and we talked. We planned to meet up later but I moved to a different school." Carter decided to leave out the fact that they had liked each other, not sure it would help the situation. "We ran into each other again at the National Gallery and it was like old times. At dinner that night Donovan and Tyler met, talked books the entire time and I haven't gotten them to shut up ever since."

Kia laughed and Tyler grinned sheepishly but seemed pleased all the same.

"How did you and Carter become friends?" Tyler asked Kia.

This time Kia looked a little uncertain.

"It's a story like yours," Kia said. "I met Donovan in high school. We attended Winter Formal together." Tyler shot Donovan a look and Carter knew Donovan had failed to mention this factor. Before Tyler could grow uncomfortable, Kia hurried on. "He went with me so Link could go with my friend. I've never had a more reluctant date. He sat the whole time and I left him early."

Tyler shook his head reprovingly at Donovan.

"Don't you know how to treat a beautiful girl?" he asked.

Kia pressed her lips together, fighting back a delighted smile. Carter fought her own smile, knowing that Kia had omitted key parts of the story. For instance how she'd left because Donovan was hard not to fall in love with. But it was better this way.

The food arrived and despite the fairly good start, the rest of the dinner was a mix of hit and misses. It turned out that Tyler's bookish side made him more prone to talk about literature. But since reading wasn't Kia's strongest interest it meant that half of Tyler's statements were directed at Donovan. In turn, Kia felt more comfortable discussing interesting people relationships and Carter received the bulk of these comments. Carter and Donovan did their best navigating the conversations, trying to find avenues that both companions could venture down.

By the time talk of dessert rolled around, it seemed like the whole dinner would be a bust. Kia pushed back her chair.

"If you'll excuse me, I have to go to the restroom," she said. "Carter?"

Seeing the plea in her eyes, Carter joined her. When they stepped inside, Kia began to pace.

"All right," she said. "What am I doing wrong? I like him, he's cute, smart, and occasionally funny but I feel like I'm tripping over my feet here." She pointed at Carter. "Which you should know is not something I do." She stopped and raised her hands. "All right, I need a gameplay here. Do I call this a wash and leave it? Or try something else?"

"Do you want my solution?" Carter asked.

Kia let out a breath. "Yes, I do."

"Right now, Donovan and I aren't actually helping, we're a crutch for both of you. Instead of staying for dessert invite Tyler to walk with you down the street to the little gelato place. Then you'll get a true sense of if you get along."

Kia nodded. "Okay, that's a good plan."

They exited the restroom and headed back. As they reached the table, Tyler stood up.

"Kia, this double date has been fun but," he said. "I would like to get to know you better on my own. There's a good gelato place down the street, will you go with me?"

Carter fought back a smile, noticing how Kia liked this determined side of Tyler.

"I would love to," she said.

They left and Carter sank into her seat, watching them.

"You suggested the gelato place," Carter said.

"Yeah, it was at the point we weren't helping the situation. I told him he needed to stick out on his own, make a move to show her he was interested."

Carter laughed and kissed him. "I suggested the gelato place as well. Do you think that they'll make it?"

"I don't see why not, he's me and she's you."

"If that's true then it looks like they found The One."

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Hey there cupcake!
(๐Ÿ˜ณ Oh my gosh don't way yourself!)

You want this one shot for a while so tell me what you thought about it? ๐Ÿ’ฌ๐Ÿ’ญ๐Ÿ—ฏ

I'm not going to lie this isn't my favorite ending, honestly it was a little weak but I couldn't think of how to end it any other way.

I think this just proves that I'm coming to the end of one shots because the writing of them is sorely lacking. But I have written over 100 one shots for you so I don't think you get to be too sad about this.

Vote, comment, follow because like I said 100 one shots, that's proof of my love for you.

What is it and can I have one?!


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