13. Romancing the Joystick
I was pacingby my desk, my sneakers squeaking softly against the linoleum as I watched the clock tick menacingly. Every second Everett spent in Jo’s office felt like a tiny eternity, each minute stretching into what felt like hours. My mind raced with possibilities of what they could be discussing. When the door finally swung open and I saw Everett stepping out, my heart leapt into my throat.
Practically jogging up to him, I tripped over my own feet, catching myself just before I could make a complete fool of myself. “How was meeting Jo? Are you okay? What did you talk about? Was she intense? Did she say anything interesting?” The questions tumbled out in a frantic cascade, my voice pitching up with each word.
Everett looked at me, his brow furrowed, eyes narrowing slightly as if trying to read between the lines of my rapid-fire interrogation. His pause felt agonizingly long, every second a fresh wave of anxiety crashing over me.
“It was interesting,” he finally said, his tone neutral but his gaze still intensely analytical. “Jo is a lot. She told me about the company culture, then gave me some… light reading.”
I swallowed hard, my mind racing. “Oh,” I squeaked out. “She didn’t say anything else?”
“No, should she have?” His question felt like a trap, and I scrambled mentally for safe footing.
“No, no, of course not! Just checking,” I blurted out, my voice a notch too high. I forced a laugh, hoping it sounded casual and not like the panicked chirp it felt like.
Everett crossed his arms over his chest, watching me closely. “Is everything okay?” he asked, a hint of concern threading through his words.
“Yep! It’s great. Perfect. Wonderful,” I replied, my response coming out in a rushed babble.
Everett watched me closely, a flicker of amusement crossing his face as I approached him, a little too eagerly. “Jo is very talkative,” he mused, adjusting his stance as if settling in for a longer conversation. “She had a lot to say about you, actually.”
I felt a lump form in my throat. “Oh?” My voice cracked slightly, betraying my rising panic. “What exactly did she say?”
He raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth twitching in a barely suppressed smile. “I didn’t know you had such a big secret.”
My heart skipped a beat, and I mentally braced myself for the worst. Was this it? Did he know? I struggled to maintain my composure, my mind racing through every scenario.
Everett leaned in closer, lowering his voice conspiratorially. “Why didn’t you tell me you’re also a fan of Zombie Apocalypse Zen Garden? We should have a movie marathon!”
I exhaled, a wave of relief washing over me, and forced a laugh. “Yeah, we can totally do that. I thought I was the only one obsessed with those oddly soothing undead gardeners.”
He chuckled, nodding in agreement. “It’s a surprisingly relaxing show, isn’t it? So, movie marathon it is. We’ll have to schedule it soon.”
Feeling the tension ebb away, I motioned towards his new workspace. “Let me show you your desk. I’ve set it up just how you might like it.”
I herded Everett to his new desk, launching into a frantic monologue as I tried to distract both him and myself from the recent awkwardness. “Here’s your lamp—I got a warm bulb since you hate fluorescents. I remember you mentioned that once during a late-night gaming session.”
“Oh? Do you watch my streams?”
My stomach dropped. Shit. I really needed to stop confusing my two alter egos. “Yes! I’m a fan. Love watching you and Huntra,” I blurted out.
“I’m honored,” Everett replied, a smile on his face.
I quickly went back to talking about the desk. “Oh, and see here? A Heroes Quest figurine!” I chuckled nervously, gesturing to a meticulously detailed model of The Dark Sorcerer Vargon. “Naturally, it’s your favorite villain—I mean, who else could it be, right?”
I continued my overly enthusiastic tour, pointing to the other thoughtful arrangements I had made. “I made sure this desk is perfect for your prosthetic, see? Extra room under here. Plus, I added a mini-fridge and microwave right there, so you don’t have to wander far for snacks. And look!” I motioned dramatically towards a small gadget beside his computer. “A coffee warmer, because heaven forbid the hero of our office suffers through a cold brew. You always take forever to drink it.”
As I rambled on, detailing the ergonomic adjustments and the strategic placements of office supplies, the reality of my own words dawned on me. I was probably coming off like some kind of hyper-organized stalker. Panicking internally, I quickly tried to cover my tracks. “I, uh, do this for everyone, really! Just a super friendly coworker, obviously. Trying to make everyone feel welcome and, you know, personalized!”
Everett looked around his new workstation, his expression a mix of amusement and mild surprise. “Wow, Rachel, this is… really something. You’ve thought of everything, huh?”
I laughed, a bit too loudly, feeling my cheeks burn. “Yeah, well, you know me—Miss Hospitality!” I threw my hands up in mock celebration, then let them fall to my sides. “So, uh, yeah! If you need anything else—more snacks, different light bulbs, a less creepy coworker—just let me know!”
“It’s perfect.”
I nodded briskly, already plotting my quickest escape route. “Great! Well, I’ll let you get settled then. Big day tomorrow! We get to pick an intern.”
Everett looked around his new workspace, then back at me with a softness in his eyes that made my heart skip. “Thank you, Rachel,” he choked out, his voice catching slightly.
“You’re welcome,” I mumbled, suddenly aware of how close we were standing.
“No, really, this is… really thoughtful. I appreciate it,” he continued, his gratitude seeming genuine and deep.
The flutters in my stomach were screeching danger, but I couldn’t help but feel a tug at my heartstrings. “I better go,” I said quickly, turning to leave.
But then he grabbed my wrist, his touch gentle yet firm. His gaze locked with mine, intense and searching. Time seemed to slow down as we stood there, the world blurring around us.
The seriousness of the moment was almost too much. “I’m really looking forward to working with you,” he said, his voice a whisper now.
Fighting every instinct that screamed to stay, I nodded, pulling gently away from his grasp. “Me too,” I said, forcing a smile. “I… I have to meet with someone. I’ll send IT over to get you a log-in, then we’ll have a meeting later to go over your responsibilities and training.”
The warmth from his touch lingered on my wrist as I fought the urge to stay. “I better go,” I murmured, my voice shaky. Turning to leave felt like the hardest thing I’d done in a while.
But he reached out once more to grab my arm. His fingers gently tightened, holding me in place. He was staring at me with an force that made my heart race. “Rachel, I’m… thankful for this opportunity,” he whispered, his voice carrying a weight that felt too significant for just a coworker relationship.
The air between us was charged, and for a moment, everything else faded into the background. I found myself caught in his gaze, unable to look away. His eyes drifted to my lips, back to my eyes, and something unspoken passed between us.
“Actually,” he started, breaking the spell just enough for me to remember to breathe. “Do you have lunch plans?”
The question caught me off guard. “Oh, no, I… I don’t,” I stammered out, surprised by the simplicity of the question after such a charged moment.
“Can I buy you lunch then?” he asked, his tone casual but his smile suggesting a hint of something more.
I hiccupped, a nervous reaction that made him smirk slightly. “Yes,” I said, feeling both thrilled and terrified.
He stepped a little closer, his presence overwhelming. “Whatever you want, my treat,” he said, and the way he phrased it sounded almost suggestive.
My mind raced as I tried to think of something to say that didn’t sound completely flustered. “There’s a bunch of places nearby,” I started, voice pitching high again. “There’s this sushi spot, or a deli, or oh, there’s a new vegan cafe if you’re into that kind of thing, or maybe you want something more hearty? There’s also?—”
“Rachel,” he interrupted, a gentle chuckle in his voice, “whatever you want is fine with me.”
“Okay,” I choked out, suddenly finding my sneakers fascinating.
“We’ll figure it out,” he said, releasing my wrist gently. The absence of his touch left a coolness that contrasted with the heat that had just been there.
My heart was pounding so loudly I was sure he could hear it. “I—I better go,” I repeated, this time taking a step back. “I’ll just go ahead and… yeah.”
As I walked away, my mind was a whirlwind of emotions, each step heavier than the last. I couldn’t fall for him, not now. Not ever. But oh, how my heart didn’t seem to listen.