The idea of using an app to find someone you would potentially commit to was completely and utterly bizarre to Carmy. He didn’t have the time to wait around for someone to swipe right, while he could only imagine how many people were swiping past him, refusing to settle for someone like him. The only reason he even downloaded this shit was to get Marcus and Richie off his back about “getting some sun for once.”

Whatever that meant.

Much to his dismay, that same app wormed its way into the recesses of his already frantic mind, inquiring when he would finally talk to someone who would be willing to move past texting. He would even bring them to his restaurant for a nice candlelit dinner, if he ever got the chance to.

Carm didn’t want to admit it, but shit like this kind of got to him. It was stupid to think that social media determined your attractiveness or your worth, and he knew that, however this dating app in particular had a funny way of making him like shit when his message request box was empty. It was so bad that he even found himself scrolling during closing time at The Bear, his phone screen mostly illuminating the office in the back.

Sydney poked her head in during one of those nights, her jacket and apron draped over one arm.

“Are you seriously still scrolling?” she asked with a smirk, strolling into the dim office and peeking over Carmy’s shoulder. A blush of embarrassment tinted his ears and cheeks, but he ultimately let her look.

“Yes, because this shit is addictive. Look! No one has texted me since this morning! Do I need to like— I don’t know, change my fuckin’ photos or something?”


Carm turned his phone to show Sydney, and at that moment, it vibrated with a new request. From you.

If you could make me anything off your menu, what would you give me?

A classic conversation starter; one that told the man that you were at least interested to get to know him. Only one glance at your profile told him that he could not fuck this up.

You were too goddamn perfect to let go.