“That sounds dangerous.”
“It is,” he says easily. “For me.”
I narrow my eyes slightly. “You’re not making this reassuring.”
“Let me finish.” I cross my arms, bracing. He takes a breath and kneels on one knee, my eyes widen and I open my mouth in protest, “Can I be your boyfriend?” Just like that. No buildup. No dramatic speech. No attempt to dress it up.
“You…” I shake my head slightly. “You’re unbelievable.”
“I’ve been called worse by you so I will take that.” He shrugs. “I like you,” he says, quieter now.
My chest tightens. “I know you’re going to overthink this. I know you’re going to list every possible reason why this is a bad idea. I’ve already thought of most of them.” He reaches for my hand and rubs his thumb across my palm, “But I meant every word I said yesterday.”
My heart beats wildly. I look away first. Because holding his gaze feels like standing too close to something that can burn me.
I’m not going anywhere just because it gets difficult.
My instinct is loud.
Run.
Deflect.
Turn this into a joke. Shut it down before it becomes something I can’t control. But there’s another feeling beneath it. Quieter. Stronger than I want to admit.
I like him.
Not just because he looks like he walked out of someone’s fantasy. Not just because he smiles like he knows something I don’t. It’s the way he shows up. The way he listens. The way he doesn’t disappear when things get uncomfortable. The way he sees through me and stays anyway. That’s the dangerous part.
I exhale slowly.
“This is a bad idea.”
“Probably.”
“You’re too…much.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.” He beams, his eyes softening.
“You’re annoying.”
“I’ve heard that before.” He scoffs, “too many times.”
“You don’t listen.”
“I’m listening right now.”
I glare at him. He doesn’t look away.
“Fine,” I say finally. “If—if I even consider this—there are conditions.”
His eyes light up. “Of course there are.”
I hold up a finger. “One. Till I am working here you don’t get to show up randomly and disrupt my work.”
He winces slightly. “Define disrupt.”
“Exactly what you usually do.”
