I'll Be Seeing You

The Smith

After leaving Lydia's, Jamie squashed the potential of feeling anything at all. If he felt something he knew it would be regret. So why let it exist in the first place? He knew this was a bad idea. In fact, he had been in this situation before and many, many people had told him it was a bad idea. But he couldn't think about that now. He let his mind flood with memories of the last few hours. Lydia laughing at something he said. Lydia's face lit up as she watched TV. Lydia looking up at him right before he kissed her. Lydia as they said goodnight, her hair in a messy bun he couldn't help but tug at, her face flush with their mutual pleasure. He couldn't lead her on. So, what if she had a radiant smile and made him laugh? Jamie couldn't take his eye off the end game and an office romance would certainly do that. He also didn't think anyone in his family would be too pleased that he had found himself a girlfriend. They weren't exactly in a state to be welcoming to anyone he brought home.

Back at work on Tuesday morning, Jamie had to try hard not to look at her. He involuntarily glanced over to her desk as he walked back from a meeting, catching Lydia chatting with Joel. If he made eye contact, he would give himself away. His blush alone would tip the whole office off.

Later that day, Jamie stared at his phone screen. He had typed in Lydia's name but the message remained blank. If he asked her out, he was in it. Sure, she had made the first move but he was following up and continuing whatever this was. If he didn't ask her out, he would be known as the asshole who used her and never called her again. It was a lose-lose situation for him either way.

"Hey Lyd." He sent the message and waited for a response. After a few minutes, he took the risk and dared to take a look over the cubicle wall—no sign of Lydia.

"Well, fuck," he thought to himself. Now he would just seem like the idiot who sent a half-message with no intent.

"Let me know if you're free this week. You have my cell, text me." He hit send. Without waiting to see when she would come back, Jamie packed up his bag and high-tailed it for the door. He couldn't handle the embarrassment of watching her read his hasty message or worse, running into her and knowing she hadn't responded.

---

Had Jamie stayed, he would have seen the shy smile that spread across Lydia's face as she returned to her desk after a meeting. She had left her phone at her computer. She scrolled aimlessly through the new messages, stopping short on his. Was he asking her out? It seemed like he was. She would have preferred concrete plans like dinner or even drinks but would take what she could get. She checked the time. It had been an hour since he sent the message and he wasn't at his desk.

She texted him back. "Hey, just got your message. Are you free on Friday?" Friday was a real date night. Thursdays were for drinks with strangers, and Saturdays were for significant couples. She was testing the waters with Friday. Was he willing to sacrifice a night with his friends to go out with her?

Her phone buzzed with his response. "I'm actually away on Friday. Are you around on Thursday?"

Lydia felt the excitement deflate from her body. He had relegated her to Thursday.

"Sure. Let me know where I need to be and when." Her phone buzzed with a quick response.

"Let's go to The Smith in the East Village, 8 p.m."

"Sounds good. See you then." Tucking her phone back into her purse, Lydia took a deep breath. It was only Tuesday. How was she supposed to wait two more days and avoid him in the office? If she made eye contact with him at work she would surely clue everyone into her crush. She had never been good at hiding her feelings.