#Glen and brisket summer

[missathlete31]

Happy Birthday to Glen Powell!!!! 🎉🥳🎈🎊🎉

Updated to include the one and only Brisket Powell

[peachesandcreames]

Twisters is a Love Story and You Can't Convince me Otherwise 💞💕

[violetswritingg]

Thunderstruck

Tyler Owens x OFC!

Description: When cowgirl meets cowboy after a year of no-contact and chaos ensues during storm season!

Rating: M (Mentions of blood and death in Tornadoes and storms alike, angst and loss of loved ones, car accidents, Tornado aftermath, and injury to characters)

Want to read the other chapters?

click here

5

May, 2024

Oklahoma

"Well, at least we got data from inside the vortex, that's always fun." Sarah chirped from her curled up position inside the Warlock, the wing doors open as Riley was elbow deep in the engine. Oil and grime on her face as her hair started to fall from its ponytail. Bare fingers going through components and wires, yanking, pulling, and throwing over her shoulder. Grabbing the extra parts she needed from the paper plate set up on the corner of the open hood. "The doctors also said you need to take it easy!"

“I wouldn’t call ex-pre-med Sam who gave me my stitches a doctor, but okay, besides I am taking it easy!” She could feel the continued stares of every chaser in the lot, new or veteran. She knew what this vehicle meant not only to her but also to the community. The Warlock had been going since before she was born. She's replaced the engine and just about every part in it before at least twice. It was a money pit. It would be cheaper to just make a new one. Their grants would pay for it easily, but she couldn't let go of this one. She wouldn't.

She grunted as she leaned over a little farther, arm almost completely swallowed by the huge piece of machinery. She knew this vehicle like the back of her hand, and it showed. She pulled back and grabbed a wrench from an undergrad, muttering a 'thanks' under breath before tightening something and then putting her flashlight in her mouth to wrap some wires in electrical tape. Ripping out old ones and putting in new ones. She kicks the bumper and bangs the wrench against a component to the side. Leaning around side and wiping her hands off on a rag.

"Try it now Sarah!" Riley called, her head bowing down as her eyes closed. "Come on, come on, come on." She muttered under her breath.

When it roars to life her head snapped up and she fist pumped with a whoop, Sarah coming out to hug her. Swaying them back and forth.

"Not finished yet." Riley looked to Sarah and smirked, the brunette let the blonde go, allowing her to carefully climb into the front seat, flipping up the switch over the trigger for the spikes. "You filming this?" She called out, a little louder than normal, so Sarah could hear it.

"You bet your cute behind I am!" Was Sarah's response. And Riley chuckled inside the vehicle, shaking her head.

"Spikes deploying on 3!" Riley called out, knowing what was about to happen. "2!" The whole lot had joined in, the chorus of voices in the night one of the best sounds Riley had ever heard. "1!" It reminded her just how many people her dad had inspired or had loved him, that his memory lived on. Through her. "Deploy! Deploy! Deploy!"

The sound of the two foot long solid spikes striking through the asphalt sent a shock through the cab and Riley laughed raucously at the sensation. Next, she swung herself out of the vehicle with a huge smile, laughing some more when she felt arms around her and the next thing she knows she was on Daniels shoulders. The college junior grinning up at her with bright eyes, Riley looked back to the lot and took in all the chasers for a second. Feeling her eyes prickle a bit, her smile going wobbly for a second before she pulled it together.

"It lives!" Riley screamed to the parking lot, throwing up her left fist in the air in celebration.

"It lives!" Her hoard of undergrads echo, jumping and screaming together. Jenny, the only other theatre major on their team, who was corrupted by Sarah on her way out following it with the evilest witch cackle Riley had ever heard.

The parking lot erupted into cheers and Riley subtly wiped around her eyes as she was lowered to the ground. Small laughs still bubbling past her lips as she shared in a few more moments of pure joy with her team. The one she put together and chose, everyone really becoming like a family over the months of prep for this storm season making this moment all that much better. Because they believed in her, they thought she could do this, they supported her and drive. They would never dream of telling her to slow down, to give up on her dreams.

"Wonderful, now will you go shower? You are literally still covered in your own blood." Sarah winced and gestured to Riley and how she was still in her bloodied, cut up tank top, and dusty cargo pants from the chase earlier.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Riley swiped at her and Sarah dodged, her still damp hair just out of reach of Riley's oil stained skin. "I'm going, I'm going."

"Good, because you smell like storm and diesel and it's giving me a migraine." Sarah smiled and gestured to the staircase down the walkway from where they were able to get the Warlock. After it decided to stop running a mile before they got back to the motel. They had to have it hooked up to the tech van while pushing it with six of the biggest guys they had that last mile with Riley in the driver's seat steering it. It was horrible. "Also there's pizza on the table, eat something."

"Yes mom." Riley dragged out and turned while taking off, feeling higher than she had in months while covered in mud, grime, and blood. She had barely taken a couple steps before she ran into another body and her hand darted to her side as she hissed and took a couple steps back to steady herself.

"I'm so sorry-"

"It's fine Kate, I shoulda been watching better." Riley's accent came out a little heavier than she meant because of the stinging radiating through her ribs. But she still grinned, even if in pain, nothing could ruin her good mood right now.

"How are you, I saw you get hit, I thought-" Kate cut herself off, looking to the ground for a second, "I'm happy you're okay, looked pretty rough out there."

"Thanks." Riley went to lay a hand on Kate's shoulder but stopped herself, Kate saw the movement and chuckled. "I would but uh- I'm kind of dirty, sorry." Riley laughed, though her grin carried an awkward stress in the corners as she tried to keep smiling, wiping her palm down her thigh as if trying to clean it against the dusty fabric would actually do anything.

"You headed up?" Kate motioned to the staircase, resituating her backpack on her shoulder.

"Yeah, thanks." Riley started walking and Kate followed, side by side in easy silence. "Sorry if I made you uncomfortable earlier, with my questions. I tend to let myself get carried away when I get curious."

"Oh, it's fine." Kate waved her off but Riley pushed on.

"No. It's not. My daddy raised me better than to go snoopin' in someone else's business. So, I apologize. Please just take it." Riley chuckled tightly, she couldn't take any more guilt, even just this one thing.

"Thank you." Kate breathed after taking a moment, meeting Riley at the bottom of the stairs before they both started up.

"There is pizza in my room if your hungry," Riley started, "Unless you already-"

"I haven't but I'm okay. Thank you though."

"Yeah, of course." Riley breathed, trying to remember when it suddenly became so hard to make friends. Turning the corner at the landing and stopping dead in her tracks when her name was called out. Well, a name she hasn't been called in a while.

"Rocky!"

"Rocket!"

Kate stopped as well, looking to Riley with eyebrows drawn tight, head tilting to the side, "Rocket?"

"Just an old nickname. Uh Hey guys." Riley waved, her smile tense but softening when her eyes met Lily's, "Hey Lils." Her eyes darted around the whole group in greeting before landing on the one pair she had hoped to avoid. "Owens."

Tyler worked his jaw when Riley's grin dropped and his last name spit from her lips.

"Go east, she said, the west will choke each other out, she said." He quipped, sarcastic grin on his handsome face. Hands pausing their work on the spinning sensor on top of his truck. His eyes cut to Kate for a split second before drilling back into Riley, "Hey Storm Par."

Kate frowned at him, her eyebrows pulling down as she rolled her shoulders back. Riley stepped a little in front of her, leaning her elbows on the siding.

"Well, I still didn't manage to throw you off the scent, did I?" Riley grinned, her eyes glinting in the dim lighting of the parking lot, anger festering under the surface. "I must be losing my touch."

"I-I wouldn't say that." A voice she hadn't heard in person before piped up from beside Tyler, his pink cheeks, big brown eyes, and warm looking skin all very inviting. His smile wide and carefree, she was a little jealous. "I mean, that was great, with the Warlock. Just awesome..." Boone trialed off, holding up a finger as his face went through a couple different emotions, Riley's anger simmering as she allowed herself to enjoy the show. Enjoying the new character. "Have you ever thought about, and hear me out here, putting rocket launchers on the Warlock?" The man punctuated the words 'rocket' and 'launchers' with his hands before gesturing to the chasing vehicle with her small army surrounding it, only the older undergrads still lingering.

Riley can't stop the laugh that bubbles from her lips, "No, I have not." She shakes her head a bit as a more bitter thought filtered in and it showed on her face as she wet her lips, "I'm not exactly trying to run around firing fireworks up into tornadoes. You know you could have caused a fire like that? The sparks could have gotten carried into the dry wheat field. People could have gotten hurt."

Boone's smile dimmed a little and he looked back to Tyler when Riley's eyes shifted from his. Locking onto the blonde, her words cutting his soul. The look of disappointment flashing in her eyes was just the twist of the knife.

"Tyler knew that wouldn't happen, that's what makes him famous." Boone defended his friend, a small frown on his face as he looked up to Riley.

"On Youtube?" Kate piped up for the first time, head tilting to the side as she also stared down the blonde now. Stepping up to Riley's side, mimicking her position.

"Yeah!" Boone got excited again, missing Kate's sarcasm and other members of the crew confirmed over 1 million now. Riley was impressed, last season they were no where near that. That was a far far away dream. A tinge of pride streaked through her chest and she shared a more genuine smile with Lily.

"Riley St. James correct? Just in case I include you in my article." Riley looked down into the spectacle covered eyes of the British reporter that was following Tyler around. Riley grinned, genuinely, not like he had ever done anything to her. Tyler huffed, biting down on the inside of his cheek to temp the green eyed monster.

"That's correct. At your service, if you need anything or these chuckles are giving you a hard time let me know, I'll straighten them out for ya okay?" Riley chuckled when Ben smiled up at her, nodding at her before looking to Kate.

"And your name? For the same reason, if you don't mind." Ben was so polite. So different than the rough and tumble rag tag team Tyler had created for himself.

"Just Kate is fine. Not Storm Par." Some low whistles come from the group when Kate bared her claws. Riley looked to her with raised eyebrows, her grin easy.

"Don't be fooled Ben, Riley is a tricky one. I'd bet Kate here is too." Tyler comments and Riley does her best to ignore him.

"You made a good call, you know, earlier. The other storm looked stronger, but the cap never broke." Boone complimented and Riley nodded.

"I'm sorry, what's a 'cap'?" Ben asked, looking like a confused puppy and Riley took a breath. Her mouth opening at the same time Dexter went to answer.

"It's a temperature inversion-" They both started at the same time, Riley's voice much more enthusiastic and Dexter zipped his mouth shut grinning up at her before gesturing up to her. Riley grinned bashfully, tucking some stray strands of hair behind her ear.

"It's a temperature inversion inside the mid-part of the lower atmosphere. Inversion meaning that the temperature of the air get's hotter as it rises instead of cooling like normal. It creates a stable environment that can and will keep a storm from forming or from getting severe. Sometimes when it's really strong looking, you can't always trust what's there." Riley explained, "That make sense?" She checked and Ben thought about it for a second, Riley glanced at Kate and rolled her shoulders back before continuing, "If not I have some videos on my channel that go over it in better detail, they're pretty short and sweet, and explain it in a more non-meteorology way." The Brit sent her an appreciative grin before nodding and thanking her.

Lily taking a sneaky picture of Tyler and how he was smiling a bit, catching him perfectly as he glanced up at the dirty blonde on the landing.

"So where did you all meet?" Kate gestured to Riley and the others, "Did you all study Meteorology at the U of A?" It was quiet for a second before the majority of the group was laughing. Riley doing her best to keep her amusement at bay. Kate looking to Riley confused, while Riley could only give the woman a kind grin.

"Yeah. No. None of us did. But Tyler did. He's a cowboy scientist. Got a natural feel for this kind of stuff." Boone threw an arm over Tyler's shoulders from his spot next to the blonde in the cab of the red truck.

"Him?" Kate asked immediately, her filter obviously failing in that moment. Riley barked out a laugh before clapping her hand over her mouth. Feeling her cheeks gone bright red. Kate looked to her with raised eyebrows.

"Nothin' uh, I'm in the PhD program right now. But uh, their crew isn't like yours, or even mine really." Riley started to explain before Tyler cut her off. She wanted to kill him.

"We don't need fancy PhD's and gadgets to do what we do." Tyler looked up from where he had previously been looking, in his head about something. His words struck a particularly soft spot and when his eyes cut to her, he could tell the effect his words had on Riley and he wanted to kick himself. But he pushed on, being the asshole she though he was, "I bet these guys have seen more tornadoes than anyone in this lot combined. Minus Riley, she's been doing this since she was 12, she doesn't count."

"Nice Tyler. Still the same I see."

"No need to fix what ain't broken." He grinned caustically and Riley frowned. Her mood officially ruined.

"We apparently have different definitions of broken." Riley grinned right back, eyes squinted in fury.

"Do you think we'll see another one tomorrow?" Ben asked, putting himself right in the firing line, poor guy. He couldn't tell they were all walking on the mine field created by Tyler and Riley issues.

"Oh absolutely!" Riley nodded a little too enthusiastically.

"It's an outbreak baby." Tyler answered over the top of her and Riley took a deep breath.

"Where are you chasing tomorrow?" Lily asked, "It'd be cool to see you out there again, it's been so long, almost felt like the good old days."

Riley softened again and was about to answer honestly before Tyler was kicking up dust again, "Oh no, we're not falling for that again. I mean, it may feel like she's back but she's not part of the crew anymore, we don't need her to navigate for us."

That was her limit.

"Fuck you, Tyler." Riley spit and stormed up the stairs, ignoring the calls of her name.

"Well, you know what they say, you can always trust a guy who puts his face on a t-shirt." Kate rolled her eyes and went up after Riley. The reaction of the chasing group below them dulled in Riley's ears, "Hey, you okay?" Kate called, getting to Riley's door just before she closed it.

Riley was obviously just putting on a brave face when she waved Kate off, and the slightly older blonde frowning but taking it. It's not like she had a right to dig. What was it Riley said earlier about not getting into other people's business?

But she had so many questions, specifically about the trailer of empty barrels and Dorothy on the back of them.

But that wasn't her business.

~~*~~

Riley's shower had been quick, used to hurrying through everything just in case a storm warning rolled through. It was something that Tyler always complained about, that she never allowed herself time to breathe, to rest. A workaholic who had no sense of self-preservation. Is how she believed he phrased it.

She did feel better though, now that her skin was clean, and her clothes weren't stiff with dried blood. Having changed into another tank top, this one a medium toned brown with a white embroidered cloud and a couple yellow stars on the chest, a pair of blue jeans, and her work boots. Which were just heavy-duty hiking boots really.

Padding to the table after she tied her shoes, pawing at the open pizza box, pulling out a slice of pepperoni, and taking a bite. Building her courage to head back down to the parking lot, there was still work to be done tonight. She had to prep the mixture all over again, as she was the only one who knew the measurements besides Sarah, and Sarah was already working on crunching the numbers for tomorrow's storm cells and the data they needed to get out asap. There were some data sets from inside a vortex, due to her, her dad, and her current team. There was no one else doing this kind of research right now and that's why grants kept coming their way.

And then she had to make sure the undergrads with responsibilities didn't shuck them off till the morning when they were planning an early start.

Making a checklist, she finished her pizza, tossing the rock-hard crust back into the box for Sarah who liked to knaw on it like a fucking dog to a bone. Riley was honestly too scared to ask about it, psycho behavior, truly.

Her hand hovered over the door nob and slowly opened it, locking it behind her and taking a breath as she approached the stairs. Ignoring Tyler's looks as she walked past the first landing without even a glance in his direction.

"You look better, than before. Less tired, less bloody." His voice stopped her in its tracks, the genuine concern she could hear. Picturing the way that he used to look at her. After she had gone down another research rabbit hole and hadn't slept in 48 hours, probably also hadn't eaten in that time either. Soft concern and gooey warmth dripping over her every frayed nerve as he would drag her to bed and make her comfortable before pulling up the covers around them and holding her so tight she thought there was never going to be a time it wouldn't be like that.

"Thanks." She whispered over her shoulder and darted down the rest of the way.

~~*~~

[seitmai]

Just watched Twisters.

What song is playing right after I leave the theatre just using the bathroom? Unwritten

I leave the movie theatre building. What happened while I was watching the movie? A big storm just passed.

This is a Glen Powell summer and you can't convince me otherwise

[friend-lover-traitor-narrator]

[X]

[topguncortez]

so now that i’m done having my glendown over the pics, i wanna talk about the article.

y’all know how i said “glen hasn’t said shit bout the cheating rumors but syd is making herself look stupid”

well the sydney part still stands true.

but glen got brutally honest and open about how the cheating allegations, and his breakup really affected him. the dude’s name was being dragged and he couldn’t say shit because of the strike going on. he couldn’t say “it’s movie magic” because he’d be crossing the line. instead, he just dealt with it while his comments were being flooded with vile hate comments.

glen knows that his lifestyle isn’t ideal for relationships. he knew that he wasn’t giving 100% to gigi at the end of their relationship. the dude has been nonstop go since summer 2022. i mean the strike ended and 24 hours later he’s in australia. he was well aware that he was not putting her first and letting her “know her worth”.

he said the reason he got brisket was because he was lonely and looking for someone to love. and that honestly broke my heart. cause we see glen as this larger than life guy with a bright smile always around people but in reality… dude was lonely. i mean it makes total sense that his family shows up on every set he’s on and it’s probably because he misses them and hates going back to a rental house alone a night. glen’s an extrovert and he needs human interaction to survive.

i’m not tryna say that glen didn’t make himself look bad when the whole “alleged affair” shit went down. i’m not saying that this new movie isn’t gonna be dog water. but i’m saying that this article made me look at glen in a different way.

OKAY RANT OVER

[missathlete31]

I wish I could go to one of his parties. Always looks like the best time!

Also a good sign that Butch Cassidy is happening since Rege-Jean is there!!!

And just a reminder of how good Glen looked at his summer parties 🔥🥵

[crossfandomskylines]

In the Space Between: Chapter 4

Other Chapters: Chapter 1 I Chapter 2 I Chapter 3 I Chapter 4

Pairing: Glen Powell x OC

Summary: Glen takes Gabby on their first official date and it's more than she could have anticipated. A night filled with small surprises that deepen their connection, from burgers and milkshakes to a private movie screening under the stars. Glen's warmth and thoughtfulness make Gabby feel seen in a way she hasn't felt in a long time, and by the end of the evening, their easy laughter and quiet intimacy have her rethinking everything she thought she knew about dating in L.A.

Word Count: 7.3k

Warnings: Mostly fluff. Brief touching under clothes but minimal.

A/N: Please let me know your thoughts with Hearts, Comments, and Reblogs!

Tag List: @djs8891 @queenslandlover-93

The coffee shop hums quietly around Gabby as she leans over her notebook, deeply focused on memorizing her notes. Her hand moves swiftly as she writes, occasionally pausing to highlight something, her mind absorbed in the rhythm of studying.

Glen steps into the coffee shop and pauses, spotting her immediately. A smile tugs at his lips as he watches her, completely unaware of his presence, her brow furrowed in concentration. There’s something endearing about the way she’s so immersed in her work, completely blocking out the rest of the world.

After ordering his coffee, Glen walks over to her table. He’s hesitant to interrupt, so he softly says her name, “Gabby?”

She doesn’t seem to hear him, her attention fixed entirely on her notes. Glen chuckles to himself, and without thinking, he gently touches her shoulder. Gabby jumps, her pen flying out of her hand as she whips around, her eyes wide in surprise. Gabby’s initial surprise fades into a bright smile as she realizes it’s Glen standing in front of her. 

Without thinking, she pushes her chair back and stands up, wrapping her arms around him in a warm hug.

“Glen! I didn’t even know you were back in L.A.,” she says, unable to hide her excitement.

“Got in late last night,” he replies, returning the hug. “I wanted to catch up on sleep, but Brisket decided he was hungry so sleeping in didn’t happen. Decided I couldn’t resist stopping by for coffee.” He pulls back slightly, giving her an easy grin. “And seeing you here is definitely an upgrade to my morning.”

They both sit, and Gabby closes her notebook, feeling that a study break is exactly what she needs.

“So, how was New York?” she asks, leaning in, curious.

Glen chuckles, settling in and taking a sip of his coffee. “Oh, New York was a whirlwind. I think I was in a car, on a red carpet, or in front of a camera for, like, 95% of it.”

Gabby laughs. “That sounds intense.”

“It was,” he says, nodding. “But there were some fun moments. Like, there was this one interview where they accidentally switched the cue cards, so I was being asked about some makeup brand collaboration instead of my movie.”

She gasps, stifling a laugh. “No way! What did you do?”

“Well, I tried my best to talk about ‘the importance of long-lasting wear’ and ‘a full-coverage look’ before the host realized the mistake and we both just lost it on live TV.”

Gabby laughs, picturing him trying to improvise makeup tips. “I would’ve loved to see that.”

“Oh, it’s probably on the internet somewhere,” he says, pretending to look horrified. “Anyway, I’ll spare you more of my boring stories. How have things been here?”

She shrugs, smiling. “Just the usual. Summer classes, studying, stressing over this upcoming test tomorrow…Nothing nearly as exciting as your life.”

“I don’t know. You’re here working towards your dream, right? I think that’s pretty amazing.”

His words send a warmth through her, and she glances down, a bit shy under his gaze. “Thanks, Glen.”

They share a quiet moment, her nerves easing under his encouraging smile.

Glen takes a sip of his coffee, a playful look in his eyes. “So… are you doing anything tomorrow?”

Gabby glances up, surprised by the question. “I have class until four, but after that, I’m pretty free. Why?”

He leans forward slightly, his tone softening. “Because I’d like to take you out. An actual date this time—none of this ‘I’m just cooking dinner’ stuff.” He grins. “I’ll pick you up, take you to dinner, and if things go well… maybe we do something afterward?”

She feels her cheeks flush as she absorbs his offer, warmth spreading at the thought of a real date with him. “You mean, like, a whole night together?”

“Exactly,” he says, his expression sincere. “You and me…I’d just really like to spend more time with you.”

Gabby hesitates, a nervous but excited smile on her face. “I’d love that, Glen.”

His eyes brighten, and he nods. “Good. I’ll pick you up at six?”

“Six works,” she replies, biting her lip to hide her smile.

They sit there for a moment, both smiling like they’re keeping a shared secret. Eventually, Glen leans back, looking at her warmly.

“Well, I better let you get back to studying,” he says reluctantly, though he makes no move to leave.

“Probably a good idea,” she laughs, but neither of them actually moves.

Finally, Glen sighs, looking down at his coffee cup as if pulling himself away takes all his willpower. “Alright, I’ll let you get back to it. Tomorrow can’t come soon enough.”

“I agree,” she whispers, still feeling the excitement of his invitation as he stands.

With a small wave, he heads toward the door, but not without giving her one last smile. As he disappears, Gabby finds herself beaming, her heart racing for reasons that have nothing to do with her studies.

* * * * *

Gabby unlocked the door to her apartment, kicking off her shoes and setting her keys on the small table by the entrance. She let out a deep breath, feeling the weight of her long day finally fall away. The evening’s plans floated to the forefront of her mind as she glanced at the clock. Just enough time to relax a bit before getting ready for her date with Glen.

She crossed the living room, eyeing the couch for a moment of blissful laziness when her phone buzzed in her bag. She pulled it out, noticing Glen’s name on the screen, and smiled as she answered, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

“Hey, you,” she greeted him, settling onto the couch with her legs tucked up.

“Hey yourself,” he replied, his voice warm and relaxed. “Just checking in. Are we still on for tonight?”

“Definitely,” she said, feeling a flutter of excitement that surprised her. “I just got home and was about to start getting ready. Are you still planning on 7?”

“Actually…” he hesitated, sounding almost a little amused, “I wrapped up earlier than expected and somehow beat traffic, so I’m already in your area.”

“Oh, really?” Gabby laughed, glancing around her apartment, trying not to think too hard about the cozy clutter.

“Yeah, wasn’t expecting to have this much time to kill,” Glen continued, “but I didn’t want to rush you. If it’s okay, I could swing by now—maybe just hang out while you finish getting ready?”

Gabby hesitated, thinking of her quick dash around her apartment that morning, but the idea of spending a little extra time with him sounded more appealing than anything else.

“That actually sounds great,” she replied, letting a bit of her excitement slip through. “I’ll make some coffee, or I might even have tea somewhere if you’re a tea guy.”

Glen chuckled. “Coffee works, thanks. I’ll be over in a few.”

“Perfect,” she said, feeling warmth rush to her cheeks. “See you soon.”

Gabby moved into the kitchen, grabbing her coffee canister and setting up the brewer, enjoying the familiar routine as she scooped coffee grounds. As the smell of brewing coffee began to fill the space, she glanced around her apartment, suddenly noticing the books scattered on her table, a hoodie draped over a chair, and a couple of notebooks stacked haphazardly by the couch.

She moved quickly, gathering the books and piling them neatly on a shelf, folding the hoodie and tossing it over the back of the chair. She was just smoothing the cushions on the couch when the buzzer sounded, sending a little spark of anticipation through her. She walked over to the call box, and pressed the button.

“Who is it?” she teased.

“It’s your early but very punctual date,” Glen’s voice crackled over the intercom, a hint of laughter in his tone.

She grinned and pressed the button to buzz him in. “Come on up.”

Leaving the door ajar, she took one last look around, fluffing her hair and hoping she looked at least somewhat put-together after a long day. She could hear his footsteps on the stairs, and her heart did a little flip at the sound. A moment later, Glen was at her door, looking relaxed but as handsome as ever in dark jeans and a casual, perfectly fitted navy button-down.

“Hey, stranger,” she said, her face lighting up as she opened the door wider.

“Hey yourself,” he replied with a grin, taking her in. 

Gabby laughed and gestured him inside. “Come on in.”

Glen stepped in and glanced around. “Nice place. You weren’t kidding—you live right in the heart of everything.”

“Yeah, I love it, even if it’s a bit small,” she admitted, closing the door behind him. “Just don’t judge the clutter.”

“Not at all,” he said, flashing her a reassuring smile. “My place is probably worse.”

After Gabby closed the door, Glen set the bag of snacks down on the counter and took a small step toward her, his smile softening.

"Come here," he murmured, opening his arms.

Gabby felt herself relax as she stepped into his embrace, his arms wrapping around her in a way that felt both comforting and effortless. He pulled her close, and she leaned into him, grateful for the warmth and calm he seemed to bring with him. Just as she was about to pull away, he brushed a gentle kiss on her cheek, lingering just enough to send a flutter through her stomach.

“Good to see you,” he said softly, his voice close to her ear.

She pulled back just enough to look up at him, her cheeks warm as she met his gaze. "You too," she replied, feeling a bit breathless. “Definitely needed this after today.”

“Glad I could help,” he said with a small grin. He took her in for a moment, his gaze soft, then nodded toward the coffee brewing behind her. “And this coffee already smells like it’s going to be the best part of my day.”

She chuckled, stepping back to lead him into the kitchen. They walked into the kitchen together, where she poured them each a mug. Handing him one, she leaned against the counter, watching as he took a sip.

“Thanks,” he said, nodding approvingly. “You make a mean coffee.”

“Only the best for my very punctual date,” she quipped, her nerves starting to ease up.

They shared a warm smile, and for a moment, all her stress from the day faded. Gabby set her mug on the counter, brushing her hands on her jeans. 

"I should probably go get changed and, you know, make myself somewhat presentable," she said with a small laugh.

Glen grinned and nodded, glancing down at his own button-up shirt. "Mind if I join you in the wardrobe change? I left an extra shirt in my truck, something a bit more casual."

“Not at all,” she replied, gesturing toward the door. “Feel free to grab the keys off the table by the door so you can get back in.”

“Perfect,” he said, picking up the keys with a quick smile before he headed out.

As soon as he closed the door, Gabby went into her room, slipping into a cute but casual outfit—a soft knit top with jeans and some small, gold hoops. She was finishing up in the bathroom off her bedroom when she heard Glen come back in. Just as she peeked out to check, she heard his voice from the other room.

“Well, hello there. And who might you be?” Glen was saying, his tone amused.

She stepped back into her bedroom doorway to see him crouched down, a smile tugging at his lips as he looked at Willow, her orange tabby, who was cautiously watching him from the bed.

Gabby couldn’t help but smile. “Ah, I see you’ve met Willow,” she said, crossing her arms with a playful look. “She’s, uh… not the friendliest to newcomers, so if she’s giving you the stink-eye, don’t take it personally.”

Glen leaned down, extending a hand to Willow, his curiosity piqued. "So, where’d the name Willow come from?"

Gabby chuckled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I, uh... went through a bit of a Taylor Swift phase when I first moved here," she admitted with a shrug. "Seemed fitting at the time.”

“Taylor Swift fan, huh? I like it.” He grinned, glancing back down at Willow, who was watching him with a guarded but curious look.

Gabby slipped away to her closet, pulling the door gently closed and quickly changing into her casual date outfit. She smoothed down her top, giving herself a quick once-over in the mirror before heading back out. When she stepped into the room, though, she stopped in her tracks.

Glen was mid-change himself, leaning forward to pull on a fresh shirt, his bare shoulders catching the afternoon light as he moved. But what stopped her wasn’t just Glen’s casual ease in her space—it was Willow. Somehow, she had moved closer to him, sniffing at his hand and then, unbelievably, leaning up to gently boop him with her nose.

Gabby stood there, stunned. Willow was normally so skittish around people she didn’t know, but here she was, tentatively accepting Glen. It was something she hadn’t seen since moving to Los Angeles, a glimpse of Willow’s rare, soft side.

Glen noticed her standing there and gave her a warm, slightly sheepish smile as he finished pulling on his shirt. “Guess I’m winning her over, huh?”

Gabby smiled back, feeling an unexpected warmth spread through her. "Yeah... looks like it."

Glen stood up, stretching to pull the fresh shirt over his shoulders, and for a split second, Gabby’s eyes couldn’t help but trace over his toned arms, the faint definition across his chest, and the hint of abs. 

Heat crept up her cheeks, and she quickly turned away, hoping he hadn’t caught her lingering glance.

"Uh, I’ll be right back," she mumbled, hurrying into the bathroom. 

She leaned against the counter, taking a steadying breath as she tried to compose herself. She caught her reflection in the mirror, her cheeks still a little flushed. Get it together, Gabby, she thought, giving herself a wry smile.

As she re-applied a bit of blush and smoothed out her lip gloss, she couldn’t help but feel a flutter of excitement. There was something about Glen—his easy smile, the way he was so naturally at ease with her, even around Willow—that was making this feel different. Special, even. And now, with her nerves a bit steadier, she took one last look in the mirror, smiling to herself before heading back out to join him.

Back in the living room, Gabby found Glen setting their coffees on the table and settling into the couch. She joined him, and they both sank into the plush cushions, finding a comfortable rhythm together. He took a sip of his coffee, looking around her cozy space before glancing at the TV.

“So, what do you usually watch?” he asked, leaning back and stretching one arm along the top of the couch. “Got any good shows you’re hooked on right now?”

Gabby grinned, slightly embarrassed. “Well, I tend to rewatch The Office whenever I’m stressed. It’s my comfort show.”

He laughed, nodding in approval. “Solid choice. I respect that. But I’m guessing you have other shows in the rotation, too?”

She tucked her feet up on the couch and shrugged. “I’ve been binging Stranger Things again, mostly because I missed a lot of the references people make.”

“Good one.” He leaned in slightly, catching her eyes. “We could put it on if you want? Or something new?”

Gabby gave a little laugh. “Are you really up for watching Stranger Things? You know, dark alternate realities, strange monsters…”

“Oh, I’m game,” Glen said with a grin. “And hey, if it gets too scary, I’ll have to ask for a blanket for protection.”

Gabby chuckled and tossed him a throw blanket from the arm of the couch. “Here, for your safety, of course.”

They both laughed, the air between them light and easy. As they settled in and the opening credits rolled, Glen’s arm gently drifted down from the couch back to rest on her shoulder. Gabby leaned into him, feeling herself unwind a little more with each passing scene, forgetting her earlier nerves.

As the credits for the second episode rolled, Glen glanced at his watch and then back at Gabby with a little smile. 

“Alright,” he said, giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze, “we should probably get going.”

Gabby looked at him with playful suspicion. “Do I at least get a hint about where we’re going?”

He grinned, his eyes twinkling with mystery. “Nope. Just trust me.”

She rolled her eyes, shaking her head but smiling all the same. Glen just chuckled, standing up and extending a hand to help her to her feet. She took it, her fingers fitting into his comfortably, and he led her to the door. As she turned to lock it, he waited, slipping his hands into his pockets with an easygoing confidence that made her stomach flip.

Once the door was secure, Glen took her hand again, guiding her down the hallway. As they reached the elevators, Gabby felt a mixture of excitement and curiosity building. Whatever Glen had planned, she was ready for it.

As they exited Gabby’s apartment building, the cool evening air filled with a hint of city life winding down for the night. Glen kept his hand on hers as he led her across the lot to his truck, pausing only to open the passenger door. He offered his hand, helping her up with a warm smile, before closing the door and circling around to climb in himself.

Once they were settled, Glen started the engine, pulling out of the lot and merging into the flow of traffic. Gabby watched as the familiar streets of her neighborhood faded behind them, replaced by the blur of city lights. She quickly noticed he was heading north, inching further and further away from Los Angeles.

She shot him a curious look. “So... you’re still not giving me any hints?”

He just grinned, his eyes on the road. “Not a single one.”

She laughed, feigning exasperation. “Okay, but how do I know you’re not some kind of serial killer trying to lure me out to the middle of nowhere?”

Glen let out a laugh, rolling his eyes with playful disbelief. “Do I really give off serial killer vibes?”

Gabby considered him, trying not to smile. “I mean, I am in a car with a guy I barely know.”

He glanced over at her, intrigued. “Alright then. What do you want to know?”

She paused, thinking for a moment before responding. "Hmm... good question."

Gabby leaned back against her seat, settling into the easy flow of conversation as the city lights faded further behind them. She took a sip of her coffee, thinking about where to start, then turned to him with a curious smile.

“Alright, let’s start simple,” she said. “Are you a morning person or a night person?”

Glen chuckled. “Definitely a morning person. I’m one of those people who’s up at six even if I don’t have to be.”

Gabby let out a playful groan. “I knew there had to be one flaw,” she teased, “because I am definitely not a morning person.”

“Oh, believe me, I know,” he replied, casting her a teasing glance. “But you did make it out the door pretty early the night we met.”

Gabby grinned, shaking her head. “Fine, you have a point.” She thought for a moment, then threw out another question. “Alright, what’s your go-to comfort food? Like when you just need a pick-me-up.”

“Easy—big, greasy burger,” he said with enthusiasm. “Fries on the side, maybe a milkshake if I’m really going for it. What about you?”

“Probably something super cliché, like mac and cheese,” she admitted. “The cheesier, the better.”

“Solid choice,” he nodded approvingly, eyes on the road.

She studied him thoughtfully, trying to get a little deeper. “Do you have any siblings? What’s your family like?”

Glen’s expression softened. “Yeah, I’ve got two sisters, Leslie and Lauren. They’re the best. My family’s really close—we like spending time together as much as we can. It can get loud sometimes, but only because everyone’s laughing or just… talking over each other.”

Gabby smiled at the warmth in his voice. “That sounds nice. I bet they’re proud of you.”

He gave a modest shrug, but there was a sparkle of pride in his eyes. “I think they are. Family’s a big deal for us.”

She nodded, feeling a strange little flutter at the idea of Glen in a family full of laughter and love. “So, what’s the last movie you watched? And did you enjoy it?”

Glen’s smile turned slightly sheepish. “Actually, it was at a premiere for one of the films I’m in. Don’t get me wrong—it’s a good movie, but it’s a little weird watching myself on screen.”

Gabby let out a laugh. “I can imagine! Do you ever get used to that?”

“Not really,” he admitted with a grin. “But you get better at pretending you’re comfortable with it.”

Gabby laughed again, shaking her head. “I’d be the one hiding behind my popcorn. Alright, last one—for now,” she added, seeing him smirk in anticipation. “What kind of music do you listen to?”

“A little bit of everything, but I’ll admit—growing up in Austin, country music’s something I’ll always go back to.”

“Country, huh?” she mused, raising an eyebrow. “So, are we talking like, classic country or more modern stuff?”

“A bit of both. Can’t go wrong with a mix,” he said, glancing over at her. “And you? Do you have a guilty pleasure genre?”

“Pop, definitely,” she confessed, laughing. “Mostly Taylor Swift. I won’t even try to hide it.”

They both laughed, slipping into an easy silence as he continued driving, the road ahead leading them toward whatever surprise he had planned for the night.

After about an hour on the road, Glen finally turned off the highway, pulling into the nearly empty parking lot of a retro diner. Its neon sign glowed a soft pink and blue against the darkening sky, casting a warm, nostalgic light across the parking lot. Gabby’s eyes widened as she took in the sight—chrome details, checkered floors visible through the windows, and classic red-and-white booths inside.

“This is amazing,” she breathed, looking over at him with a grin. “How did you even find this place?”

Glen smiled, putting the truck in park. “I have my ways. Figured this was more interesting than some fancy place back in the city. Plus, nothing beats a good milkshake.”

He climbed out and walked around to her side, opening her door for her. As she hopped down, he reached out and gently took her hand, sending a warm thrill through her. Together, they made their way inside, the faint jingle of a bell announcing their arrival. The diner was nearly empty save for a couple in a corner booth, and a waitress with a friendly smile who waved them in.

“Take any seat you like,” she called, grabbing menus from the counter and following them to a booth by the window.

They slid into the booth, their hands naturally parting as they settled across from each other. The menu was a perfect throwback—burgers, fries, and milkshakes in every flavor imaginable. Gabby’s eyes roamed over the choices, feeling an almost giddy excitement.

Glen leaned back, watching her with an amused smile. “So, what’ll it be? Are you brave enough for the burger and shake combo?”

Gabby laughed, setting down her menu. “Brave? I think it’s practically a requirement here.”

They placed their order—a couple of burgers, an extra side of fries to share, and two milkshakes. Gabby chose chocolate, and Glen went with classic vanilla. As they waited, the conversation slipped back into an easy flow, sharing funny stories and trading embarrassing moments from their childhoods.

When their shakes arrived, Glen immediately dipped a fry in his, earning a mock-horrified look from Gabby.

“What? You’ve never tried this?” he asked, holding the fry out to her with a raised eyebrow.

She wrinkled her nose but leaned forward to take a small bite. Her eyes widened, surprised by the combination of salty and sweet. “Okay, that’s actually… really good.”

“Told you,” he replied, giving her a satisfied grin.

They spent the next hour talking, laughing, and stealing bites of each other’s food. Gabby hadn’t felt this relaxed in ages, and there was something about the simplicity of the diner—the unpretentious atmosphere, the retro decor—that made her feel like she could be completely herself around him.

At one point, the jukebox in the corner suddenly crackled to life, playing a soft tune that filled the quiet diner. Glen looked over at her with a mischievous smile.

“You up for a dance?” he asked, nodding toward the small space between the tables and the counter.

“Here?” she asked, glancing around the nearly empty diner.

“Why not?” he replied, holding out his hand.

Gabby smiled, sliding out of the booth and taking his hand. Glen gently pulled her closer, resting his hands on the small of her back as they swayed in time with the music, the rest of the world fading away around them.

The last of the other diners had left, and the waitress had slipped back into the kitchen, leaving them alone under the soft glow of the neon lights. The jukebox hummed quietly as they swayed in the empty diner, Gabby’s fingers loosely laced behind Glen’s neck. She tilted her head up to look at him, a warm smile spreading across her face as she took him in.

He noticed her gaze and raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. “What?” he asked, his voice full of playful curiosity.

She laughed, her cheeks flushing slightly as she tried to look away. “What do you mean, ‘what’?”

“You’re looking at me funny,” he teased, tightening his arm around her waist just a little, his eyes glinting. “Something on your mind?”

Gabby bit her lip, hesitating. But she couldn’t hold back the smile, finally shaking her head with a slight chuckle. “I just… don’t believe you’re real.”

Glen tilted his head, clearly amused. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means,” she said, meeting his gaze, “you’re funny, and smart, and kind. And… well, obviously, you’re attractive.” She felt herself blush as she admitted it. “It just doesn’t seem like guys like that still exist. It’s like you’re from some different planet.”

He chuckled, his smirk turning into a full grin. “Well, maybe they don’t exist… in Iowa,” he teased, earning a laugh from her.

“Oh, you’ve got jokes now,” she replied, giving him a gentle swat on the shoulder. “But seriously,” she added, a little softer, “you don’t seem to have any flaws.”

Glen rolled his eyes dramatically, still grinning. “Oh, trust me. I’ve got plenty of flaws.”

“Like what?” she challenged, her eyes sparkling as she looked up at him.

He pretended to consider it, rubbing his chin in mock thought. “Well, I leave the cap off the toothpaste. And…I’ve probably burned more grilled cheese sandwiches than I’ve made successfully. Do you know how hard it is to burn bread? And somehow I still manage it more times than not.”

Gabby laughed, shaking her head. “Okay, that’s… mildly tragic. But that’s not a dealbreaker.”

“Oh, you haven’t seen how charred my sandwiches can get,” he replied with a playful shudder. “And I’ll admit I’ve got a bad habit of leaving socks around my apartment.”

Gabby smiled, finding his self-deprecating humor utterly endearing. “See, those aren’t flaws. They’re quirks.”

He rolled his eyes, feigning exasperation. “Just you wait. You’ll find out I’m nothing but quirks and bad habits.”

“Guess I’ll have to stick around long enough to find out,” she said, surprising even herself with how bold it sounded.

Glen’s smile softened, and his gaze grew more intent as he looked at her. “I’d really like that,” he said, his voice low.

For a moment, they simply stood there, wrapped up in the quiet and each other, as if the entire world had narrowed down to just this little corner of the diner.

Glen glanced up at the clock hanging above the diner's counter, then looked back at Gabby with a grin. "Ready for the next part of our date?" he asked, a hint of mystery in his voice.

She nodded, smiling in anticipation. "Absolutely."

With a casual grace, Glen pulled his wallet from his back pocket and slipped a few bills onto the table. Gabby’s eyes widened as she reached for her purse. "Hey, I can cover my half. You really don’t have to—"

But he shook his head, cutting her off with a gentle but determined smile. “Not a chance. This is our first date, which means I’m taking care of the bill.”

She opened her mouth to protest again, but his expression was too warm and sincere. “Alright,” she conceded, laughing softly. “But you’re making it really hard to argue with you.”

“That’s the idea,” he replied, slipping his wallet back into his pocket and standing up. He reached out and took her hand, his fingers warm around hers as he led her out of the booth. With a grateful nod to the waitress on the way out, he opened the diner's door for Gabby, ushering her outside.

The night air had a crispness to it, a welcome contrast to the cozy warmth of the diner. Glen guided her back toward his truck, releasing her hand just long enough to open the passenger door and help her up into the seat. His gaze met hers for a moment before he closed the door and made his way around to the driver’s side.

As he settled in and started the engine, she leaned over, curious. "So, where are we headed next?"

Glen flashed her a mischievous smile as he pulled out of the parking lot. “Now, that would ruin the surprise, wouldn’t it?”

Glen turned off the main road and guided his truck down a narrow gravel path, the faint glow of a neon sign becoming visible in the distance. As they approached, Gabby realized it was an old drive-in theater, its marquee worn but charming, and the empty lot only adding to its nostalgic appeal.

He pulled into the center of the lot and put the truck in park. Gabby glanced around, noticing they were the only ones there. She looked over at Glen, a little puzzled. “Um, are you sure we’re supposed to be here?”

He smiled, his eyes glinting with mischief. “Pretty sure. I may have asked the owners if we could have the place to ourselves for the night—figured it’d be nice to enjoy a movie without anyone interrupting.”

Gabby’s face lit up in surprise, her heart fluttering at his thoughtfulness. “Glen, that’s… really sweet. I didn’t even know places did that.”

“Neither did I,” he admitted with a laugh, “but it turns out they were more than happy to let us have a private showing on their off night.” 

With a satisfied grin, he stepped out of the truck and opened the back door. Gabby watched as he reached in, pulling out several pillows and blankets, which he proceeded to arrange in the bed of the truck. After that, he grabbed a bag of snacks and drinks, clearly prepared for the evening.

When he was done setting everything up, he turned to Gabby and opened the door to help her down. She took his hand, letting him lead her to the back of the truck, and with his assistance, she climbed up into the cozy little nook he’d created.

Gabby nestled into the pillows, feeling the warmth of the blankets as Glen climbed in beside her. He spread a blanket across both of them, then started unpacking the snacks. He handed her a container of popcorn, then grabbed his own, a little smirk playing on his lips. 

“Alright, here’s something you should know about me,” he said. “When it comes to popcorn, I don’t share. It’s another one of my flaws.”

She raised an eyebrow, pretending to take him seriously. “Another flaw, huh?”

He chuckled, but before he could answer, she reached over and snagged a piece of popcorn from his container. 

His eyes widened with playful outrage, and he leaned in closer, his smirk widening. “Oh, you’re definitely going to pay for that.”

Gabby grinned, her gaze steady as she asked, “And how exactly am I supposed to pay for that?”

In response, Glen leaned in, closing the distance between them until his lips met hers in a soft, lingering kiss. It was gentle at first, a tease, but as her hand reached up to rest on his shoulder, he deepened the kiss just a little, letting it linger in a way that felt both warm and electrifying. 

When he finally pulled back, he smiled, his eyes dancing with humor. "Now we’re even."

Gabby laughed, her cheeks flushed, feeling her heart beat a little faster. "If that’s how you punish people for stealing popcorn, I think you’re in trouble because I’m definitely not done."

“Oh, so it’s a challenge now?” he teased, reaching for his drink with a grin.

The screen lit up as the opening credits rolled, casting a warm glow across the truck bed. Gabby settled in a little more, the anticipation building, and turned to Glen with a curious look. “So, what are we watching?”

Glen gave her a small, satisfied smile. “I remember you mentioning rom-coms are your thing, and something about Matthew McConaughey being one of your favorite actors…” He let his words hang for a beat before finishing, “so, I thought How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days would be a good choice.”

Gabby’s eyes widened, her face lighting up with surprise and happiness. “You’re kidding—that’s actually my favorite.”

Glen’s smile grew as he heard her reaction. “Sounds like I picked well, then.”

As the movie began, he shifted slightly, looking at her with a soft question in his gaze. “Are you comfortable? Or would you like to cuddle?”

Gabby felt her heart flutter a little. She nodded, smiling as she scooted closer, curling into his side. Glen wrapped an arm around her, adjusting the blanket over them both. She nestled into him, the warmth of his arm around her and the gentle rise and fall of his breathing setting a peaceful rhythm.

They lay there, cozy and wrapped up together in the back of his truck, as the laughter and antics of the movie unfolded on screen. Every so often, Glen’s fingers would graze her arm or her back in gentle, absentminded strokes, sending little shivers down her spine. And more than once, when he thought she was too wrapped up in the movie to notice, he leaned down to press a soft kiss to the top of her head. But she noticed every time, a small smile forming on her lips, one that had nothing to do with the scene playing on the screen.

As the movie reached its peak, with Andie and Ben’s comical attempts at sabotaging and then saving their relationship, Gabby found herself laughing along with Glen, feeling as though she’d known him much longer than she actually had. She felt completely at ease, content in his arms, and wondering how she’d gotten so lucky to have a night like this.

The movie wound down to its heartfelt ending, and as the final scenes played, Gabby tilted her head slightly, glancing up at him. Glen caught her gaze, his eyes reflecting a quiet warmth, and they shared a soft, unspoken moment.

“Thank you,” she whispered, feeling like words couldn’t quite capture everything she wanted to say.

Glen’s lips curved into a soft smile, his fingers tracing gentle patterns on her back. “I should be thanking you. Tonight’s been…perfect.”

Gabby felt herself smile as Glen leaned in, his hand finding her cheek again, and she met him halfway. Their lips brushed softly at first, tender and careful, but the warmth quickly deepened, pulling them closer. Gabby felt her hands drift from his shoulders, trailing slowly down his chest, feeling the warmth radiate through his shirt. As her fingertips traced lower, a mix of excitement and curiosity took over, and she slid one hand just beneath the edge of his shirt.

Her fingers brushed over the firm ridges of his abs, warm and solid, and she felt the slight texture of the faint hair scattered there. It sent a thrill through her, feeling so close to him, connected in a way she hadn’t anticipated. She felt him shiver at her touch, his breath hitching just slightly against her mouth.

Glen’s hands mirrored her movement, his fingers slowly trailing down her back, and as they reached the edge of her shirt, he paused for just a moment, almost as if checking in. Then, with a quiet exhale, he let his fingers dip under the fabric, brushing against the soft skin of her lower back. The warmth of his touch sent a rush through her, grounding her in this moment.

But just as Gabby felt herself leaning further into him, savoring the closeness, Glen’s hands stilled. He gently pulled back, his lips leaving hers as he drew in a steadying breath. The sudden distance left her feeling vulnerable, and for a split second, worry flickered across her face. She shifted, pulling her hand back, wondering if she’d overstepped.

Noticing her hesitation, Glen placed his hand gently on her cheek, thumb brushing over her skin with a reassuring warmth. “Hey,” he murmured softly, his eyes sincere. “You didn’t do anything wrong. Not at all.”

Her shoulders relaxed as he held her gaze. “I just…” he began, his tone careful, “I want to make sure I’m not rushing things. I don’t want to take this faster than you’re comfortable with.”

Gabby’s heart softened at his words, and a small, grateful smile spread across her lips. "Thank you for that,” she whispered.

Glen smiled at her, giving her hand a gentle squeeze before he slipped out of the truck bed, extending his arms to help her down. She took his hands, hopping down lightly, but her heart skipped a beat as his arms held her steady for just a moment longer, grounding her.

Once she was safely on the ground, Glen gathered up the pillows, blankets, and the half-finished snacks, tucking everything neatly into the backseat. Gabby admired the care he took, noticing how thoughtful he’d been throughout the evening. When everything was packed up, they both climbed back into the truck, and he started the engine, casting one last glance at the empty drive-in behind them.

As they drove, Gabby felt Glen’s hand reach over, his fingers intertwining with hers. The simple gesture made her smile, and their joined hands rested gently on her thigh. She looked over at him, catching his eye as he glanced over, and they shared a quiet, meaningful smile that spoke to the warmth that had grown between them.

As they neared the outskirts of Los Angeles, the city lights casting a soft glow against the night sky, Glen’s expression shifted from lighthearted to thoughtful. Gabby noticed his grip on her hand tighten slightly, and she looked over at him, her heart skipping at the intensity in his gaze.

“Gabby, there’s something I’ve been wanting to talk to you about,” he began, his tone warm yet serious. He glanced over at her, his lips curving into a small smile as he continued. “I’ve really liked hanging out with you. I don’t think I’ve met anyone like you—you make me feel like I can just be myself. And I… well, I’d really like to make things official between us, if that’s something you’d want too.”

Gabby felt a thrill of happiness spark inside her, and she couldn’t help the smile that lit up her face. There was no hesitation in her heart; she’d wanted this, to be with him, more than she’d let herself admit.

Glen continued, “I know we both have a lot coming up. You’ll be starting classes, and I’ll be bouncing around between projects. There’ll be distance and time apart, but… I don’t want that to get in the way of what we could have.”

She felt her chest swell as she took in his words, surprised at how steady he seemed, his gaze unwavering on the road but his thumb brushing softly over her hand.

“We can take it slow, keep things just between us for now,” he added, his voice softer. “I know my life can get crazy sometimes, but I want this to work with you, Gabby. I want to be in this with you, no matter what comes up.”

His words wrapped around her heart, filling her with a deep sense of warmth and security. He was offering her a relationship, yes, but also a promise—a commitment that went beyond any of the challenges they might face.

“I’d really like that, Glen,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’d love to be with you. You’ve… I don’t know, I feel like you’ve always made me feel like I matter, like I’m not just another person in the crowd.”

A soft, relieved smile spread across his face, and he brought her hand to his lips, brushing a tender kiss against her fingers. “You do matter, Gabby,” he murmured, looking over at her as they pulled off the freeway and into the city streets. “To me, you really do.”

They shared a quiet, meaningful smile, one that held a world of unspoken promises. And as they drove through the city lights, Gabby felt as though she was already home—right there, with him.

At her apartment door, Glen waited as Gabby fished her keys from her bag and unlocked the door. She looked back at him, eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief.

“Do you… want to come in for a quick goodbye?” she asked, a soft smile playing at her lips.

Glen returned her smile, stepping inside as she held the door open for him. Once the door clicked shut behind him, he turned to face her, taking in the gentle look of gratitude in her eyes.

“Thank you for tonight,” she murmured, her voice warm with sincerity. “It was perfect.”

Glen chuckled, taking a small step closer. “Well, think I’ve got a chance at a second date?” he teased, his brows lifting in playful expectation.

Gabby laughed, tilting her head slightly as she looked up at him. “I’d say so—especially since you’re my boyfriend now,” she reminded him, her tone light but her gaze full of meaning.

His smile widened as he took another step forward, closing the small space between them. “I like the sound of that,” he murmured, his arms slipping around her waist. He pulled her close, his hands resting lightly on her lower back, and she slid her arms up around his neck, her fingers grazing the back of his hair.

Their faces were inches apart, and she felt her breath catch as he leaned in, his lips meeting hers in a slow, lingering kiss that felt as much a promise as it did a goodnight. Gabby melted into him, savoring the warmth of his embrace and the softness of his touch.

When they finally pulled back, Glen’s gaze held hers, his smile tender. “Goodnight, Gabby,” he whispered, brushing a thumb across her cheek.

“Goodnight,” she replied softly, her heart still racing as she watched him step back, casting her one last, adoring glance before he opened the door and headed down the hall.

[creative-username-loading]

I do not shut up abt brisket

Me explaining to my husband who Brisket is and why I'm greatly disappointed he wasn't in Twisters

[violetswritingg]

Thunderstruck

Tyler Owens x OFC!

Description: When cowgirl meets cowboy after a year of no-contact and chaos ensues during storm season!

Rating: M (Mentions of blood and death in Tornadoes and storms alike, angst and loss of loved ones, car accidents, Tornado aftermath, and injury to characters, slight age gap (5 years))

Want to read the other chapters?

Click here

9

A few seconds later......

"I'm just fine, you're the one who almost had a house drop on them." His words bit at her exposed nerve endings. Filling Riley with regret for even stopping to check on him, her stomach twisting in knots.

"Right. Okay then." Riley was tired, she was hungry, but also still nauseous, her head hurt and now her chest felt tight hearing the sharp tone that had left Tyler's lips. Something so familiar but so distant in her memory. It was how he always sounded when he was upset with her for doing something dangerous.

Or, at least, stupidly dangerous.

Riley turned on her heel and made it a grand total of two steps before the sound of skin against skin and a quiet yelp made her turn back around. Witnessing Tyler, holding his shoulder, glare at the dark-haired man beside him, who had appeared out of nowhere. Having been around the back of the house-turned-debris they were poking around. The new face simply raised his brows and put his hands on his hips, coffee eyes drilling expectantly into Tyler. His ever-present smile never really leaving his face, even present now, a slight curl to them as he nodded his head in Riley's direction.

Tyler glanced her way looking like a kicked puppy, barely meeting her slightly amused-mostly shocked expression and round eyes.

"Sorry" Tyler sighed, "I didn't mean that."

"Kinda felt like you did." Riley swallowed hard, eyes squinting as the sun started to shift positions in the sky, having to raise a hand to block the rays from fully blinding her. "I'm uh- I'm gonna go." She started to walk, Tyler's voice calling after her. His boots crunching against the ground in quick strides.

"No, wait, really, I'm sorry. I'm just still pissed off about that shit with Kate-"

"It's fine Owens. You don't owe me any-" She had barely turned around, desperate for Tyler to not see the hurt she was feeling, because she had no right. But also wanted to just drop everything and apologize and fall into his arms. After her day she knew a single hug from him, if they were still in good standing with each other, would probably make her feel like it would all be okay. Truly. If even only for a couple minutes.

"Please don't call me that." Riley stopped, angled away from the blonde man, shoulders raised. Tyler's voice barely carrying, but it was enough. A lead weight dropping onto Riley's chest. "Just..." The man looked around for a second, "This isn't your fault ya know?" Tyler's abrupt change, turning it on her, shouldn't have thrown her. Not after her experience with it firsthand. But she is.

"Easy for you to say," She sputtered, "It's easy for you, all you do is run around and shoot fireworks up into tornados or god knows whatever else your followers ask you to do next. But for me?" She should stop, She knew that, but once she had started it was like a single crack had suddenly blown open and the dam was crumbling more and more with every word that left her mouth unfiltered, "Every time I fail, it's a town that's hit. Family homes ripped from the ground. Torn to shreds. Parents without kids and kids without parents. So, thank you for saying that, but it is. I could have prevented this Tyler. I could have." She didn't know who she was begging to believe her. Him or herself. "But I fucked up. As per usual."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Tyler scoffed, eye wide as he stared her down, hating how Riley's face dropped, her eyes losing any spark they had, but confused more than anything. She couldn't think-

"I'm not my dad. He was always so good at this, I'm sure he'd have it all figured out by now." Riley shrugged, small, pitiful little bubbles of semi-laughter popped up and out of her lips as she shook her head. Gaze eventually falling to her feet as her arms wrapped around her stomach.

She looked so small.

"Maybe..." Tyler started off gently, "but you can't know that. And I'm sorry, but have you met you? You are exactly like him, in a good way." Tyler points at her quickly as she went to open her mouth. "You are not a fuck up Riley. You're working harder than any other chaser I know to actually find answers, help people. But Jesus Christ Riley," He chuckled, beside himself, worry glazing over his eyes, "when is it going to be enough? You almost let yourself get crushed by a house! A couple hours ago! And then you just walked away like it was no big deal." Tyler couldn't stop more incredulous laughter from tumbling past his lips like missiles aiming right at her open wounds.

"So that a family could lay one of its members to rest intact!" Riley bit, chewing through every word. Nails digging into her palms.

The word hit him like a punch to the gut and flashes of that moment. Seeing Nathan's body, Riley sobbing under his weight and covered in her fathers blood. The woman, now grown, in front of him and lacking the rust-colored stains as the one in his memory.

"Ty, I'm sorry-" She wanted to kick herself. Screaming why?! Over and over and over. Tyler didn't let her finish though. Riley taking a step back at the shift in his posture, his shoulders slumping forward as his jaw dropped, quick breaths puffing in and out of his lungs.

"What about you? Is it me that's going to have to pull your body out of a house so I can bury you intact? Like I pulled you out of that truck?"

It felt like she had been dealt a physical blow, the way all the air left her body, as if punched in the stomach. That's what she would equate it to. That sounded right. Shit. Her eyes started to burn, still locked on Tyler's now wide-open orbs. His own shock painted so clearly in the blue-green waves, followed by guilt, and lastly, panic.

For the first time in a very long while, she was met with the familiar feeling of losing something she didn't think she ever would. But that was her fault, as per usual. It was all her fault.

"Riley-"

"Ri, there you are. I have been looking everywhere for you!" Riley was broken out of the fog she didn't even realize she had fallen into by the sudden jolt of a hand clapping her on the shoulder. Shaking her gently a bit before pulling her into his side.

"Daniel." She muttered, leaning more into his hold as exhaustion swept over her like a storm cloud on an April day in Oklahoma. Knees feeling like Jello all of a sudden.

"Hey there boss lady, we need your help with something." His arm over her shoulder anchored her, her hand coming up to grab his as he started to shift them away from the blonde man who looked like he was about to lose his mind.

"Wait- we were in the middle of something. Riley, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it- Not like that-"

Tyler stops in his tracks, having followed behind a couple step without hesitation, as Daniel whipped his head around with a far nastier glare than Tyler ever though such a baby face could make. His breaths felt heavy in his chest, Pulling away from Boone as he felt hands on his shoulder and back. Dragging a hand down his mouth and shaking his head as he could only watch Daniel take Riley away.

"We were worried you had found yourself buried under some other little old ladies house, Sarah, Jenny, and I at least." His voice was gentle, but still joking. Trying to bring the old Riley back, the one who would hang out the Warlock's window in the middle of a storm. Their Riley. Their fearless leader and most looked up to person. Their hero. "You're welcome for the assist, by the way. I take payment in affection and head pats." The 20-year-old grinned down at Riley and the slightly older young adult shook her head. Slowly coming back to herself. Her grin practiced, not meeting her eyes, having almost perfected it after pushing herself to meet their expectations – everyone's expectations – for years.

"Can it Casanova, save it for girls your own age." Riley could see the pure relief sink into Daniel's face and her head ached.

"What if I don't like girls my own age? What if I don't like girls?" He grinned brightly, still supporting her but bouncing up and down as best he could.

"Then why you looking at me like that, huh?" Riley elbowed his side a bit, wincing when her body ached, her side stinging at the movement.

"This is just how I look at people Riley. What are you talking about?"

"You are really pushing your luck kid."

"Ooh. It hurts, I may never recover!" He pretended to sputter and keel over, almost taking Riley with him. Daniel trying to keep his laughter at bay, conscious of their surroundings even when goofing off. While Riley forced hers to cover the shot of pain that went through her side at the sudden jolt.

"Good."

Daniel gasped and clapped a hand over his chest as he straightened up. Riley audibly groaning and gripping her side as he pulled her up with him.

"Sorry!"

~~*~~

“Thanks Sam.” Riley grunted as she tried not to flinch away from the feel of the needle going through skin. Fixing her ripped stitch. “You’re a lifesaver, knew it was a good decision to bring on a med student.”

“Ex-Pre-med student. You’re just lucky I watched way too much youtube way too early on in life with no parental controls in place.” Sam finished off the stitch and pressed a clean bandage over the area gently. Dead silence filling the room as three sets of eyes drilled into his head.

“I’m sorry what?” Riley breathed through clenched teeth.

“You said you knew how!” Sarah gasped, “You said-”

“I said I knew how, you never asked from where!” Sam defended himself, taking off his gloves and throwing his hands up.

“I thought it was obvious why I was asking you! The med student!”

“I was pre-med. For like six months!”

“Oh my god.” Riley muttered, falling back onto the motel mattress, her shirt falling back down as she threw her arm over her eyes.

“We trusted you!” Daniel chimed in, definitely not as angry as he was pretending to be. If anything, just based on his voice alone Riley could tell he was holding back laughter and she couldn’t help but think this was an incredibly stupid thing to be experiencing right now. And so she started laughing.

Then Daniel cracked, which triggered Sam, Sarah being the last to break. Actors.

~~*~~

It had been a couple hours since the whole youtube doctor incident, Daniel and Sam made pretty quick exits once it was confirmed she wasn’t going to die. Sarah stuck around a little longer, flouncing around the way she does when she’s worried and didn’t want to leave Riley alone.

The blonde managed to convince the brunette she was fine and was probably going to turn in early. No storms on radar, not ones that looked like they would produce anything till late tomorrow at the earliest. If not dissipate before anything could even really happen. Tomorrow would most likely be just a inventory and restock day. A day for data analysis and writing a couple more chapters of her thesis that needed to be turned in by the end of next week.

Riley’s mood had slightly increased but she still couldn’t seem to shake the lingering feeling of Tyler’s words. How they clung to her skin and ridges of her brain, the hurt. It brought up a lot of other unresolved feelings that then made her restless.

Trying to turn on the Tv for some white noise didn’t even help like it normally did, not when it was immediately on a local news channel. The broadcast showing footage from the wreckage at Crystal Lake. She knew it was torture to make herself watch it when she spent all day in it, having only washed it off her skin and hair before Sam fixed her stitches. But the feeling of debris dust and dirt and dried blood would always be a sensation that would never leave her mind or her skin. Lingering guilt hanging like a sword.

What is the saying? Heavy is the head that lies the crown.

All the damage played out in front of her as dollar signs flashed at the top, how much can an estimation of the face value even really touch the priceless thing those people had just lost? The feeling of home. Everything they once had, shattered. It can’t be tallied. It’s impossible.

But they still try. It’s absurd.

Quiet knocks at her door cut through the Tv. Riley rolling her eyes and huffing, pushing herself off the mattress slowly, “I’m fine Sarah! You don’t need to tuck me in,” Her hand gripped the door handle, pulling it open, “I’m a big girl I-”

“Hey.” Tyler really tried to tamper down his grin, but he knew he was caught. He never could hide from her.

His laughter wasn’t out loud, but she could see it, and it made her want to shrivel up and die on the spot. Honestly hoping for a hole to open in the ground and swallow her whole. They were in the wrong state for that unfortunately.

“I uh- I heard through the grape vine you and your child army had moved out by the rodeo, and I uh thought you might be hungry. You always forget to eat after a bad chase…” Tyler kept going until it was almost physically painful, until he simply, awkwardly, held up the pizza box in his grip. Like a kid giving his first ever date to the school dance her corsage. It was like a shock to her system, how disarmed she could be for him when he was like this. No bravado, no smirk or cowboy hat. Hair a little messy and not all put together. When he was Ty.

Time to go. Is what her brain was screaming at her.

So she took the pizza, gave him a flash of what she hope passed as a grin and shut the door. His face turning down at every corner as the door clicked in place. Riley, as if made of metal walked over to her bed, sat down, opened the pizza, and looked down.

Pepperoni, sausage, and olives. Her favorite.

Fuck.

Her hands were finding the door before she could really think about what she was doing. Her eyes meeting Tyler’s in an instant, the man’s shoulders rolling back as he stood taller. At attention, waiting for her next move.

Riley opened the door a bit more, leaning on it, hand gently placed over her right side, “Find the dog?” she asked softly, head leaning against the door now as well.

He just looked at her, eyebrows raising.

“Of course you did, what am I thinking?” She answers her own question with a pitiful chuckle. Head dipping down as her eyes went to her socked feet.

“I’m sorry Riley. I feel like I’m saying that a lot lately, I just- there isn’t really an excuse for it. I’ve been an ass, and I apologize.” Tyler burst out after taking a breath, dipping his head down to try and meet Riley’s eye. He hated when she was like this, especially when she was like this because in part of something he said.

“Thank you.”

“How are you doing after all that?” Tyler swallowed, tucking his chin a bit and stuffing his hands in his pockets. Leaning against the door frame, but giving Riley her space. Mentally telling himself to pull it together.

Riley just shrugged, “You know me, can handle the storm but never the aftermath.” Not after becoming the aftermath. It was never the same after that.

“I thought that you might want to see something good after all that today.” He held out his hand. “I wanna take you somewhere, might help take your mind off things for a bit.” His grin was hopeful, but cautious. His gaze soft.

Earlier had been bad, as bad as it gets with them, but this feeling. That look. It always left her stomach filled with proverbial butterflies, made her think that as long as Tyler Owens cared about her enough to look at her like that, that everything would be okay. And it would be, because he would make it okay, because he cared.

It was a look she didn’t think he would ever give her again after last chase seasons dramatic, heartbreaking close. So, she takes his hand, gives it a quick squeeze. He turned it over and sees the blistering and cuts that dotted her palms. Wounds she hadn’t even realized were there until they got to the new motel. Her breath got caught in her throat and she pulled away out of instinct. Tyler looked crushed and that was just too much for her conscience to bear. Her mouth moves before she knows it is. 

“Give me a minute? I need to get changed.”

“Yeah. Yeah. I’ll be out here.” Tyler grinned, a slight bounce in his step as he backed away from the doorway and moved back to the railing surrounding the walkway around the second floor looking into the parking lot and across the street. Riley waiting till the door was closed to let her smile slip, something feeling like it was sliding back into place and locking in. Like she had finally found the next correct piece of a jigsaw puzzle.

It was a nice feeling. Like something was going right for once.

~~*~~

[bethannangel]

Does this mean there’s Brisket merch?

Super Yaki & Twisters Collection

Update at 12:07pm CST. Four shirts. One says Glen Powell Summer.

[entertainmentgirl80]

Awwwww, Brisket is sooo adorable. 😀🐾🐶🌪

I was going through a breakup at the time and was in the middle of Enid, Oklahoma, and I had always wanted a dog. It was something I thought about a lot, but it was somewhere in this coffee shop in Enid.... I don't even know how to describe it, I just had the desire to be a father. I literally messaged [any friends who followed the rescue or anyone associated with it online] saying, 'Please put in a good word for me.' I sent them a heartbreakingly depressing video of me why I needed this dog. [x]

[capoteera]

How long ago did Glen adopt Brisket?

Last summer

[glenandbrisketpowellsdogpack]

One Last Thing with Glen Powell and His Dog Brisket — Who Might Be More Famous Than He Is (Exclusive) https://people.com/one-last-thing-glen-powell-and-dog-brisket-8656933

[topguncortez]

Call me emotionally unstable but the way that little dog is so unbelievably happy in that video of him in the gym made me tear up🥺🥺🥺 What a cutie

brisket is literally one of us. and i’m glad glen has him. i bet after everything that happened during the summer, he got really lonely, and part of me thinks he got a dog cause he missed having one around. and that dog is his ride or die. you don’t just get glen anymore. you get glen AND brisket. also, of course, he adopted which brisket, which i love. ADOPT DONT SHOP

and also, he’s such an interesting dog. cause at first glance he looks like he’s a Pomeranian or a papillon but in that video, his legs look almost too long to be a pom or a pap. but he’s so skinny, and little. i wonder how much bigger he’ll get.

[missathlete31]

Let's focus on something else. Am I the only one who finds it absolutely hilarious that Brisket is so small? You'd expect Glen to get a bigger dog, but nope, he adopted the smallest pup he could find. Big men with small dogs got me rollin'. 😂

Every time I see Brisket I get so happy! (And this from a big dog owner- my heart to my boo boo bear Emmie ❤️🐶😔❤️)

Poor Brisket being used as a dumbbell is always my favorite.l 🤣

Glen himself is like a giant golden retriever so I totally get the big dog vibes from him! But luckily for us we get this cuteness on our feeds!!!