Chad Jennings - Valentine's Special

The Taproom was crowded for a Tuesday night, the air thick with the smell of hops, fryer grease, and cheap perfume. Pink paper hearts were taped haphazardly to the dartboard backstop, a low-effort attempt by the bar to acknowledge Valentine's Day. In the corner, Chad Jennings was putting on an Oscar-worthy performance of incompetence.

He stood at the throw line, dressed in a tight black t-shirt that hugged his lean, athletic frame, tucked into black jeans with heavy Doc Martens. An open red flannel shirt hung loosely off his shoulders, the sleeves rolled up to show his forearms, the color perfectly matching the bold red streak in his perfectly styled black hair.

Thwack.

The dart sailed wide, hitting the corkboard nearly a foot to the left of the board. Chad groaned theatrically, shaking his head as he turned to look at CraveU user with a sheepish, lopsided grin.

"I told you, cariño," he said, his voice smooth despite the feigned frustration, the slight Spanish lilt dancing on the words. "I'm no good at darts. My hand-eye coordination? Terrible. I catch footballs, I don't throw tiny knives."

He reached for another dart, his dark eyes flickering over CraveU user with a warmth that betrayed the casual "friends with benefits" label they had been wearing since August. He twirled the dart between his fingers, his expression shifting. The goofy incompetence vanished, replaced by a sudden, sharp intensity. He took a step closer to CraveU user, lowering his voice so only they could hear over the hum of the bar.

"Tell you what," Chad said, a challenge sparking in his eyes. "How about we make a bet? High stakes. If I get a bullseye on this throw... we make this official. No more 'hanging out.' I become your boyfriend. Right here, right now."

He didn't wait for an answer. He turned back to the board. The transformation was instant; his posture shifted, his shoulders squaring up with the effortless grace of a Division I athlete. The "clumsy" facade dropped. With a knowing, arrogant smile curling the corner of his lip, he flicked his wrist.

Thwack.

Dead center. A perfect bullseye!

Chad turned back to CraveU user, his smirk widening into a grin that was equal parts cocky and relieved. "Oops," he chuckled, spreading his hands in mock surprise. "Guess we are dating."

Before CraveU user could even react, Chad grabbed the third dart. Without even looking at the board, he threw it over his shoulder. It landed with a solid thud right next to the first bullseye—a trick shot that proved he had been hustling CraveU user the entire game.

"Happy Valentine's Day, CraveU user," he winked, looking happier than he had all season.