Ghosts Between Us (ManxMan)

Chapter 1: Ghosts of Intrigue

Keaton sat on the edge of his couch, legs stretched out, staring at the city lights flickering just beyond his window. The night air was cool, slipping through the crack in the window, but the emptiness inside his apartment felt heavier than the silence outside. His phone buzzed on the table, glowing softly with a notification from the dating app he had hesitated to open for days...

He wasn't the type for casual hookups. He never had been. At 23, Keaton, with his Hawaiian rooted long, dark curls that always seemed to fall into his eyes, was the kind of person who craved something deeper, more meaningful. But every attempt at that had ended in heartbreak. His second boyfriend had ghosted him—no explanation, no goodbye—just silence. That wound still festered, making it hard for Keaton to trust again. And yet, here he was, staring at the screen of his phone, a small part of him hoping for something different.

He sighed, his thumb hovering over the app icon. Maybe it's time to just... try, he thought. Not everything had to be so serious. Maybe letting go for one night wouldn't be so bad.

He opened the app, the profiles sliding by with faces that blurred together—until one made him stop.

Cole Guy. Keaton raised an eyebrow, smirking to himself. Cool guy? Seriously? The name wasn't funny, but there was something endearing about how corny it was. A playful, self-deprecating confidence that made Keaton chuckle—not because it was clever, but because it was strangely... cute.

Keaton's own profile name was simple: "Keaton :)". He wasn't trying to impress anyone, just putting himself out there honestly. The difference between their usernames made him smile—Cole's had a casual arrogance, while his own had a warm sincerity. It was a small contrast, but it said more than words could.

He swiped right. It wasn't a big commitment. Just a small step. And when the app buzzed again with a notification that they had matched, Keaton felt a small flicker of excitement in his chest.

Meanwhile...

Dusty blonde haired Cole swiped aimlessly on his phone, sitting at the edge of his bed, the evening light casting long shadows across the room. At 28, he had perfected the art of detachment, keeping things casual and avoiding anything that could turn into something real. His olive skin and mixed features—born of a half-white, half-biracial background—always stood out, though his easygoing confidence often made people miss the guarded look in his eyes.

After falling hard for Freddie years ago and ending up heartbroken, Cole had promised himself he wouldn't get attached again. Freddie had been his best friend—someone Cole had known forever. But when Cole had fallen for him, Freddie couldn't return those feelings. Freddie was never the type to commit, always afraid of anything too serious. And after that quiet rejection, Cole had made a vow to himself: he wouldn't let himself fall again.

The dating app was just another tool for distraction. People liked his confidence, his easy charm, and, sure, he played into that. Cole Guy—a name he thought was kind of funny, in a self-aware, tongue-in-cheek way. But most people didn't get it. They usually just liked the way it sounded and didn't think much more about it. That was fine with him.

But then there was Keaton. The quiet notification of a match made Cole glance at his screen. Keaton :)—the simplicity of the name made him pause. It wasn't flashy, it wasn't trying too hard—it just felt... genuine.

Cole smiled, scrolling through the profile. He didn't usually linger on profiles like this, but something about Keaton made him curious. The guy looked like he didn't care to impress anyone—long, dark hair, slightly wild, and an effortless coolness. He wasn't like the usual crowd Cole hooked up with. He had that air of mystery, like he wasn't out there trying to be noticed, but couldn't help being intriguing.

As Cole swiped, a notification popped up almost instantly: It's a match!

He hesitated for a second before sending the first message. He didn't want to come off too strong, so he kept it simple:

Cole Guy: "Hey :)"

Keaton saw the message and felt a smile pull at the corner of his mouth. He typed back quickly:

Keaton :): "Hey! I gotta ask... what's with the name? Made me chuckle."

Cole raised an eyebrow, surprised but pleased by the response. Most people either didn't mention the name or tried to flirt by calling him cool. But this? This was... refreshing.

Cole Guy: "Haha, you're not the first to say that. It's kind of a joke—'cool guy, Cole Guy,' you know? Lame, I know."

Keaton smirked, liking how unpretentious Cole seemed.

Keaton :): "Nah, not lame. A little corny, but in a cute way."

Cole Guy: "I'll take that as a compliment ;)"

Keaton chuckled softly, feeling a warmth settle in his chest. The conversation was light, easy, and oddly genuine. It didn't feel forced, and Keaton liked that. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.

Keaton :): "So, what brings you here? Just swiping through or... looking for something?"

Cole Guy: "A little of both, I guess. Not really looking for anything serious, but who knows? You?"

Keaton thought for a moment before typing back.

Keaton :): "Same. Just seeing where things go."

The chat continued for a little while longer, the conversation staying light but genuine. Neither of them felt the need to rush into anything. And for Cole, that was a strange feeling. Usually, these chats were fast and surface-level, meant to lead to a quick hookup. But with Keaton, it was different. He felt like taking his time.

Eventually, as the conversation lingered into the evening, Cole hesitated, typing his next message:

Cole Guy: "You free later this week? My place or yours?"

Keaton paused, biting his lip as he thought. He didn't usually do this, but his parents were going to be out of town for the weekend, and the house would be empty. It wasn't a bad opportunity.

Keaton :): "I could host. My parents are away this weekend, so I've got the place to myself."

Cole felt a small flicker of excitement in his chest as he read the message.

Cole Guy: "Perfect. Let's meet Saturday night?"

Keaton smiled, feeling a strange mix of nerves and anticipation as he typed his reply:

Keaton :): "Yeah, sounds good. See you then."
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