Oregon woman shoots her shot with a hot barista, only to realize she gave him her mom’s number
The barista’s reaction is priceless.
We have all experienced that sudden, paralyzing brain fog when talking to someone attractive. But this Oregon woman’s “meet-cute” story is going viral for taking “emergency number” a bit too literally.
TikTok creator Rebecca (@purestfollyy) shared a hilarious account of her attempt to shoot her shot at a cute barista. The video that has now amassed over 3.1 million views and is probably the most wholesome story you’ll hear today.
Rebecca’s story serves as a refreshing reminder of the vulnerability involved in modern dating. And it proves that sometimes, the most embarrassing mistakes can lead to the best results.
The eye-contact and number exchange
The saga began when Rebecca walked into a coffee shop and was immediately struck by the “noticeably attractive” barista. After some great eye contact and a scripted “exit strategy” in her head, she worked up the courage to approach him during a break in the line.
Using a low-pressure approach, she told him, “Genuinely no hard feelings if not, but you’re very handsome and I was wondering if I could give you my number.” To her shock, he said yes. They shared a “giddy” chat and she wrote down her number for him. Then, she “high-tailed” it out of there, feeling like she was having a heart attack from the adrenaline.
The number swap
The twist came once Rebecca was a block away. She realized the number she had repeated in her head didn’t feel right. After her friend had to literally screenshot and send Rebecca her own phone number to jog her memory, the embarrassing realization set in. Apparently, she had accidentally written down her mother’s phone number for the cute guy.
“I don’t know what happened, my brain just went smooth,” she joked. Driven by a mix of panic and determination, she walked back into the shop. She humorously asked to see the paper and had to explain to the barista that she had panicked and swapped her digits for her mom’s. Fortunately, the barista found the mishap endearing, promising to text her and “not her mom.”
Why Rebecca’s story is a lesson for everyone
The internet quickly jumped into the comments to point out why this interaction was so successful. Even after the “smooth brain” moment. While many were charmed by the barista’s sweet reaction, others focused on the etiquette of Rebecca’s approach.
As one commenter noted, this is a masterclass in how to ask someone out respectfully. “She gave him HER number, instead of asking for his, so he wouldn’t feel any pressure,” one user wrote. By providing her information rather than demanding his, she handed the power of the next move to him. Combined with her “no hard feelings” disclaimer, she created a safe environment for him to decline if he was taken or uninterested.
What men (and everyone) can learn from this interaction
In the age of “dating app fatigue,” this viral story disproves that in-person connections are dead. However, it also highlights the right way to approach a stranger in a service-industry setting. Rebecca avoided putting the barista on the spot in front of his coworkers or other patrons. So, always leave your contact instead of pressuring the fine human for theirs.
Having a plan to leave immediately after the exchange ensures the other person doesn’t feel trapped in an awkward conversation if the feeling isn’t mutual. And, use humor as a connection. Owning her mistake and going back in to fix the mom’s number blunder turned a potential ghosting situation into a funny, memorable story. The barista eventually called it “the sweetest and most hilarious thing.”
The internet couldn’t be happier
The comments section was a mix of “aww” moments and tactical analysis of the “flight or fight” response. “From a guy’s perspective, it’s nice to hear a story about a woman making the first move… it just never happens,” one viewer remarked.
“You were probably in flight or flight and reflexively wrote your emergency contact,” another joked, explaining the biological reason for the mom-number mix-up. “He was so fine he made you forget your personal information,” a third added.
Admitting your ‘weirdness’ is the ultimate icebreaker
Rebecca’s story is a reminder that being a “weird person” who makes mistakes is actually quite relatable. Her shooting the shot happily ended with a date on Thursday rather than a text to her mother. So, the risk is clearly worth the reward.
We hope Rebecca’s Thursday date went as well as the coffee shop encounter. But if you’re planning to give out your number to a hot barista, maybe double-check your contact list.
Have a tip we should know? [email protected]
