What I Like About You

“What do I like about you?” you repeat her question, trying to make sure you heard correctly.

“Yeah.” Viv answers quickly.

“Did your self-esteem take a hit recently? Why are you suddenly fishing for compliments?” You ask her, in an attempt to do a Viv and dodge the question in case she’s just building up to a prank.

“You and I are going to be dating, right? You must like something about me.” Viv explains with an awkward chuckle, almost as if she’s worried that you actually might not like anything about her, or the thing you like isn’t the answer she’s looking for.

“I like your taste in tacos.” You jokingly answer, awkwardly chuckling as you do.

“Don’t use my own tricks against me, Junior. I’m being serious now, so I want serious answers. What. Do you. Like. About. Me?” Viv reacts to your joke seriously.

...

“You know what? You want to know how serious I am with that question? Here’s what I like about you.” Viv says fired up, after seeing that you’re possibly not taking her seriously. A part of you thinks she is still playing with you and she’ll say that she doesn’t like anything about you as a joke.

“I like that even though you’re almost a foot taller than me, you’re a fucking teddy bear. I like that when I flirt with you, instead of letting it get to your ego, you rub the back of your neck because you’re embarrassed or flattered or whatever emotion that makes you look adorable. I like that you’re a good boyfriend to Stella and Cassie, and even a better dad to both of them. I don’t know why that’s a normal sentence when it’s about you, but it is.” Viv pauses to let out a snort of laughter.

“I like that you got the first non-work friend I ever made when I moved into this city to stop being as jaded about relationships as I was, or probably even moreso, so that I could start considering not being jaded about relationships too. I like that the most hopelessly romantic person I’ve ever met, despite having been burnt multiple times by previous relationships, got so inspired to be even more hopelessly romantic at the idea of being with you, that she’s willing to share you. I like—” Viv elaborates, before pausing again to take a deep breath through her nose.

“I like that everyone seems to like you… and that maybe, if we’re together, some of that will rub off on me too.” Viv finally says before staring at you to see your reaction.

You put your taco down and wipe the Birria juices off of your hands and take a deep breath to get you in the same serious mood that Viv is in. You look Viv in the eyes before continuing.

“I like that you’re a caring person.” You answer her before pausing, after seeing her raise her eyebrow in reaction.

“You saw Maddy being uncomfortable with your comment yesterday and immediately apologized, before getting on her good side. I like how you took care of her earlier this afternoon too, when you realized that she may have been getting jealous of Paige openly flirting with me. I like that the first time we met, you wanted to apologize to Tanya for something you may have accidentally done, and immediately had her back when you found out I was possibly cheating on her. I like how you took care of Tanya, Cassie, and Brooke when they got drunk; cooked them breakfast in the morning to help with their hangovers.” You elaborate.

“More than that, in the short time we’ve known each other, you motivate me to be just as caring as you are. I’m not one of the ‘someones’ you thought you needed tonight, but like I said earlier, I don’t care if I’m not. When I found out you needed someone to talk to, I wasn’t going to leave you hanging… because that’s not what the Viv I know would do.” you add, meaning every word.

“The Viv you know also caused all those problems.” Viv points out, unconvinced of your words. “I made Maddy uncomfortable. I made Paige be flirty with you. I apologized to Tanya because I thought I ended her night unceremoniously. I got Brooke, Tanya, and Cassie drunk. I’m not a caring person. I just like to clean up my messes.” Viv tells you, almost sounding like she’s dejected with herself.

You give her an understanding smile. You know that kind of thinking better than anyone.

“I like you because you’re like me.” You tell Viv, and she’s looking deep into your eyes as you say it. “I like that you and I have the same mental fuck up that prevents us from thinking when things go wrong, it isn’t our fault. It’s always our fault. Maybe we don’t accept all the faults in their entirety, but we feel like the tiniest bit of fault is worth hating ourselves over. It’s what I did with my ex-wife. I blamed myself for her mistake. Honestly, sometimes I still do. Maybe not as often anymore now that I’m genuinely happier than I’ve ever been at any other point in my life… and maybe Stella, Cassie, Tanya, and I can help you blame yourself less, like how those three are helping me. I like the idea that if you and I start dating, I won’t feel alone being surrounded by three well-adjusted people; two of which are half my age.” You add with a chuckle, and Viv actually chuckles too. Although you’re noticing she’s beginning to tear up now.

You get up from your chair and move it closer to Viv’s, so you can sit next to her. You wrap your right arm around her and rub the side of her right arm and shoulder. This is the most **** you’ve ever seen Viv, and you find it weird to say that she’s more endearing now than all the times she’s ever flirted with you, but it’s the truth.

“I like that you think being with me will make you likable, since that presupposes people don’t. People already like you, Viv. I mean, when you’re not actively trying to make them not like you with your manipulative pranks... but pobody’s nerfect.” You add with a chuckle, just so she knows you’re not just kissing her ass because she’s tearing up and you want to cheer her up.

“The Good Place or Simpsons?” Viv asks you, not sure why she would ask that all of a sudden.

“I mean, I love The Good Place but I don’t think it holds a candle to Golden Age Simpsons. Especially if we’re talking about comedy. Good Place is a comedic show, but I wouldn’t call it a comedy.” you give your honest answer to the weird question.

“I stand by what I said. You’re fucking adorable.” Viv reacts to your answer with a happy but teary smile. “I was actually asking where you heard the Pobody’s Nerfect line from. I’m guessing The Simpsons since you watched both shows.” Viv explains why she asked the question.

“Oh~, I’m pretty sure I saw it in a Cracked Magazine issue back when I was a kid.” You tell her, and her eyes light up upon hearing it.

“I used to read those when I was a kid too. Before we got the internet, I’d go to our local library that had a stack of old Cracked and Mad issues and just read them to pass the time outside the house.” Viv shares with you, before sniffing up snot.

“You spent your childhood in the library?” You asked her teasingly, and Viv understood the subtext of why you were asking immediately.

“Bitch, I’m Asian. Of course I’m a nerd.” Viv replies to you jokingly, and you both get a laugh out of it.

“Oh, yeah. I can tell. Huge nerd reading comedy magazines. I’m surprised you’re not a doctor yet.” You tease her.

“That’s an unhealthy stereotype!” Viv reacts with a laugh, signaling she wasn’t really taking it seriously. You laugh along with her for a bit. You both realize now that since you haven’t kept the banter going, you both have to awkwardly go back to what you were talking about earlier. You’re not sure how to segue into that, so you just outright say it.

“I want you to know you don’t need to tell me what happened to you that caused this. I was just curious, like anyone would be, I think. Still, I’m not here to hear the reason why you need someone to talk to.” You tell her, and you pause as she looks deep into your eyes, maybe trying to see if you’re being sincere or not. You don’t break eye contact with her, and stare just as deep into her watery eyes as you can too.

“I’m here for you.” you tell her sincerely and with a sweet smile to comfort her.

Viv surprises you by going for a kiss you weren’t prepared for. You only feel surprised for a split second though. You close your eyes and return her kiss as soon as you can. You both let the sweet peck last, not wanting to break it anytime soon. You feel Viv’s soft lips on yours, before she introduces her tongue to lick your lips. You do the same and eventually your tongues meet. You go on for what only felt like a moment, but you know it lasted far longer. Until, eventually, Viv broke away from the kiss.

“You taste like tacos.” You both joke simultaneously, and the coincidence makes both of you laugh. Viv wipes away the tears in her eyes, smiling a genuine happy smile as she does so.