The babysitter

Lopez, I need advice

Tim couldn't shake it. The feeling that something was different, but he wasn't quite sure what. It had been weeks since his conversation with Lucy, and yet, he found himself overanalyzing every small interaction, every moment they spent together. Was she just being friendly? Or was there something more there? He wasn't sure, but the uncertainty gnawed at him.

He hadn't talked to anyone about it, not even Lucy. Their relationship had been slow, careful—something they both seemed to want, but Tim was starting to feel like he was walking in the dark. Was he imagining things? Or was there something more between them?

The question kept him up at night.

Tim was on shift, and as usual, the place was bustling. Officers were moving around, phones were ringing, and the usual tension of the job was thick in the air. Tim was sitting at his desk, trying to focus on the case file in front of him, but his mind kept drifting back to the same question: did Lucy like him? He'd thought about it over and over again, but it was hard to say. She'd always been kind to him—always supportive, always there when he needed her. But was it more than that? Was there something he wasn't seeing?

His phone buzzed, interrupting his train of thought. It was a text from Lucy.

L: "Hey, how's your day going?"

Tim smiled down at the screen. He appreciated her reaching out, but the question only served to make him feel more confused. He quickly tapped out a response.

T: "Busy as usual. You?"

L: "Same here. Got a case I'm working on, but nothing too crazy. Just trying to stay on top of things."

Tim couldn't help but notice how normal their conversation was. They were both busy with work, and they both enjoyed helping each other out when needed. But was there more? Was there ever more?

He didn't know how to read these things. He wasn't used to this uncertainty.

As he sat there, stewing in his thoughts, Angela Lopez walked by. She was carrying a coffee cup in one hand, and as usual, she had that easy confidence that made her stand out. Tim noticed her and, on impulse, called out.

"Hey, Angela! Got a minute?"

She turned and walked over, raising an eyebrow. "For you? Always. What's up?"

Tim hesitated, his fingers tapping on the edge of his desk. He was trying to decide if he really wanted to ask, but before he could second-guess himself, the words were out.

"Do you think... do you think Lucy likes me?"

Angela blinked, clearly caught off guard by the question. She blinked again, processing what he had just asked.

"What?" She tilted her head. "You mean like, in a 'likes you' way, or...?"

Tim felt the heat rise to his face. He hadn't meant to say it like that. He had always been the calm, collected one, the guy who handled everything. But this—this uncertainty—was throwing him off.

"You know what I mean," he muttered, trying to backtrack. "Like... is there something there? Or am I just imagining it?"

Angela's eyes widened as the realization hit her. She couldn't help the smirk that tugged at the corners of her mouth. "Oh. My. God. Tim Bradford, is that you? Are you asking for relationship advice?"

Tim groaned inwardly, but Angela didn't seem to care. She took a long sip of her coffee before she finally sat down next to him, a playful gleam in her eyes.

"I don't know, Tim. Are you seriously asking me about this?" She gave him an exaggerated look of surprise. "What happened to the strong, silent, 'I don't need anyone' Tim?"

"I just..." Tim faltered, feeling his throat tighten. "I don't know what's going on. We've been working together for so long, and lately, it feels like... I don't know. Like there's something more. But I'm not sure if I'm just overthinking it."

Angela leaned back in her chair, folding her arms across her chest. "Well, I'll tell you this: if you're this unsure about it, you're probably overthinking it. I mean, that's usually the case with you, right?"

Tim sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I just don't want to mess things up."

Angela raised an eyebrow, her gaze softening. "You mess things up by not talking about it. Look, I know you, Tim. I know you've been through a lot in the past, and I know you don't exactly go around asking for advice. But you're not a robot. You're human, and it's okay to have feelings. Especially when it comes to someone like Lucy."

Tim looked at her, his brow furrowing. "But what if she doesn't feel the same way?"

Angela chuckled softly. "Then you move on. But I don't think that's the case here. If she's anything like you, she's probably feeling the same way, but neither of you is willing to admit it. It's kind of cute, actually."

Tim's face went red. "I'm not cute."

Angela smirked. "Sure, you're not. Look, you're gonna have to make a move sooner or later. You can't keep wondering about it forever. You know her better than anyone—if she's giving you signs, take them."

Tim hesitated, then looked at her seriously. "But I don't know what those signs are. I don't know how to read them."

Angela leaned forward, lowering her voice as though she were sharing a secret. "Okay, let's break it down. First off, does she text you? And I mean, really text you. Like, no work stuff, just... casual stuff?"

Tim thought for a second. "Yeah. Sometimes. Mostly about work, though."

Angela raised an eyebrow. "Uh-huh. But do you two hang out? Like, outside of work?"

Tim cleared his throat. "A couple of times. We've gone to the park with Emma, or grabbed coffee..."

"Alright, alright," Angela said, leaning back with a satisfied smile. "Sounds to me like she's already into you. The question is, are you?"

Tim opened his mouth, but before he could respond, she held up a hand.

"Listen, Tim. If you want something to happen, you've got to let her know. You've been dancing around it long enough. If you're ready to take it to the next level, you've got to make a move. It's that simple."

Tim thought about it for a long moment, letting the weight of Angela's words settle in. She was right. He couldn't keep living in this state of uncertainty. He had to find out how Lucy felt, even if it meant putting himself out there.

"I don't know..." Tim said slowly, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. "What if I mess it up?"

Angela rolled her eyes. "You won't. Worst-case scenario, she says she doesn't feel the same way. But you'll know for sure. You can't keep living in limbo forever."

Tim nodded, finally understanding what he had to do. He just hoped that when the time came, he wouldn't screw it up.

As Tim sat at his desk, he couldn't stop thinking about what Angela had said. The thought of actually telling Lucy how he felt made his stomach do flips. Was he really ready for this? Could he handle the vulnerability? He'd been through a lot in his life, but this felt different.