# Chapter 10: The First Date Gamble
Hello everyone, it's me again! How are you all doing? Today I will continue to walk with you and review Chapter 10 of *Just for the Plot*. Grab your favorite drink, get comfortable, because this chapter is packed with nerves, style debates, a sweet favor from a certain baseball player, and a date that might not be quite what Bower expected. Let's dive right in!
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The clock is ticking. In less than forty-five minutes, Bower is supposed to be walking into a bar to meet Cougar—a man she's only ever texted, a man her friend Bennett apparently set her up with through Graydon St. John. And right now, she's standing in front of her closet, holding up a white, gauzy shirt, FaceTiming her best friend Gabby, and asking the most important question of the night: *"Is this too slutty?"*
Gabby squints at the screen. "Are you wearing a bra?"
"No," Bower replies, tilting the phone for a better angle. "Should I be wearing a bra?"
"I can see your nipples through that shirt from here."
Bower glances down. Well, there they are. On full display. Maybe not the best first impression.
Gabby tries to be practical, but Bower isn't backing down without a fight. She reminds Gabby that her best friend basically showed nipple on her first "date" with Ryland, and look where that got them. Ryland, who's apparently listening from off-camera, pops into frame, seizes Gabby's jaw, and plants a kiss so tender that Bower can literally see a piece of her best friend melt right through the phone screen.
That's exactly what Bower wants. That consuming, possessive, *melt-your-heart* kind of love. So she's putting herself out there.
The conversation bounces between jokes and genuine concern. Ryland tells Bower to be responsible and use protection—treating her like one of his students, which she proudly admits isn't far off. Then Gabby drops a warning: she looked Cougar up online, and he seems like a player. She's genuinely surprised Bennett suggested him. But Bower isn't going into this looking for a wedding ring on the first date. She just wants to have fun, with the possibility that maybe... it could become more.
And then she confesses something deep: she's ready for more. She's ready for something that lasts. But she keeps that close to her chest, because if Gabby knows, Gabby will ask if she's in love every two seconds.
Finally, Bower holds up two dresses—red and light green. Gabby picks green. Bower picks green. There's only one problem: she can't zip it up herself.
"Ask Bennett," Gabby suggests. His game ended early. He's home.
So Bower texts Bennett, and he replies almost instantly: he's home. Perfect. She says goodbye to Gabby, promising to make smart decisions, and Gabby warns her not to fall into Cougar's bed too easily. Bower reveals her own pact with herself: no sleeping with the guy for at least five dates. If he can wait, he might be serious. Gabby approves.
And now, Bower stands outside Bennett's door, holding her phone, knocking. Waiting.
When Bennett opens the door, he's holding a book, his hair an absolute disaster in that effortlessly cute way that makes Bower's heart do a tiny flip. No baseball cap tonight, and she loves it.
"Aren't you supposed to be—whoa." His eyes scan her, from her shoulders to her dress to her heels, and she watches his Adam's apple bob. "Bower, you look incredible."
Her insecurities flare. "Thank you. But you don't think the dress is too slutty, do you?"
"Uh... no."
She turns around, lifts her hair, and asks if he can zip her up. He sets his book down and steps close. His fingers catch the small zipper and slowly, almost deliberately, pull it up her spine. When he finishes, she turns to face him, straightening the square neckline.
"Do I look okay?"
He takes his time. "You look really good."
It shouldn't mean that much, but it does. Bennett is a professional athlete. He's surrounded by beautiful people all the time. For him to say it—in that quiet, sincere way—settles something in Bower's chest.
She mentions she's ready to call a ride, but Bennett interrupts. He was thinking about grabbing ice cream anyway. He can drop her off.
"You don't have to do that."
"I don't mind."
And just like that, he's already slipping into slides, grabbing a hat, keys, phone, wallet, and locking the door behind them. Bower doesn't even get a chance to argue. His hand rests warmly on her back as he guides her to the elevator, and for a moment, something feels different. Not bad different. Just... different.
In the garage, she sees his matte black Rivian truck. He opens her door, offers his hand to help her in, then hands her the seatbelt buckle.
"Safety first, Bower."
For a split second, she imagined he might buckle her in himself. But no—that only happens in romance novels, right?
They pull out of the parking garage, and Bennett asks where they're headed.
"The Powell Pub."
He glances at her. "Really?"
"Is that bad?"
He seems to reconsider. It's just... not the kind of place he'd take someone on a first date. It's an old boys' club vibe—brandy, cigars, wood-paneled walls, stained glass. Not exactly romantic. Bower starts worrying her lip. Gabby's voice echoes in her mind. She asks Bennett if he knows anything about Cougar.
"Not really," he says, his grip tightening on the steering wheel. "But Graydon thought he might be good for you."
"Gabby was saying he seems like a player. Makes me a little nervous."
Bennett stops at a red light and faces her. "Want me to take you back home? Or better yet—let's get ice cream and go home."
For a second, Bower genuinely considers it. Climbing out of this dress, slipping into pajamas, eating ice cream with her favorite neighbor. It sounds incredible. But Bower knows she can't be the person who stands someone up. She's been stood up before. It hurts. So she shakes her head and says she'll be fine.
Bennett makes a suggestion: a secret signal. If she texts him an alert emoji, he'll call her and pretend there's an emergency. Bower eagerly jokes that her aunt fell off a cliff. Bennett nearly chokes—maybe something a little less insane. They spiral into a conversation about his penis getting stuck in something, which makes Bower laugh far too hard, and Bennett just shakes his head.
"Just say I'm sick and need your help," he says.
"That's... actually really good," Bower admits. It makes her seem like a good person instead of someone fleeing a disaster date.
"Not that hard," he mumbles.
"What's not hard? Finding a reason why you need me? Or your penis when it gets stuck—"
"There's something seriously wrong with you," he says.
And yet, he's still smiling.
When they pull up to the pub, Bennett offers to walk her in, like a dad, according to Bower. He's utterly insulted. Bower calls him "Daddy" just to push his buttons, and his eyebrow rises dangerously. He reaches for the gear shift, joking that there's no way he can let her go in now. But Bower stops him with her hand on his.
"Don't even think about it." She opens the door. "Thank you for bringing me here."
"Anytime. Text me if you need me, even at three in the morning. I'm here for you."
She squeezes his arm. "You're a great friend. I'd be lost without you."
His lips press together, and he gives her a soft, quiet smile. "Anytime."
Then Bower steps out, waves, and walks toward the pub. The door is heavy mahogany, and when she pulls it open, the smell of day-old beer hits her like a wall. It's floor-to-ceiling wood—walls, floors, tables, chairs—with brass accents and stained-glass lamps. Bennett was right. This is a good-old-boys' club.
Before she can search the room, a hand lands on her back. She turns, and her breath catches.
The man before her is... enormous. Blue-and-white-striped shirt, navy capris, loafers. Broad shoulders, thick neck, freshly shaven jaw, a slightly pointy nose, and dark, almost dangerous eyes. He has to be six foot seven. Bower has never felt so small—or so intrigued.
"Bower?" His voice is deep, smooth.
"Cougar," she breathes.
That's him. He leans down and kisses her cheek, then takes in her dress with an approving smirk. "You look great."
"Thank you. I might have changed several times before coming tonight."
"You chose right." He offers his arm. "Shall we?"
"I think we shall."
Bower smiles up at him, mentally thanking Bennett. This is going to be good. This is exactly what she's been wanting.
But then Cougar leads her past several open booths and makes a sharp right toward the bar.
Oh.
"Are we waiting for a table?" she asks, confused.
"Nah, I like sitting at the bar. Drinks come faster." He winks and takes the seat beside her.
Okay. Fine. She likes a good drink too.
"What would you like?" he asks.
"What are you getting?"
"Blue Moon. Want one? It's the best beer, no contest."
Blue Moon? The best? It's fine beer, but calling it the best seems like something you pull out of a high school fridge. Still, Bower decides to go with the flow. "Then I'll take one as well."
His eyes light up. "Damn, I like you already."
If agreeing to a favorite beer was the secret to winning a man's heart, she'd never be single.
He orders two beers and nachos, then turns to her. "So, how do you know Graydon?"
"I don't know him, actually. My friend asked him to set me up."
"Your friend asked Graydon St. John to set you up?" Cougar's brows lift in genuine shock. "Does he know Graydon at all? Setting people up is not his thing. The only reason I accepted your number was because I was curious who Graydon would put in the effort for." His eyes roam down her body. "I can see why he'd put in the effort."
"It wasn't Graydon, actually. It was my friend, Bennett. He plays baseball for the Bombers."
Cougar grabs his beer and takes a long gulp. "Bennett Brinkman?"
"Yes, that's him."
"He's fucking elite at baseball. Have you seen him play?"
Bower nods, her cheeks flushing with unexpected warmth. When other people praise Bennett, it almost feels like a compliment to her too. "I have. He's incredibly good."
"So good there are already conversations about his career and where he'll end up. San Francisco is wasting his potential, given the cheating scandal."
"Well, he wasn't part of the cheating," Bower says, a little defensive.
"Oh, I know. But his image is almost sullied just by being on the team. It would be best if he got traded somewhere else."
Bower's stomach churns at the thought. Bennett traded away? She hasn't been in San Francisco long, but she can't imagine a world where he's not here. He's her friend. She relies on seeing him, even when his schedule means he's in and out.
"He's doing PR to help the image, though."
"Yeah, same bullshit Graydon is doing." Cougar shakes his head. "Don't see how it's going to help. Bennett would have to come up with something really good to pull his team back to good graces. It sucks that it's his face they're using, when he wasn't the one who fucked up to begin with."
"I agree. It's not very fair."
"Although... Graydon seems to be doing a hell of a job."
"Isn't he doing something with the zookeeper?"
Cougar nods. "Yeah, a whole PR relationship."
"Oh, I thought... Bennett made it seem like it's a real relationship."
"Might be." Cougar shrugs. "From what I see from the outside, it's PR. But Bennett probably knows him better. I don't cross paths with Graydon all too much."
"You're not friends?"
"Nah, just teammates. He's more of a recluse. The only guy he really hangs out with is Hutton. Kind of like how Asher Peppers is on the Bombers."
"Who's that?"
"The catcher. Kind of surprised Bennett didn't try to hook you up with him."
Bower smirks. "That's probably because I didn't really want to date a baseball player."
"No? Why not?"
"Uh, not around enough," she admits. "With football, you don't travel as much as baseball. It would be nice to have my man around."
"Your man, huh?" Cougar slowly nods, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "I like the sound of that. And you're right—the baseball travel schedule is hectic and long. If you stick with me, babe, I could have you way more nights than any catcher ever could." He winks. "But Asher Peppers... I could see you two hitting it off."
"Trying to get rid of me already?" Bower asks, sipping her drink.
"Just giving you options."
"Well, then maybe you'll give me Asher's number."
Cougar shakes his head. "No, your fine ass is staying right where it is."
"Good answer."
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And that's where Chapter 10 leaves us—with Bower at a bar, a beer in her hand, and a six-foot-seven man named Cougar telling her exactly what she wants to hear. But the subtle tension is building elsewhere: in the way Bennett's hands lingered on that zipper, in the way he offered to drive her, in the way he looked at her lips at the stoplight. There's a spark Bower hasn't fully noticed yet, and a man in a baseball cap who's probably still thinking about ice cream.
## Reader's Impressions & Star Rating
This chapter is a delicious blend of lighthearted friendship, romantic tension, and the restless hope of a woman ready for something real. Bower's inner vulnerability is so relatable—the back-and-forth about outfits, the fear of being judged, the desire to seem cool while secretly hoping the night goes well. Bennett continues to steal every scene he's in, and that zipper moment? Let's just say there's chemistry bubbling under the surface that Bower hasn't caught up with yet. Cougar is charming, but something feels slightly off—maybe it's the bar, maybe it's the easy confidence, maybe it's the way his eyes linger just a little too long. The chapter leaves you smiling, curious, and completely invested.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Rating: 4.7 / 5 Stars
## Next Chapter Prediction
I think the date is going to start off promising, but somewhere along the way, something's going to crack. Cougar might reveal himself to be less of a gentleman and more of a smooth talker—or perhaps Bennett will suddenly show up at the bar with a "sick" excuse that's actually more about his own feelings than he'd ever admit. Bower may not realize it yet, but Bennett's quiet protectiveness is pointing toward something bigger. I predict the real "plot" of this story is about to shift from Cougar to the man who zipped her dress.
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