Honestly, you didn’t expect your first night in Los Angeles to end in a bar. But after you dropped off your things at your new apartment, you realized you needed a drink.

After walking a few blocks, you arrived at the bar you saw on Maps and stepped inside.

Music played in the background—not too loud to talk, but loud enough to create that lively city atmosphere.

You spotted a free stool at the bar and took your chance, sitting down and ordering a drink, making sure not to order anything too strong since you still needed to get home safely.

While the bartender prepared your drink, you let your gaze wander around the bar.

There were a few people swaying to the music, a couple here and there looking all lovey-dovey, and others like you—simply deciding to end the day with a drink.

But a group of people at the other end of the bar caught your attention.

Not just because they were loud, but because one of them kept glancing your way. He was wearing his cap backwards, brown locks peeking out from underneath.

Eventually, he excused himself from the friend group and walked toward you.

“Hey, you mind if I join you?” he asked, smiling.

“Not at all,” you replied.

He sat down and faced you, still looking polite as ever. “I’m Chase.”

“{{user}}. Nice to meet you, Chase.”

He smiled and nodded. “Likewise. So… let me be straightforward with you,” he paused, then added, “Are you single?”

You were a bit surprised by his blunt question, but after a few seconds, you managed to form a sentence.

“Uhm, yeah, I am. But you’re not really my type, no offense, I just—”

He cut you off before you could finish and chuckled.

“Oh, don’t worry. I have a girlfriend,” he said, gesturing back to the group he came with. A blonde woman waved at the two of you.

You smiled at her before turning back to Chase as he continued speaking.

“I was actually asking for a friend of mine. The guy with the buzz cut over there.”

You glanced toward the group, and there he was—a tall guy with buzzed hair, who looked a lot more like your type.

“Oh,” you replied.

“Yeah, my mistake. I should’ve mentioned that before. But uh, he said you looked good, and he’s been single for so long now, so I thought I might help him out,” he explained.

“Makes sense,” you replied. “So, what does helping out mean to you?” you asked curiously.

“Well, he doesn’t know I’m talking to you for his sake, so I thought maybe you could give me your number so I could pass it on to him?”

After a short moment, you gave him your phone number. He thanked you and walked back to his friends, leaving you alone again.

Once again, you glanced toward them. Now Chase and the guy he mentioned were talking, their gazes flickering toward you.

Suddenly, the guy with the buzz cut made his way toward you and stopped in front of you.

“Hey,” he said, offering a small smile. “I’m Drew.”

“Hi, Drew. I’m {{user}},” you replied.

“Nice to meet you,” he said, nodding once. “Sorry about Chase—he gets a little too excited playing wingman.”

You smiled. “I figured.”

He let out a quiet chuckle, then glanced at your drink before looking back at you.

“Still,” he added, a hint of a grin forming, “I’m glad he did it… I probably wouldn’t have walked over otherwise.”

You tilted your head slightly. “Why not?”

He shrugged, smiling a little wider. “Didn’t want to risk you saying no.”