“Have you made any new friends at work yet?”
“Well, I see the same doctors every day, so I get the occasional ‘hello’ now instead of just a grunt.That’s progress, right?”
“Definitely.”
“I’ve got work next weekend, so if we need to do more, we’ll have to do it Friday night.If you’re free, of course.”
“I don’t have much of a life.”I tuck my hair behind my ear.“Usually, just hang out with my family, work, sleep.When I get any extra time, I’ll watch TV.Nothing exciting, really.”
He looks at me, his eyes softening just a little, like he’s trying to understand rather than just make polite conversation.“That doesn’t sound too bad.Sometimes it’s nice to have a routine.”
It’s a relief that he’s not dismissing my life as boring.But I’m not sure how to explain it.“Yeah, I suppose.It’s just...the same chaos, different day.Do you ever get bored of the same old thing?”
He hums, thinking.“I used to, but I’ve learned to appreciate the calm sometimes.”
There’s a pause between us, so I shuffle some papers, allowing me to think about how he mentioned wanting to fit in, and an idea forms.“Have you been to the bar yet?”
“No, but Derek from the barbershop invited me to go with him.”
“Derek’s great.He’s always up for something fun.The bar’s got a cool vibe.You should check it out sometime.Maybe we could go celebrate setting up the fundraiser?”
He raises his eyebrows as a small smile tugs at his lips.“Celebrate, huh?You’re making it sound like we’ve already pulled it off.”
“Well, setting it up is a win in itself, right?”I give him a teasing look, but deep down, I’m putting on a brave face, trying to convince myself as much as him.“It’s a big deal, and we’ve got it handled so far.”
Nodding, he laughs softly.“Alright.You’re right, we’re on the right track.”
I’m excited about his agreement, but panic washes over me as I worry I just asked him on a date unintentionally.
We finish up the last basket, wrapping it with cellophane and tying a neat ribbon on top.It looks good.
“I think it’s time for a drink before we keep going.All that made me thirsty.”
“Just water for now, please.”
As he gets up, I glance around the space, letting the moment settle in.It’s easy, working with him.Too damn easy.
He gives me a bottle, and I immediately take a sip of water, settling back down as we finish organizing the last of the festival games.I read the list, noting we have the gingerbread kits ready, the duck pond items secured, and the face painting arranged.And then work on the roster for the day, assigning volunteers to jobs.
Next, we grab the list of people we still need to reach out to for donations and help.I call up for set up help from the local club and lawyer, and he rings the last few businesses we haven’t called.Everyone has pitched in, leaving only a few final touches.
I’m satisfied and proud of what we’ve accomplished, but I’m still shaky from our closeness.
We sit on the floor, leaning back against the sofa, legs crossed.Our arms brush against each other, goosebumps scatter over my skin, but neither of us moves away.
Adrian turns on a TV show, and we fall into casual conversation, laughing at the ridiculous plot, making fun of the characters—just mindless chatter.It feels effortless in a way I’m not used to.At home, I never get to just sit, relax, and exist in the moment.And even crazier, I don’t have to have the subtitles on to hear what is happening.But here, with him, it’s different.It’s...nice, but suddenly, I need to know more about him.“How old are you?”
Adrian glances at me.“Thirty-two.What about you?”
“Twenty-seven.”
The silence stretches, and I realize how close we are now we’re both slumped with exhaustion, our faces only inches apart.My heart races as I worry about the fallout if we act on this.
“I should get going.”I shift slightly, though I don’t really want to.
Adrian whispers.“Better get home for dinner.”
He leans in.My pulse pounds.I close my eyes, tilting toward him—
