Prologue

Tick…tock…tick…tock.. 

I’m currently on my phone trying to find my next session information. I have 30 minutes of lunch time, but I like to be prepared. I have a new client and I need to learn some information. “Agatha, likes to be called, ‘Taggie’” I say aloud, forgetting that my colleague, Ted,  is right across from me and he looks up.

“New client, Jude?” Ted asks me from across the table. 

“Yeah, trying to get to know her a bit before we begin, so she feels more comfortable starting piano lessons.” I say to him and return to my phone. 

“I like that you do that, it’s important to have that ‘human touch,” ya know?” Ted says with a warm smile and I look up at him. 

“Thanks.” I say feeling the heat rise in my cheeks. My index finger tapped the lunch room table lightly, not knowing what to do with myself after the most handsome man I’ve worked with just gave me the kindest compliment. 

He looks back to his phone right after I put my phone down on the table. Now I’m the one looking at him. Why does this happen to us? Every time we see each other down the hall, our eyes lock as if they’re holding something so special. Every conversation ends with a lingering warmth from our laughter. This is agony. I feel the seconds go by as if each one strikes me in my gut. My eyes wonder about the room, making sure no one is in sight of what I’m about to say. 

“Ted?” I say his name. 

“Mhm?” He mumbles looking up to meet me again.

“What are you looking at?” I chicken out. I need clarification, I do, it’s just, difficult. 

“A reel of this guy making a guitar, it’s pretty awesome actually.” He responds and moves his eyes back down to the phone. 

I can’t believe I chickened out ag-

“You’d like this, I think.” He says, meeting me again.

“Show me, then.” I tell him and lean in a little.  

His eyes move between me and the phone and he doesn’t continue to show me. He doesn’t show me anything. Instead, the reel keeps playing. That was frustrating to no end, ignoring me like I don’t exist.

“Come here.” He says to me without looking. 

His words sounded tense, but calm. I wasn’t scared. I was wanting it all. Those words were what I wanted to hear for the longest time, but I don’t know how he meant them. 

I took it upon myself to lean my head over to reach where he’s at. We are just two people who work together, have a friendship, exchange elongated gazes from time to time, and maybe shared a drunken kiss in the back of Bea’s Bar last Friday night.  

With my eyes fixated on his phone, I noticed his are on me again. I look up, feeling my stomach tie up in knots waiting to be undone. When his eyes meet mine, I feel like we are just those two people sitting looking into each other’s eyes, lips inches apart now, and no one else to exist. 

“Oh-uhm, I’m sorry,” our colleague, Thomas, came through the door at the most impeccable timing. Both of our bodies shoot straight up in our chairs, reverting to our original positions. His face is red and flushed. My cheeks are burning as the fear, adrenaline, and lust goes through me. There was a moment where he talked with our other colleague, but I couldn’t comprehend the words that they were saying. I zoned out.  

“Jude? … Jude?” He asked me with concern the second time looking into my eyes. Thomas had left the room.  

I snap back into place, “Yep!”  

“Why are you so skittish?” He asked.  

I guide my eyes back to him and try to get out of my head, but it’s a little too powerful  upstairs with those thoughts leaping 1000 miles per hour. 

Did this man really just ask me that question?

This is my co-worker. This is a man who I know has a little too much of an ego, but can make you feel like it’s just the two of you in a bubble when there are multiple people around.  Even when we see each other in the halls; the staring glances, the body language,  the eye contact, the concern and comfort shown? Be so for real, right now.  “Are you serious?” I burst out without even realizing and have my eyes wide open in acknowledging  that I am no longer thinking in my head. He looks at me like he’s waiting for a line. He’s speechless. 

“What’s going on here?” I ask and honestly so much weight lifted off me. 

Still silent. This handsome asshole needs to say something soon…and fast.  

“You … and me. What’s going on?” I asked more firmly, pointing between us.  

“Well, I believe we are two musicians who happen to work at the same place and enjoy each other’s company when we have a freetime.”  

“And…?”  I nudge for a little more information, barely holding myself together.

“And... I want to take you out. That’s what’s going on.”  

“Why?” I asked with a smirk.   

“Why?” He responded with a raised eyebrow. 

“Why.” I challenge him. I wanna hear from him what’s been happening.   

“Because Jude, I can’t help but having this feeling when you’re near. The ‘human touch’ I mentioned you have, I can’t help but want it. As corny as it sounds, you have helped me learn things about myself since we have started working together. Thank you, and I want to know more of you. ” He says with a breath puffing out his thick chest. 

“A lot more of you, actually.” 

I was a bit stunned. I didn’t know if I would get a confession from him like  this. Thought he would be too shy for that.  

“I would like to know more of you too.” I say with our eyes meeting and giving a curious but flirtatious gaze. 

“So I take it you and I are going out sometime this week?” He asked slightly, giggling. 

“Um yeah, it’s about time.” I tell him and we both laugh in unison. 

We wanted each other, I just had to be the honest one to start it off.