Love at First Like (2023)

[bunniefuu]

It's 7:31. I almost filed

a missing persons report.

I'm not that predictable.

Oh, says the woman

whose standing order

hasn't changed in three years.

I can be flexible.

Oh, good,

because today I made it

with our new

light roast espresso.

Let me know what you think.

Great.

- Mmm, mmm!

- Hmm.

Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

Look at you, taking risks.

It's...

tangy.

I can't have the customers

seeing you make that face.

- I'll remake it.

- Thank you.

Okay, those two

close to us.

What do you think?

Okay, I'm gonna say

they've known each other

for two weeks.

Agreed.

No one plays footsie

after dozens of dates.

I'm gonna guess...third date.

Concur.

How about the couple

by the door?

Hmm, okay,

I'm spying wedding rings,

but they're both

in their own world.

I'm gonna guess this is def

part of their morning routine.

They've definitely been

married for at least 20 years,

and this is probably

their, like, 200th date.

Somebody's blowing up.

Oh, yeah, it's just my dad.

He still hasn't figured out

that you can send

more than one sentence

per text.

He's just wishing me luck

on the pitch today.

It's today?

Get it.

I'm nervous.

I've just been waiting

for the perfect time

to approach my boss.

I have a very carefully

prepared speech.

A surprise to no one.

You know, I think

today I'm just--

I'm just gonna go for it.

Remember, you are brave.

I'm brave.

- You are strong.

- I'm strong.

You are the scrupulosity

of a brain surgeon

and the blind competence

of a tween pop star.

I have--

aw, thank you.

Oh, I gotta go.

- Wish me luck.

- Okay.

Get that bag, honey.

I am strong. I am brave.

I am a scrupulous

pop star surgeon.

Whatever.

Okay, you got this.

Reason number one:

it's important--nay, historic.

Perfect.

Can I have two minutes

of your time?

Actually, now--

I am the best person

to take on the upcoming

First Lady profile piece.

In this presentation, I will

map out the 19 1/2 reasons...

19 1/2?

That I am the most

experienced and knowledgeable

writer to take on

this important--nay, historic

interview for "Belle Fair."

Reason number one--

Kacey...

I actually have

another assignment

for you to tackle first.

But I really have--

And if that goes well,

I'll consider you

for the First Lady piece.

Okay, okay, sure.

What is it?

Toxicity of hustle culture?

Double standards

of women in the workplace?

Oh, you know, actually,

I would love

to cover the increasing

cultural irrelevance

of beauty pageants.

Okay, it's

a TokFlix celebrity.

Say more words.

@TheRomancingRyan

is a TokFlix celebrity

that's known for his

dating advice for women.

He has an upcoming book

that he'd like to promote,

so we--you--are going to be

shadowing him for a week,

writing a profile piece

on him and his work,

and all that will lead up

to our L.A. singles night

that "Belle Fair"

is sponsoring next weekend

and that Ryan has

generously offered to emcee.

With all due respect,

I don't think

that I'm a good fit

for some arrogant

TokFlix love doctor.

My wheelhouse is more

topics that are actually--

Kacey, I'd like you

to meet Ryan.

The aforementioned arrogant

TokFlix love guru, was it?

"Doctor."

Nice to meet you

@TheRomanc--

Ryan, you can

just call me Ryan.

Well...

This'll be fun.

- My gosh.

- Hey, you okay?

No.

Is that The Romancing Ryan?

What is he doing here?

I'm profiling him.

Seriously?

Wait, you actually

know who he is?

Everybody knows who he is.

He has, like, 8 million

followers on TokFlix.

Besides, what kind

of a social media manager

would I be

if I didn't know that?

Well, then maybe you should

be the one interviewing him.

I'm a terrible fit

for this assignment.

I'm not on social media

at all.

I hate dating apps.

Hey, don't knock 'em

till you've tried 'em.

I mean, it's been

six months since--

Ah! Hard pass.

Those apps are too much

like grocery shopping.

They reduced people

to commodities.

I don't know, I wouldn't mind

grocery shopping so much

if I could pick up

a snack like Ryan.

Maisie, could you just--

Sorry.

Okay, all I'm saying is,

this assignment might not be

the worst thing.

Okay?

Sometimes it pays

to try something new...

and muscly and...

tall.

He's so tall.

Okay, The Romancing Ryan.

Who are you?

All right, ladies, remember,

when you're dating someone,

especially if you're

really into him,

you make sure that you are

in the talking phase

with at least

five other guys

on the apps at the same time.

He's gonna sense

that you have options,

and he's gonna work

even harder to win you over.

Works every time.

Manipulative

and commitment-phobic.

Also, ladies,

do not forget,

always aim to be interesting

but not too interested--

the fastest way to hook a guy.

That doesn't even make sense.

DaisyGirl136 commented

on my last video,

"Ryan, any advice

for getting over heartbreak?"

DaisyGirl, I'm sorry

that you've been

going through a tough time.

Bouncing back from heartbreak

can be brutal.

And my best advice...

is, you gotta get

back out there

and get on the apps

as soon as possible, girl.

If you wanna find love again,

make sure to like, subscribe,

and follow for part two

on this space.

I'll be dropping more tips

and tricks all week.

Ugh, God, unbelievable.

How'd the pitch go?

Did you slay?

Oh, yeah, I slayed,

all right.

If I by slay, you mean

I somehow managed to not get

the profile I wanted, was

assigned to a different piece,

and then met and insulted

my new subject

all in one meeting.

Screwing up a meeting

that bad is low-key impressive.

Yeah, well, I'm nothing

if not an overachiever.

Mm, anyway, I have to go.

I have my first interview

with The Romancing Ryan

this morning, so...

Ooh, I love him.

Such a snack.

Why do people

keep calling him that?

Because he's got

a totally snatched body

and a face to match.

Snatched?

Is that, like, a--

Like, a TokFlix term

I should know?

Aw, you have so much

to learn.

Well, whatever it is,

I doubt Ryan is gonna be

the one to teach it to me.

His dating advice

is total garbage,

and I need to write

a credible piece on him

even if he's a total hack.

- It's just--

- You got this.

Just don't be distracted

by his devil-may-care smile

and his artfully tousled hair.

How many of his videos

have you watched?

No comment.

By the way,

are we still for tonight?

'Cause I don't want you

to be alone on...

Yeah, yeah.

Thank you.

Okay.

Maisie's cooking.

Bring the wine.

You know it.

Bye.

Bye.

Hi, I'm Kacey Edwards.

I'm here for

the "Belle Fair" interview.

Dope, I'm Chris,

Ryan's brother.

Come on in.

He's doing a live feed

right now.

Can I get you something--

kombucha, juice?

Welcome back

to "The Romancing Ryan."

I appreciate you all

for tuning in today.

Last week,

we touched a little bit

on how to reel in

that perfect guy,

the guy that's out there

that's just meant for you.

Today we're gonna talk

a little bit more

about how you can do that

through your dating app

profile.

When setting up

your dating app profile,

don't forget

to use my KISS method.

That's K-I-S-S.

know whom

you're trying to attract.

interest him with

unique facts about yourself.

state what you're

looking for in a partner.

And S: show your

gorgeous self off

with beautiful profile pics.

He sure winks a lot.

Oh, yeah, his fans eat it up.

I mean, his practical advice

performs well,

but his posts that go viral,

they're more thirst trappy.

Thirst trappy?

Yeah, you know,

like no-shirt Toks.

Every single one of us

on this planet...

Anyway, his upcoming book

is gonna be a big test.

It's dating advice for men,

you know,

'cause his following

is mostly women.

Shocking.

All right, thank you again.

Ladies, I appreciate you

tuning in every single week.

I will be back next week

for the usual AMA.

Thank you so much.

I can send you

an advanced copy of the book.

I'm kind of his assistant/

photographer/PR guy.

That's a lot of hyphens.

He'd be lost without me.

I heard that.

But seriously,

if he gives you any trouble,

just let me know.

Oh, thank you, but I think

I can handle Sir Winks-a-Lot.

I can hear you.

I'm literally right here.

All right, Kaleigh,

what do you wanna know?

It's Kacey, actually.

And really, it's more about

what the readers

of "Belle Fair" want to know.

Okay, sh**t.

Is it all right if I record?

Sure.

Okay, so, Ryan,

you have built

a massive following online,

sharing dating advice.

Now, are you speaking

from personal experience

when you create your content?

How do you mean?

Have you had

your own trials and errors

in your dating life?

I keep my personal life

private.

Well, sure,

but would you say

that your own experiences,

your own dating foibles,

if you will, inform your work?

What I mean is, I don't

discuss my dating life

or my personal life.

I keep that separate.

And your reason

for that being?

Do I need a reason?

No, but I'm sure

you have one.

I'm here to discuss

my content and my book,

not my--what did you call them,

my foibles?

Oh, my--

Oh, just pretend

I'm not here.

I'm just taking BTS.

Oh.

You know, let's just--

Ryan, the readers

of "Belle Fair,"

they can log on to social media

for free anytime

and see your work,

but the reason

they're gonna read

this interview

is to get to know you

a little more personally.

And my job is to help uncover

a little bit

about what makes you you.

Is there a question in there?

Okay, you know what?

Let's--

Let's just start over.

So what inspired you

to go the social media route

as a career?

I recognized it as an

opportunity to make a living

being creative

and helping people.

Helping people find love?

Well, I mean, sure.

Sure?

People go on dating apps

looking for different things.

I mean, sometimes love,

yeah, absolutely.

But other times,

it's, you know, for attention,

affirmation,

distraction, even.

And what do you

look for on the apps?

You're like a dog on a bone.

Just for clarification,

I'm the dog in this scenario?

That's not how I meant.

Are you in the habit

of calling women dogs?

No, don't write that down.

No, no, you're taking that

out of context.

Chris, get--

All I'm saying is, you won't

leave well enough alone.

It's my job to press

for interesting details.

Yeah, and it's my job

to create content.

Look, if you wanna talk

about my work, my content,

my methods, I'm game.

I need that promotion

to help sell my book.

But nobody wants to buy

a book from some simp

who talks about himself

and his personal dating foibles

or whatever.

Respectfully, I disagree.

Well, respectfully, if you

wanna talk about my work,

feel free to ask more

questions, but if not,

it was nice meeting you.

Oh, excuse me.

That's not how this works.

This is my interview.

Are you always

this controlling?

Excuse me?

Okay, you know what?

If I seem controlling,

it's because my work

is important to me

because I care, because

integrity is important to me,

unlike you, who thinks that

the more followers and clicks

you can squeeze out of every

little hack you share online,

the better.

Oh, yeah, I have you

all figured out.

- Oh, you do?

- Yep.

You are so afraid

of being seen.

You share videos of yourself

online every single day

without sharing anything

remotely personal,

because you're terrified

of being known.

Chris, dude, read the room.

Yep, sorry.

Got it.

You know,

that's rich coming from you.

And how is that?

You're the one who's afraid.

You're terrified of failing,

so you never even take risks.

In fact, I bet that you're

single because you refuse

to step outside of your

teensy little comfort zone

and date anybody.

How do you know

that I'm not in a happy

committed relationship?

Are you?

- That's besides the point.

- It's exactly the point.

Okay, you know what? Fine.

I am single,

but I will have you know

that I take risks.

Well, I recently...

ate an expired yogurt.

Okay, you know, I don't need

to explain my personal life

decisions to you,

but I will have you know

that I'm thriving

being single.

Oh, yeah, 'cause nothing says

that I'm thriving

like eating expired yogurt

alone while wearing a sad-,

sad-looking blazer.

This blazer isn't sad.

This blazer is yellow,

the color of happiness.

You look like a valet.

I feel like I should

be handing you my keys

and telling you not to scratch

my car down the street.

Okay, okay, you know what?

I do not need this.

Oh, oh, oh,

by the way,

good luck promoting your book

without an interview

in "Belle Fair."

Good luck getting

the First Lady profile

from your boss

without doing this piece first.

Bro, what are you doing

calling off the interview?

Are you insane?

If she writes

that you insulted her

and called her

a control freak

or, worse, called her a dog,

that's career su1c1de, man.

She's not gonna do that.

Well, not to mention

"Belle Fair's" readership

is huge.

We need that promotion

for your book.

You gotta fix it, man.

Kacey, wait.

I'm sorry, all right?

I can be

a little reactive sometimes

when pressed

for personal details.

A little?

Look, maybe

there's a way that we

can make this a mutually

beneficial arrangement.

Let me set up your

dating app profiles.

What?

Absolutely not.

Let me finish.

If I set up your

dating app profiles

and if they work--

which they're gonna work--

then you have to say

that what I teach

is legit in your article.

It'll help sell my book.

And why would I do that?

If you agree to give it

a sh*t, I will--

I'll answer

any question you ask.

On the record?

Okay, fine.

Yeah, on the record.

Deal?

No.

I'm sorry, Ryan,

but I'm not willing

to make my dating life

your personal guinea pig.

Sorry, I just--I can't stop

thinking about how terrible

that interview went today.

Like, how bad

are we talking?

Like the interview

was cut short bad or...

Like I called him a coward

and he said this blazer

makes me look like a valet.

Oh, that's bad.

Yeah.

I have been meaning

to talk to you

about that blazer, though.

Hmm, must be Carter.

- Aah!

- Ooh.

Ooh, you okay?

Yes, I just--

I cannot stand him.

I meant your toe, but...

Hi, Carter.

You know what I

don't understand?

Why he thinks he's some sort

of sacred gift to women

sharing dating advice

like he's some sort of guru.

He's just so insufferable.

Interview went well,

I take it.

I'm sorry, he just

really got under my skin.

Well, he can get under mine.

Maisie, can you just--

for a minute?

I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

I'll be serious.

I'll be serious.

So we gonna do this?

Do what?

The ceremonial burning

of your wedding invitations.

I lost my lighter.

Yeah, and honestly,

I was thinking about it,

and the coating on those things

is, like, super flammable

anyway,

so it's probably

just really bad idea.

For safety reasons.

Kacey, if you're

not ready or...

What?

No, I'm fine.

I'm fine.

Seriously, I'm great.

My wedding was supposed to be

today, but it doesn't matter.

I'm doing so great.

Honestly, I am thriving, so...

Oh, God! Ah!

She's thriving.

So let me get this straight.

All you have to do

is let a hot love expert

set up a dating profile

for you

so that you can meet

other hot men.

And in exchange, he'll answer

any questions you have.

Yes.

Does anyone else see the

downside of this arrangement?

I agree.

It's time for you

to get back out there,

and this seems like

the perfect way to do that.

No, there's nothing

perfect about it.

I'm just not ready, okay?

I had to rebuild my entire life

when I broke up with John.

And besides,

my dad just retired

and it's not really going

the way that he planned,

and I'm really busy with work.

Okay, I make time

for dating

and I work full-time

at "Belle Fair."

I just don't wanna be

pushed back into dating.

I wanna do it when I'm ready,

not because it

benefits The Romancing Ryan.

Fair, but wouldn't it

benefit you to prove him wrong?

Meaning?

You say he's a hack,

so try his methods

and prove he's a hack.

Then you can write

a compelling piece,

impress Angela,

and move on,

knowing the First Lady profile

is in the bag.

Yes.

Thank you.

I'll think about it.

Ryan,

Kacey, the magazine girl,

she's agreed to your deal,

and you better be nice to her.

Don't be all salty.

I'm never salty.

Who says "salty" anymore?

Good morning, Dad.

Morning, hon.

What's the retirement hobby

du jour?

Bird-watching.

- Oh, oh, look, look, look.

- Seriously?

Right there, right there.

Yeah.

You know, I just

can't putter around

the house by myself all day,

you know?

All right, well,

I really took you

more for a bowling kind of guy.

Yeah, well, one new thing

at a time, huh?

Mom would be impressed.

Are you sleeping okay, Dad?

Are you eating well?

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm good.

I just don't think

retirement's for me, you know?

Really? Well, are you ready

to get out there

and look for some...

Indigenous bird species

of Southern California.

Wow, apparently, the most

common species in this area

is the Setophaga palmarum,

otherwise known

as the palm warbler.

Dad, you know

that's not what I meant.

Hey, I'm not trying

to pressure you.

I want you to get out there

whenever you're feeling ready.

And know that I support you

no matter what.

Thanks.

Well, I could say

the same to you.

When are you gonna get out

there and start dating again

or go steady or...

Going steady?

Well, I don't know

what you guys call it.

I don't really

know either, but I'm

pretty sure it's not that.

Oh, oh, oh, I'm sorry.

- It's--it's my boss.

- No, no, no.

Take it, take it.

I'm gonna go over here.

- Yeah.

- Okay.

Hi, Angela.

Angela? Oh, yes.

You know, it's going great.

Now, remember, we are in

a botanical garden,

So I ask you, please do not

pick the flowers, okay?

Also remember

to tread softly, okay?

We're looking for some

lesser-known species today.

Commonly in this area,

you're gonna see finches

and mourning doves, but what

I'm hoping to spot today

are some of the more exotic

species,

such as the titmouse.

Which people assume is related

to the, you know, bushtit...

But they are,

in fact, unrelated.

Now, if you're lucky,

we'll see my personal favorite,

the hairy woodpecker.

Ma'am, ma'am, please.

Please, out of respect for me

and to the wildlife,

I must ask that you please--

- Hey.

- Shh!

Look, I just have to--

- 1, 2, 3, 4...

- Yeah, yeah, yeah, good, good.

Yeah, right.

Dinner? Okay.

Sir, did you happen

to even pay for this excursion?

He's with me.

- Aren't you...

- Ron.

Ron?

Yes, Ron's with me.

We're good.

Hey, so when's he coming?

He's supposed

to be here at 3:00,

but I think this

is a really bad idea.

Okay, these two.

Okay, they're

not wearing rings,

but it doesn't mean

they haven't

- been together for a while.

- Hmm, yeah,

they seem super in love,

but it looks fresh.

I'm gonna guess fifth date.

- What? No, no.

- Yeah.

Look how comfortable

they are.

I think they've been together

for six months at least.

Oh, man.

Here comes Wonder Boy.

I'm not gonna lie to you.

He is pretty dreamy in person.

Dreamy.

Try nightmare.

- Hello, Ryan.

- Hi.

Oh, this is Carter.

He and I--

We go way back, way back.

I met Kacey in college.

Met her in the dorms, actually.

So if you ever need any...

way, what can I get you?

Whatever she got

is totally fine.

A medium half-caf almond milk

no foam with whip mocha?

What? No.

That's--ew, that's so--

that's so different.

Just surprise me.

You seem like a guy

with great taste.

I am.

I've been told

that I'm a pretty good

judge of characters, so...

Oh, then settle a debate

for us.

How long has this couple

been dating?

Well, he trimmed his beard

this morning.

You can see a few tiny hairs

there on his collar.

He ordered a no-foam latte,

which is always a good move

if you don't wanna end up

with milk in your mustache.

Now, her, she's interesting.

You see that she's

tilting her head in,

which indicates both

being interested

but also a little bit

of hesitation.

She's picking

at her cuticles, though.

So even though she's

pretending to be at ease,

you can see her nerves

a little bit.

Oh, notice underneath

the table, shoes are touching.

Always, always a great sign.

So I'm gonna say...

fifth date.

- That was my guess.

- What?

That was incredible.

Not to brag,

but I am actually

a body language expert.

Oh, well, you don't

get to call yourself

an expert at something

just because you

aggressively Googled it.

Oh, don't be a sore loser.

Are you two together?

both: No.

I mean was the order

together?

Right.

It's on "Belle Fair."

Okay, I will go

get us a table.

I see what you did.

Whatever do you mean?

I am watching you.

Bye, have fun.

Okay, Ryan,

let's just dive right in.

- Phone?

- Excuse me?

I need your phone to set up

your dating profile.

Oh, I would actually like

to ask a few questions first.

I can multitask.

Fine.

Okay, so, Ryan--

- Preferences?

- What?

What are your

dating preferences?

The first letter

of my method is K:

know whom you're trying

to attract.

So what are your preferences?

Men?

Women?

Men.

Did you just say "whom"?

Okay, you know what?

Never mind.

Okay, so my first question,

Ryan--

- Age?

- No comment.

No, what age of guy

are you trying to date?

You're not even letting me

get a question in.

Okay, fine.

Go, go.

Okay, how does it feel--

Americana

with cold foam for Ryan.

Thank you.

Okay, so, Ryan,

how do you feel

knowing you've built

an entire social media empire

that profits on other people's

pain and loneliness?

No pain point, no profit.

And what's your pain point?

This interview.

Mm. All right, my turn.

What kind of qualities

are you looking for in a date?

Is this really necessary?

Like I said,

in my KISS method,

it states that you need to--

Okay, never mind.

Someone committed.

Like, in a facility?

Yes, somebody

committed in a facility.

No, obviously I mean

somebody who

isn't commitment-phobic

and who could be open

for something long-term.

Your turn.

Same question.

What does that have

to do with the article?

Well, you made a deal.

There's no questions

off the table.

Fine, I don't know.

Somebody who's cool,

stylish, you know, polished.

You sound like you're

describing an iPhone.

Well, I like what I like.

All right, my turn again.

Do you have any interesting

facts about yourself

that I can include on here?

Like, have you ever

climbed a fourteener?

Have you ever been

to culinary school?

No.

I'm kind of a homebody.

I-I like my work.

I spend a lot of time

with my dad.

Family is important to me.

I get that.

Really?

Not the part

about you being a hermit

who stays home all the time.

- Hey.

- But the family part.

Yeah, I get that.

So what else

is important to you?

Do you find that living

a public life online

has made a shift

in your priorities?

Jeez, there's no easy

questions from you, huh?

Real questions only.

Yeah.

Right now, my career

is my priority.

Do you think you'll

ever settle down?

Only if the right woman

comes along.

Have you ever been in love?

How is that relevant?

- The readers of "Belle Fair"--

- "Belle Fair" wanna know.

Yeah, I know.

No, don't think I have.

You?

Once.

It didn't work out,

though, obviously.

I'm sorry.

Thanks.

Oh, here is your phone.

- I'm done.

- Thank you.

Only one more step

left in the method.

Which is?

Show.

Gotta upload great photos

of yourself,

show yourself off a little bit.

You have any good photos,

anything cached away

that we could use?

I recently got

my passport renewed.

You're kidding me.

The photo's actually--

it's, like--

That's--yeah,

that won't work.

Actually, you know what?

Come over to my house tomorrow.

I think Chris and I

can help you out.

That's actually

kind of nice of you.

I don't really appreciate

the tone of your surprise.

I will also have some more

interview questions for you.

Fantastic.

Can't wait.

On that note, I actually--

I gotta bounce,

so I will see you later.

Yep.

Okay.

What you doing?

- both: Oh.

- Sorry.

It's okay.

Just some research.

Are you cyberstalking him?

What? What?

No, I'm just--

I'm just trying

to figure out who

The Romancing Ryan really is.

I thought maybe

his dating history

might help eliminate that.

That's a pretty thin

excuse for googling

his ex-girlfriends.

I'm a thorough researcher.

It's one of my many

professional strengths.

Mm-hmm.

He's just...disorienting.

He can be fiercely private

and downright mean, but then--

Tell me he has

a hidden romantic side.

No, no, no.

Nothing like that.

It's just, for a moment today,

he was genuinely nice.

Whoa.

I know, and I thought

I knew which direction

I wanted to take this piece,

and now it's--

Well, good luck

with your "research."

Kacey, we taking

some sweet pics today?

He's hyped.

Come on in.

Surprised you actually came.

Oh, hey, guys, come on in.

We're gonna sh**t right here,

so make yourself comfortable.

All right, what look

are we gonna go with first?

This is all new to me, so...

Basically, we need

three kinds of photos total

for your profile

to be irresistible.

Okay.

First need a smiling pic.

We're going for a, you know,

could take you home to Mom,

also maybe you bake pies

as a hobby.

- But I don't bake.

- Well, it's fine.

It's not about the baking.

Then what is it about?

It's about that

girl who bakes energy.

What does that even mean?

We're going with

a chill pic with a smile.

Great, you could

have just said that.

So just...

- Yeah, just have a seat.

- Sit.

Let's see what we can do.

Okay.

Tilt your head this way

just a little bit.

Chin down.

Little more.

Thank you.

It's a good start.

I love it.

- Yes.

- Wait, hang on.

hold up, hold up.

I wanna make sure

the guys can see her face

clearly in the profile pic.

This is great.

Nice.

Nailed it.

Oh, yeah.

I'd totes take her home

to Mom.

Wow.

Okay, what's next?

Right, yeah.

Secondly, we need a photo

that gives the impression

that you're adventurous

and carefree.

Do you have any photos of you

maybe, like,

riding an elephant in Thailand

or something like that?

No, those elephants spend

their entire lives

in captivity.

It's really cruel.

I actually wrote

a very compelling--

Okay, all right,

I'm sure you did,

and I'm sure it's fantastic,

but have you ever

skydived, bungee jumped?

- Have you ever met me?

- Right.

Yeah, I forgot that

your idea of adventure

was eating expired yogurt.

Oh, right.

When was the last time

that you skydived?

Guys, guys, guys,

I got this, okay?

No.

No.

Ugh.

Yes.

Okay, Kacey,

the world is your oyster.

This just--this feels

like cheating.

Oh, it's for

the piece, Kacey.

Come on.

Hey, all's fair

in love and journalism.

That's not even

remotely true.

All right, Kacey,

so you just hiked Machu Picchu.

How do you feel?

Good?

Yes.

Yep.

Very good.

- Ahh!

- Yeah, adventurous.

Awesome.

Love it.

Gorgeous, gorgeous.

Yes.

Nailed it.

- Good?

- Yeah.

All right.

Last pic, we should

just be able to pull

from your camera roll.

Super easy.

Oh, look, I told you

I don't have anything.

No, it's super easy.

Literally all's we need

is a pic of you and an ex.

We'll mostly crop him out,

leaving just enough

so when guys are going

through your pics,

they'll know that

they're not dealing

with a total dating newb.

Just indulge me.

Let's just take

a look at least, all right?

Don't need to look

over my shoulder.

No. Yes, right there.

That'll work.

- Yeah, we just need to crop it.

- No. Oh, no, that--

- But that's perfect.

- Oh, no, I'm good.

Kacey, that's a perfect pic.

Why don't you

wanna use this one?

Look this is my

ex-fianc, okay?

I called off my wedding,

and it's too soon.

I feel weird

cropping him out.

I would just really rather not,

okay?

Okay, okay.

That's fine.

We'll skip it.

Thank you.

Here, tell you what.

I'll be a stand-in.

How's that?

- Chris, hey.

- Yeah.

All right.

Okay, guys, I'm gonna

need you to get closer.

Act like you like each other.

I'm just not believing it.

Ryan, take your hand and

just put it around her waist.

Her waist?

Yes, come on, bro.

She's not gonna bite.

Well...

Yeah.

I'm gonna

put my hand on your waist.

You offered it.

Okay, Kacey, put your hand

on his chest, please.

- Please.

- You're the worst, man.

I'm sorry.

Give him a camera

for Christmas and he does this.

- He's the worst.

- Right here.

Yeah.

Well, that--

yeah, that should, I mean,

get you set up on the app,

make me look good.

You know, maybe we'll even

find you a guy, who knows?

Remember you did say that

you will include my methods

in your article if it works.

Right.

Of course.

We have a deal, and this

is a trade-off after all,

though, so I'm gonna need

to see

your personal dating profile.

No. What?

No, no, no, no.

That was not part of the deal.

Well, nothing's

off-limits, remember?

Oh, that's good.

Okay, fine.

Thank you.

I still don't see

how this is entirely necessary.

Look, I promise

I will only report

what's relevant to the article.

Oh, I'm sure.

Huh.

What?

Nothing.

It's just serious.

It's a classic smolder pic.

Women love that.

Ah, I disagree.

Shocking.

No, I don't

mean it like that.

It's just, you have

a friendly enough-looking face

when you're not grimacing

like I'm torturing you,

which is what you're

doing right now.

Oh, my God.

All right, that's--

Hey, we have

a mutually beneficial

arrangement, remember?

Doesn't feel

very mutually beneficial.

To be fair, I could see

the value in a photo like this.

Shows women that you take care

of yourself and your...

body,

like, you have the abdominal--

Are you having a stroke?

Okay, let's just move on,

okay?

You're not the only one

with baggage.

What is dating life like?

Do you feel like your status

as a social media celebrity

complicates it?

I mean, I go on loads

of dates, you know?

I try not to make a big deal

out of all of them, but...

But don't you feel pressure

to find love

since your job

is helping people do the same?

No, no, I'm perfectly happy

on my own.

Besides, honestly,

I mean, most of the time,

the women I end up

going on dates with

are usually just in it

for the story

about the time that they

went out with the TokFlix star.

- That could be pretty lonely.

- Sometimes.

Well, do you think

that you'd attract

less superficial women if your

profile was less superficial?

Superficial?

You know what?

I know you don't like

my methods

and you think it's all a crock,

but don't come

for me personally.

Oh, Ryan,

I didn't mean it like--

I just mean there's more

to you--

No, you know what?

Let's just--how about you

stick with what you're good at

and I'll do the same?

Ryan, I wasn't

even trying to--

Kacey, these picks

turned out so dope.

I uploaded them to the app.

You're good to go.

Thank you, Chris...

and Ryan.

Yeah, you're welcome.

This is kind of you.

What's his problem?

Right.

Size 12.

All right.

You know, Dad,

when I mentioned bowling,

I was kind of making a joke.

This place is charming,

isn't it?

If by charming, you mean

covered in a thin film of grime

and even smells

faintly of nacho cheese

- and feet, then sure.

- Hey.

How many people do we think

have worn this pair of shoes

before me?

Like, ballpark?

Okay, come on.

Gotta get in the spirit, okay?

Huh?

Part of the fun. All right.

What's happening right now?

Yeah, Dad, I'm glad

to see you so peppy,

but what's going on?

It's too heavy.

I don't think I've

ever seen you look so..

Perfecto.

Jolly.

Maisie, call me Ron.

Okay, Ron.

Did you meet someone?

Dad, that's so exciting.

Wait, wait. Oh, oh.

What's her name?

- How did you meet?

- Okay.

A gentleman never

kisses and tells, so...

Yes, Ron.

k*lling the game.

Wait a second.

That's a good thing, right?

- Yeah, that's good.

- Okay. Okay.

Oh, you should let me

style you for your next date.

A nicely fitted button-up

can work wonders.

I don't know about

all that, but we'll see.

- We want details.

- Ah-ah-ah-ah, enough.

It's time to bowl.

Can you believe?

Watch and learn.

Oh!

Oh!

Boom.

So do you wanna

talk about today or...

Can you spot me?

- Easy.

- I'm fine.

Well, just don't drop it

on the money maker, okay?

You're my spotter;

isn't it kind of your job

to make sure

that doesn't happen?

That's right.

Why would I let that happen,

especially when my brother's

been being so nice to me?

Is everything okay with Kacey?

You said you'd be nice.

I've been a perfect gentleman

the whole time.

Really?

That's why you're 0-2 with

storming out of interviews.

No, that's on her.

I mean, you've seen her.

She just pushes and pushes

for details the whole time.

She's really gotten under

your skin, hasn't she?

Why are you smiling?

Dude, stop.

It's not funny, man.

I don't know.

I mean, I guess

I just never seen you--

- This irritated?

- Catching feels, bro.

You're the love expert now?

Get out of here.

Catching feelings, he said.

It doesn't take

a love expert.

Okay, if this goes badly,

it's because these shoes

clash with this outfit.

It's throwing off

the whole vibe.

Okay. Okay.

Enough excuses. Let's go.

Bam!

Nice one.

No, really, I'm so glad

you're getting back out there.

He's not the only one

getting back out there.

Oh, yeah?

No, no.

That is just some

stupid experiment

for a piece I'm writing.

I'm working with this

social media dating expert,

and he's advising me

on how to use the dating apps

while I interview him.

Yeah, I just wish

that my subject wasn't so...

Dreamy?

Famous?

Handsome in a way

that defies all reason?

I was going

to say infuriating.

Yeah.

Oh!

So does somebody wanna

tell me about this guy?

Our relationship

is strictly professional.

Oh. God, this app

just keeps pinging me.

It's Ryan's profile.

He changed his picture

to a smiling one.

- Did you match with him?

- No, no, no, no.

It just popped up

on my profile,

and now it's asking me

to swipe up.

What are you gonna do?

What? Nothing, nothing.

I--I'm going to maintain

my journalistic integrity

and remain unbiased and finish

this piece and delete the app

and move on with my life.

That is what I'm going to do.

Oh, oh, oh.

I'll take two chicken tacos

and a side of beans.

- All right.

- Great. Thank you.

How's it going?

I will take three

of the chicken tinga tacos,

extra spicy,

and a horchata, please.

All right.

Thank you.

- Uh...

- Hi.

Are you sure

you're up for that?

They're supposed to be,

like, really spicy.

Well, unlike some people,

I can handle the heat.

I see.

You think that I can't hang.

Oh, I know you can't hang.

Remember, I'm an excellent

judge of character.

Hi there, can I get three

of the exact same thing?

Extra spicy.

Okay.

Thank you.

Okay, so where

did we leave off?

I believe you

called me superficial.

I did not;

I was just trying to say

that there's more to you

than you're putting out there

and it's kind of a shame that

you keep you all to yourself.

Thank you.

Mm.

Ha!

It's working, isn't it?

My methods are working.

Okay, don't gloat.

I haven't even

responded to anyone yet

because I don't--

I don't know what to say.

Well, the key is to be

interesting without being

too interested,

if that makes any sense.

Not even a little bit.

What I mean is,

if one of them asks you

what you're doing tonight,

you say that you're busy.

If he presses you

for further details,

you say that you have a date.

It just makes you seem

more in demand.

But I'm not in demand.

Okay, well, 3,900 messages

says otherwise.

It just seems

all manipulative,

all the hacks and the tips.

No, I don't come up

with these tips

to teach people

to manipulate it.

It's to empower them.

How's that?

What I mean is, when you have

a step-by-step plan,

you don't flail, right?

You feel confident.

That is true.

You realize at some point,

you're gonna actually have

to go on a date, right?

You know what?

You'll be fine.

Like, you're smart.

You're only kind of annoying.

You're nice-looking,

and you're--

Hot.

I mean, I wasn't gonna

say that exactly, but I mean--

No, no, no, the tacos.

Oh, wow, so spicy.

Okay. Yes.

Thank you.

I'm so glad you said that.

I'm dying over here.

Like, dying.

I can't feel my face.

- Have some of my horchata.

- Thank you.

I think that's the only

thing that'll save us.

Mm.

Oh, I guess you're right.

I can't hang.

Well, to be fair, I don't

feel like I can either.

I mean, I feel like my mouth

just took a trip

to the surface of the sun.

Hoo!

Anyway...

The idea of just going

on a fully fledged date

with a stranger is just--

Just overwhelming.

I know just the thing.

Speed dating?

He thinks it

would be a great way

to ease back into the scene

with several short dates

rather than one long date.

Let me style you.

Please, please,

please, please, Kacey.

Please, please, please.

And...start with this.

Shoo, shoo.

Mm.

Ooh, interesting.

That's not the vibe, you know?

- Not the vibe?

- It's giving cougar.

Uh-huh.

Cougar as rrr.

Not the cat cougar.

Right.

Okay, I love

the color on you,

but I think

it's too saccharin.

It's giving Glinda

the good witch.

Mm-hmm.

And, no, not in a coquettish

Ariana Grande kind of way.

Yeah.

This--this is my

Sistine Chapel.

Gosh, it's giving

main character energy.

It's giving "Pretty Woman"

modern-day realness.

It's--it's--it's perfect.

Thanks, man.

Appreciate it.

Whoa.

Hi, you look...amazing.

Thank you.

Hello, lovely singles.

Welcome to speed dating.

Tonight's event

will go like this.

You each have two minutes

to chat up your date,

but when I ding the bell...

Gentlemen,

you move down one seat.

Are you singles

ready to mingle?

all: Yeah.

- Yeah!

- Here we go.

Hey, you got this.

Mm-hmm.

- Hi.

- Hi.

Lance, do you have

any interesting hobbies?

I garden.

That's nice.

Yeah, I grow my own mushrooms

in my basement.

Blue oyster mushrooms,

pink oyster mushrooms,

golden oyster mushrooms.

Pretty much just, like,

lots of oyster mushrooms.

Cool.

Hey, can I cut

to the chase here?

Um...

I'm looking for a wife.

How do you feel about that?

Do you have a $20 bill?

It's for a magic trick.

It's gonna blow your mind.

Hi.

So, Hunter, what

do you do for a living?

- I work in finance.

- Oh, that's great.

Yeah, I had to get a job

to get my old man off my back.

I'm just biding my time

until he croaks.

Hey, do you know how to swim?

- Yes.

- Mm-hmm.

I'm set to inherit

his 30-foot yacht.

It's sick.

His cholesterol's pretty high,

so I'll have the boat

in, like, three years max.

Congratulations.

So how's it going?

Oh, fine.

I mean, yeah, it's okay.

I'm sure you're doing great.

Well, you look like you're

just having a grand time.

What's that supposed to mean?

Nothing.

Just keep the conversation

light, and you'll be fine.

Yeah, you should tell that

to Trust Fund McGee over here

who asked if I knew how to swim

so we could take me

on his soon-to-be-deceased

father's yacht.

What?

That guy?

- Yes.

- You kidding me.

What is wrong with people?

Yeah, gosh, it feels

so good to talk

to somebody fairly normal.

Well, I'm glad

I qualify as normal.

Okay, everyone.

Now, that's it for tonight.

Make sure you stay

and mingle with anyone

you've found

interesting tonight.

- Oh, no.

- What?

Trust fund boat guy,

ten o'clock.

Oh, yeah.

That's not good.

You wanna get out of here?

Actually--

- Please, please, please.

- Come on, come on, come on.

Hey, Bridget.

Shouldn't we wait

to be seated?

They know me here.

Do you like big servings?

Depends on what's

being served.

Thank you.

- The usual?

- Um...

Or have you forgotten

what we serve here?

It's been a while

since you've been in.

The usual is fine.

I'll bring extra.

You're looking skinny.

I do not.

Yes, you do.

You think you know everything

about everything, don't you?

Mr. King of the Socials Media

has it all figured out.

Kacey, this is my mom, Des.

Mom, this is Kacey.

Oh, hi.

Hello, dear.

Oh, my,

aren't you pretty?

Do you know what you'd like,

or do you need a minute?

I-I guess I'll just--I'll

have whatever he's having.

Alan, two usuals.

Ryan?

Oh.

Hi, Dad.

You look skinny, son.

I'll make extra.

Nice to see you too, Dad.

I'm no body language expert,

but I think they might

be a little upset with you.

We had a little bit

of a falling-out recently.

- I'm sorry.

- Thank you.

- Here you are, my dear.

- Thank you.

Oh, two.

Th--thank you.

I guess we each get one.

I think they're both

meant for you, actually,

but hope you like bread.

I'm not kidding.

And then--and this one guy

asked for a $20 bill

and proceeded to create

an origami flower.

Oh, that's--

And then that's not

the worst part.

Then he wanted to bring it home

so that he could paint it...

No way.

With his mother's

nail polish.

I'm sorry speed dating

was a total bust.

- That was--

- No, it's okay.

I have to thank you

for rescuing me

from the psycho boat guy.

Oh, of course, Kay.

Sorry, is it weird

if I call you Kay?

No.

Oh, no, no.

It's fine.

It's just what my mom

used to call me.

Oh, is she--

Yeah, yeah.

She--she passed

a couple years ago.

I'm sorry.

Thank you.

Yeah, she was--

she was really special.

She used to--

she used to try to get

my dad and I to go

on these, like,

crazy adventures with her,

like whale watching

and ice climbing.

You?

She was really...brave.

Sounds amazing.

You know, I bet she would've

been pretty proud of you

for putting yourself

out there this week.

I hope so.

This dress was a big one

for me, so--

Yeah, that was

a huge jump for you.

Yeah.

It's a beautiful

dress, though.

Really is.

I hope that you can make good

with your parents.

I know, it's just

so complicated.

They're always telling me

that they want me

to quit my

silly social medias,

and they tell me that,

you know,

my place is here

at the restaurant.

They want me to run it

with them, but, you know,

I don't know how to, you know,

get it across to them

that I already have

a very successful business

that I'm running,

but they don't even wanna come

to my house to check it out

or see for themselves.

They just--

they're always just

so stubborn all the time.

All right,

it might be a family trait.

You don't say.

I knew you wanted

to say something.

I could tell.

No, still, though, I hope

you work things out with them.

You only get one set

of parents, you know.

Well, thanks for humoring me

with the whole

speed dating thing.

I hope dinner

redeemed it a little bit.

It did.

I'll give you that.

I'm sure you bring

all kinds of women

to your parents' restaurant

to impress them.

Actually, just you.

God, this thing

is so annoying.

This app just keeps dinging.

I'm sorry. You can get rid

of it as soon as you're done

with the article.

I promise.

I know that guy.

Yeah, it keeps trying

to remind me to swipe.

Nah, it's okay.

He looks like

a total poser anyway.

Yeah, he kind of does.

Probably--yeah, yeah, yeah.

Probably wouldn't

swipe up on that guy.

We matched.

Well, thank you for tonight.

Kay, let me take you

to dinner tomorrow night.

Like--like a real date?

Yeah, like a real date.

Okay.

Tomorrow.

Pick you up at 7:00.

All right, then.

Good night.

Oh, "The Right Way to Woo."

My three-step method.

Step one, hook.

Pique her interests

by not revealing much

personal information early on.

Hey.

Hey, let's reschedule

that live stream

we have planned for tomorrow.

I--yeah, I actually have

a date.

Step two, line.

Tell her you're

ready to settle down

if you meet the right woman.

Step three,

sink her.

Call her by a nickname

to foster trust

and familiarity.

Oh, my gosh.

Oh, my

Wait, you sent what

to her house?

When?

Kay, let me in.

Kay, Kay?

Are you kidding me?

You're unbelievable, Ryan.

Just go home, okay?

Kacey, Kacey, please,

just let me explain.

Hook, line, and sink her?

You told me that your methods

weren't manipulative.

They're not,

they're not, I promise.

I know how it looks.

But please, you have

to let me explain.

Kacey.

This whole time,

this whole time,

I was just some sort

of case study for your book?

No.

No, Kacey.

You wouldn't share personal

information early on.

- No, I know, but--

- You told me

that you

would only settle down--

If I found the right woman.

Yes, I know, but--

And the nickname.

That was real.

It was real.

It is right there

in your book, Ryan.

It is literally right there.

It is.

It is.

And I know what it says

in the book.

- I know. But--

- But what, hmm?

I only used those moves

because I was falling for you.

And I--

Kacey, I only did that

because it was--

it was tried and true,

and I fell back

on what I already knew.

But I never meant

to manipulate you.

I was never trying

to manipulate you.

I was crazy about you.

I am crazy about you.

So yes.

You know, I hoped you felt

the same way, so I leaned

on what was familiar,

you know, formulas and hacks,

but I would never

try to manipulate anybody,

especially not you.

I was just starting

to put myself back out there.

I was just learning

to trust again.

- And you used me.

- Used you?

- Hey, you used me.

- Excuse me?

You only took

those risks because it

was good for your career

and for the article.

Don't act like

you were being brave.

That was a means

to an end for you.

I just want you to leave.

Now.

Oh, honey, what happened?

Well, let's just say that

Ryan was exactly the type

of person I thought he was.

Ugh, men.

How dare he break your heart

in that perfect dress?

Anyway, now--

Thank you.

Now I need to go

write this puff piece

and promote his bogus book,

and I really don't know

how I'm gonna do it.

Hmm, well,

you know what they say.

"The keyboard is mightier

than the sword."

I don't think they do

say that, but tell me more.

I think that

you should go home

and write the piece

you wanna write.

Tell the truth,

all of it.

And then I read his method

is hook, line, and sink her.

- Unbelievable.

- I know.

And then he tells me

he's crazy about me

like it somehow fixes the fact

that he was playing me

this entire time.

You know, I can always

call my uncle Billy

and have him talk

some sense into Ryan.

What?

I appreciate the moral support,

but I do not--

Okay, I'm just saying

I can have the situation

taken care of.

Wink.

Really, I'm good.

Okay.

Just to be clear,

under no circumstance

do I want a hit

taken out on Ryan.

Of course.

Oh, no.

What?

She used all caps.

Gird your loins.

Oh, sh**t.

What's this?

My piece.

We can't publish this.

We agreed to write

a nice piece on Ryan.

This paints him out

to be some sort

of womanizing villain.

Well, my job is to write the

truth, and that's what I did.

No, honey.

Your job is to remain unbiased,

which clearly you didn't.

Just because you

were unprofessional

and you got your heart broken--

I didn't get my heart--

Let me finish.

That does not mean

that you get

to air your personal grievances

all over the pages

of "Belle Fair."

This is a fireable offense,

Kacey.

You are right.

I am so sorry.

Well, you can forget

about being considered

for the First Lady profile.

Of course.

I understand.

I'm sorry, really.

Let me--let me make good.

I will do a rewrite ASAP.

You'd better.

And I also expect

glowing coverage

of him hosting

the LA Singles Night

in your revised piece.

I have to go to that?

If you value your job.

Of course.

Right. I will fix it.

Thank you.

Thank you guys

for joining my live AMA.

I think I have time for one

more question before I go.

Okay, AnitaLeah86 says,

"Hey Ryan, big fan."

Thanks, Anita.

"I want to know how you know

when you found the one."

Well, AnitaLeah,

I think that's gonna

look different for everybody.

You know, it's hard to find

a one-size-fits-all answer,

but I will say this.

I think the one is somebody

that you can be

entirely yourself around,

you know, somebody that...

really sees you,

knows you, the good

and the bad parts of you,

but they accept you

and love you for who you are,

who you really are.

Anyway, thank you guys

so much for joining,

and I will be back again

the same time next week

for my live on Friday.

Oh, oh, oh!

sh**t, sh**t, sh**t,

sh**t, sh**t.

Ow!

Okay. Okay.

Hi, hi.

- Hey.

- Sorry.

Hey, slow down.

- Are you okay?

- Yeah. No, no, no. I'm fine.

I was just--ooh, I was up late

finishing a deadline and--

It's just--well, you're late.

- You're never late.

- Oh, yeah.

It's been a long week.

Nice hat.

Thanks.

Look, today's maybe not

a good day to do this.

For what? For golfing.

Today is a great day.

- Yeah.

- Yeah.

Just call me Ball Lady.

Helen...

- Oh, you must be Kacey.

- Kacey.

- Kacey. Kacey, Helen.

- Hi.

So good to meet you.

Oh, dear, you have

a little bit of...

- What? Is it--

- Something--

Oh, yeah.

Occupational hazard

when you're a writer.

How did you know?

Ronnie is so proud of his

amazing journalist daughter.

He talks about you

all the time.

- Well, I'm gonna get started.

- Yeah.

Yeah, I'll be over in a sec.

- Okay.

- Okay.

Yeah, those are--

- You okay?

- Oh, yeah.

No, I'm great.

What happened?

I just--I thought--I thought

I was ready to put myself

out there, I guess,

like you, and I--

and I met somebody, and

it just--it all fell apart.

And now my job is

in the wedding stuff box--

Calm down. Calm down.

Calm down. Calm down.

I'm sorry.

It's okay.

Really.

I just can't believe

I miss him and his...

stupid face.

I know you've had a tough

go at it, but listen to me.

You have got a big heart,

and it'd be a shame for you

to hold that all to yourself.

So when you're ready to make

that leap, you go for it.

- Thanks, Dad.

- Whoo!

Hole in one.

Look out, Tiger Woods.

Gotta be on your game, Ronnie.

Get over there.

You gonna be okay?

Good to meet you.

Come on, Tiger.

Rawr!

Oh, my gosh,

your daughter's so lovely.

She's...

Hey, did we get

the shipment of gelato?

No, I called about that.

We're having shipping delays

all over the place.

Hi.

Huh, prodigal son,

come to do some work?

Not exactly.

I just wanted to come say hi.

That's...not like you.

You look pale.

Are you sick?

I'm not sick. Why do you guys

keep saying that I'm sick?

Hey, don't sass

your mom, okay?

- I'm not sassing.

- He's been grumpy all weekend.

- Thanks, Chris.

- Well, you have.

You look happy there.

I was happy.

Think I totally

blew it, though.

I think I'm starting to realize

that I...distance myself

from the people

who care for me the most,

and I'm sorry that I

haven't been around much.

Much?

Yeah, you don't come around

at all except on your date.

Dad, you're right.

I came here to say

that I'm sorry

for how distant

that I've been.

Also, working at this

restaurant,

it's just--it's

not what I want.

Well, I may not know much

about your TokTiks,

but I do understand what it is

to build something important.

I know the business is--

No, not the business, family.

And our family is more

important than any of this.

We just want our boys to

be happy, more than anything.

And if that means doing

your silly little dances

online for a living, so be it.

Wait, is that--

is that really what you guys

think I do for a living?

It's okay, dear.

We've made peace with it.

In fact, your father

even learned one.

Show him, honey.

Oh, no.

Oh, Dad, that's the worst.

All right, nobody ever

needs to see that ever.

- Oh, my--

- Ow.

Did you know about this?

- No.

- Terrible. Yikes.

I love you guys, seriously.

Even you, Chris.

Good.

That means you can

get back to work.

Oh, thank you so much.

Thanks.

Come on.

So I told them

to do one more song

and we'll have you get up there

and work your magic.

Sure thing, yeah.

Will you excuse me real quick?

Right, but we'll need you

onstage in just a minute.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Of course, of course.

Hi,

Ryan, is it?

Yeah.

I just need you to know

that I know a guy

who knows a guy

who knows a guy,

and that's all

you need to know.

- Okay?

- Yeah.

Okay, it's okay.

You two just let him

say his piece.

I'll go get us some drinks.

Oh.

- Hi.

- Hi.

Look, Kacey, I just need to

say that I am so sorry about--

Okay, let's get

this show on the road.

- This way.

- Okay, yeah.

Oh, thank you.

Hello, LA singles.

First off, I just wanna

thank our wonderful

event sponsor, "Belle Fair,"

for putting this together.

Let's everybody give them

a hand real quick.

So tonight,

tonight is about mixing

and mingling

with other singles,

and my job

is to help you do that.

With that in mind, I actually

have some exciting news.

As many of you know,

I was supposed

to promote my

upcoming book tonight,

but now I don't think

that that's a book

that I wanna

be known for anymore.

You see, I met

somebody recently,

and she taught me

that finding love

isn't something

that you do by

playing games,

following formulas.

Sometimes love finds you

in the quiet moments

when you're being your most

true and honest self

with someone who...

really sees you

and they love you

for who you are.

So tonight I won't

be promoting my book.

I don't have any hacks.

I don't have any formulas

for you to follow.

My hope is that you'll mingle

and be real with one another.

Be your true selves.

Because when you

find someone that you

can be your true self with,

man, that's--

it's something special.

If you're lucky enough

to find it,

I hope you're smarter

than I am.

You hold on to it.

Anyway, sorry.

If you're feeling like

being brave tonight,

I invite you to try a simple

but effective icebreaker.

It's actually--it's inspired by

somebody that I met recently.

I call it easy question,

hard question.

Is there a brave soul

in the crowd tonight

that wants to come up here

and help me demonstrate?

Yeah. Over here.

Over here. Yes.

- No, no, no, no, no.

- Yes. This lady right here.

Yes, pretty lady down there.

Come on up.

Yes, you got this. Go.

Hi.

Hi.

Thank you

to my lovely volunteer.

Let's introduce you.

What's your name?

- Kacey.

- Whoo!

All right, Kacey.

So let me explain

the icebreaker.

We're each gonna take a turn

asking one easy question

followed by a hard question.

I'll demonstrate.

Easy question first.

What's your coffee order?

Medium half-caf almond milk

no foam with whip mocha.

Okay, there's nothing

easy about that, but...

now for the hard question.

Kacey, will you

take a chance on me?

I could never take a chance

on an arrogant TokFlix

love doctor.

And when I met you,

that's all I thought you were.

And I was so wrong.

Now I know that you're--

you're kind and funny

and smart and confident.

You know, maybe a little

too confident at times.

And you love your family.

And you say that you

like spicy foods,

but really, you're no match

for chicken tinga tacos.

And you're brave,

and you helped me

become brave too.

So...

yes.

Ryan, I will

take a chance on you.

Oh, let's jump

to a hard question.

Will you go to dinner

with me sometime?

Kacey,

that's an easy question.

Yeah!

Hey, Chris, wherever

you are out there,

can you come and take over

on the microphone?

I've got a hot date to get to.

You got it, bro.

Wanna get out of here?

I actually know

a good little place.