Kasie hadn't known just how precipitously the world could change between the two of them. One minute, she was laughing with Jake over lunch, teasing him about his refusal to let her order dessert, and the next, she was questioning whether this was all just some temporary flirtation or something deeper. There were moments when their conversation seemed so natural, so effortless, that she had to remind herself that just a few weeks ago, they had been barely tolerating each other.
But now… now it felt like something different. Something that didn't quite fit the "just friends" mold.
Office contact had become less about work and more about the brief eye contact that occurred around spreadsheet queries and the infrequent outburst of mirth that occurred whilst between them. Kasie caught herself looking forward to those moments when they'd run into each other in the hallway or when Jake would "accidentally" drop by her desk for a quick chat.
Today, though, she wasn't sure how to handle it. She'd just received a message from Mia, her ever-enthusiastic friend, who seemed to think that Kasie and Jake were already officially a couple.
Mia: So when are you two making it official?! Seriously, the whole office is buzzing about it.
Kasie looked at the message for a while, then, the query remained hanging in the space like an unsaid fact. Was this it? Had she the maturity to confess to herself that it wasn't just a job tryst, some playful repartee?
Jake's sound break her concentration when he casually stood in the doorway of her office. "You look deep in thought, he commented with a teasing grin. "Mind if I steal you for a moment?"
Kasie gave him a small, amused smile, glancing at her phone one last time before tucking it away in her pocket. "I think you've already stolen me plenty of times, she teased, crossing her arms as she stood up.
Jake raised an eyebrow. "Oh, I don't mind. I'm all about stealing. And not giving things back."
Well," she dryly replied, but the smile that played at the edges of her mouth betrayed her. "So, what's on your mind, Jake?"
His demeanor did change slightly, and he scratched the back of his neck nervously, an abrupt change from his usual sense of assurance. Well. I just thought maybe it was time we discussed. About what's going on here."
Her heart thudded in her chest. This was it. The conversation she had both wanted and dreaded. The one where they would give them a definition, where it would move from just fun to serious.
"Alright," she said, her voice surprisingly steady. "Let's talk."
Jake smiled, a genuine, slightly nervous smile. "I like the sound of that."
They went down to the quiet break room, off from the office traffic. Jake pulled out a chair for her, and they both sat, the table between them now a subtle boundary, though neither of them felt the need to keep it there.
I've been thinking about this for a long time, Jake began, looking at her with a mixture of uncertainty and resoluteness. "I know we've had our moments. Just the coffee shop, the dinners, etc. But, I don't want to assume anything. I've just… I'm having a lot of fun getting to know you, Kasie. And I think we've got something here. I don't know if you feel the same, but—"
"I do, she interrupted, surprising herself with how quickly the words came out. Her chest constricted when she understood how truthful it was. "I've been feeling the same, Jake."
His eyes softened, a smile spreading across his face. "You're sure? Because I'm not in the habit of rushing things. I just want to not miss out if there's something in the base.
Kasie's breath caught and she leaned forward a little, palms clasped. "I'm sure," she said, her voice quiet but firm. "I've been scared to admit it, but I'm sure. I think… I think we've got something really good here. Something that's worth exploring."
Jake's smile widened, and he reached across the table, his hand gently brushing hers. "So, you're saying… we're official?"
She laughed softly, nodding. "I think so. I think we are."
Jake's face lit up with relief, and he leaned back in his chair with a satisfied sigh. "Well, that was easy. I've been waiting for this moment for what feels like forever.
Kasie rolled her eyes but couldn't stop the smile spreading across her face. "You're impossible."
"Maybe," Jake said, his tone playful. "But I'm your impossible now."
They both laughed, and in that moment, Kasie realized that despite all her hesitations, despite the complexities of their relationship, this felt right. It wasn't perfect, but it was real. And sometimes, that was all that mattered.
As they left the break room together, hand in hand, Kasie couldn't help but feel like the world had shifted just slightly, as if everything had fallen into place. They no longer were the two work associates who shunned one another's company. They were other than that, and she was up for finding out where this new life would lead her.