I breathed a sigh of relief, and warmth replaced the cold in my chest. “Thank you so much, Tyler. That is so nice of you.”
“It is, but you can owe me one.” He winked as he opened the door for me. I walked out to start my day on a much higher note than I expected. I was no longer late and had nothing to explain to anyone. My project for the morning was more alphabetizing and by eleven I was tired enough that I needed a cup of coffee.
I walked to the break room as one of the two Barbaras rolled out from her desk. She shoved a picture of a little blond girl with pigtails into my face, competitive pride beaming from her, “That is my Sophia, my eldest’s daughter, isn’t she beautiful?”
“She’s lovely,” I cooed, and satisfied with my answer, she moved out of my way so I could reach the caffeine I so desperately needed.
As I poured the last of the pot into my mug, Tyler walked up behind me, speaking far too close to my ear, “Sophia isn’t cute, but you convinced her.” He gave me a conspiratorial smile.
I was grateful for the way he helped me that morning, but I noticed a pattern: any time I went anywhere within the office, he turned up too. I tried to convince myself it was just a coincidence as I sat down and checked my email for the first time that day. I gasped and spluttered on a rogue sip of coffee I inhaled when I saw I had well over a hundred emails in reply to my spontaneous post.
Tyler patted my back gently, and I leaned away from the contact. “I’m okay, thanks.”
“Just making sure,” he winked as he left.
The rest of the day passed easily. Tyler had back-to-back meetings, so I didn’t see him again. I clocked out a little after five, and I spent the bus ride home clicking through the emails, never really minding that people stared at me as I laughed out loud. There were so many responses it made me dizzy and many of them were nothing but images of penises. I know I asked for sex, but it shocked me how many people thought their irregular appendages were a valid resume. None of them caught my interest, and once again I went to bed alone.