It had probably been a couple of weeks since the event in the coffee bar, and although Kasie and Jake had gone back to their regular job schedules, the way they carried themselves together was clearly changed. The teasing had softened into something warmer, almost familiar. Kasie found herself looking forward to those quiet moments when they'd be the last ones in the office or when Jake would make an excuse to swing by her desk with a random question or a fresh coffee.
One Thursday afternoon, as the office began to empty out, Jake approached Kasie with an air of determination she hadn't seen before.
Well, I was wondering, he said, casually propped against the top of her desk.
Uh-oh," Kasie joked, shutting down her laptop with a smirk. "That's always dangerous."
He laughed, shaking his head. "Very funny. But seriously—I was thinking. we could use a break from the 'work friends' thing. Let's go out tomorrow. You, me. Somewhere that isn't here."
Kasie's heart skipped a beat. They'd shared moments, talked about everything under the sun, but this was different. He was asking her out—plain and simple. The hit of reason made her heart race and she had to struggle to maintain her composure.
"Are you asking me out, Jake? she teased, tilting her head playfully.
Jake's smirk softened into something genuine. "Yes, Kasie, I am. If that's okay with you?"
The answer buzzed between them, simple and immense at the same time. Following her heart beat, she made a quick nod, which she struggled to conceal under a smile. "Alright, fine. No corporate talk and no work clothes, though," she cautioned. I'm just giving you an opportunity to be fun outside the office, you know.
Jake chuckled, his eyes lighting up with mischief. "Challenge accepted. Tomorrow at 7?"
It's a date," Kasie said, taken aback by how effortlessly the sentence came out.
The next evening, Kasie found herself nervously staring at her reflection, adjusting and readjusting her hair, her outfit, her jewelry. She'd chosen a simple yet elegant dress—a deep green that brought out the color in her eyes. It was the kind of look that felt entirely in control, but without being ostentatious. For once, she wanted to leave behind the work version of herself. She wanted Jake to see her as just Kasie, not his colleague.
Having got out of her apartment building, to her surprise she found Jake leaning against the door of his car, naturally casual. He was wearing a fitted black jacket over dark blue shirt and looking cool and casual. Once he lifted up his eyes and he saw her, her eyes widened slightly and he smiled appreciatively.
"Wow," he said, clearly impressed. "You look... incredible."
The area of Kasie's cheeks turned up flushed. "Thank you. You clean up pretty well yourself."
He laughed, opening the car door for her. "I try."
Driving through the city, they talked easily, the usual office gossip disappear into the abyss the moment they crossed the river of ordinary experience. Jake had chosen a small, cozy restaurant tucked away on a quiet street, a place with soft lighting and the smell of freshly baked bread filling the air. It was that type of place that Kasie found comforting, akin to being transported away from the realm of deadlines and meetings.
As they settled in, Kasie looked around, surprised. "How did you find this place?"
Jake shrugged, a hint of shyness crossing his face. "I've been here a couple of times, and I thought. I don't know, I thought you'd like it."
She smiled, touched by the thoughtfulness behind the choice. "You were right. It's perfect."
Their conversation flowed with surprising ease. They discussed what they liked reading, places they wanted to go, childhood experiences, and funny oddities, etc. They chucked jokes about common problems, told each other what embarrasses them, and for the first time ever relaxed into being themselves.
Standing, as they finished eating, Jake shifted his gaze to her, and his soft eyes made her blood race. Kasie," he started, "I'm glad we did this," he continued in a low voice. I feel like. I'm seeing a different side of you tonight.
She laughed softly, feeling both exposed and exhilarated. "Yeah? Hopefully, it's the better side."
Yeah, it's definitely much better," he smiled, looking at the person. "I mean, don't get me wrong, I love the work Kasie. Well, I'm liking the real Kasie even better.
His speech hung there, a gentle admission that set her pulses racing. For once, Kasie didn't deflect or make a joke. She met his gaze, letting herself feel the moment. And in that instant, it felt like the barriers they'd both been hiding behind were finally coming down.
They lingered over dessert, each bite infused with laughter and eye contact. Eventually, they found themselves strolling down the quiet street, the city lights casting a warm glow as they walked side by side. There was a comfortable silence between them, a shared understanding that words couldn't quite capture.
As they neared her apartment, Jake stopped, turning to face her. "I had a great time tonight, Kasie, he said softly, his gaze earnest. "Better than I could have imagined."
"Me too, she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
Standing there for a second, the noises of the town receded into orbit. Jake's hand brushed against hers, and before she could overthink it, she felt his fingers gently intertwine with hers. It was a small gesture, but it sent a thrill through her, a silent promise of everything that might lie ahead.
He'd be the first to give her a kiss, for a second, she wondered to herself, her heartbeat escalating as she looked at him, but, instead, he smiled, warming her eyes as much as her skin made her short of breath.
Sleep tight, Kasie, he said, his hand pausing there for only the briefest of moments longer before he relinquished his hold.
"Goodnight, Jake," she replied, her voice soft.
Watching him depart, a smile formed on her lips. This was new and, quite frankly, a little scary territory, but, after a long time, Kasie was certainly game to go and explore it. The future remained unknown, but as she shut the door of her apartment she knew that she was even anticipating to see him again, to whatever awaited her. And perhaps, perhaps, she was ready for first time in what felt real to jump for.