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I know that, asshole. You just never text me, so I assumed something was of dire importance.
I watched as those three little bubbles appeared on the screen, imagining Nolan tapping away furiously.
Right, of course, I just wanted to let you know I followed up on your brother’s claim.
I leaned against the fire truck as I read his message.
You couldn’t just call to tell me that? I asked.
I’m not in the office today. Verizon is still working on the lines.
A part of me knew I should keep things professional. After all, we worked together and I didn’t want things to get weird, especially since as far as work was concerned. Nolan was helping me out and we were somewhat getting along. The last thing I needed was to piss him off when he was the one overseeing my brother’s claim.
But hell if I wasn’t a glutton for punishment and bad decisions, and maybe I needed something to take the edge off of my uncharacteristic nerves regarding our date tonight.
It’s not a date.
Not really...
I’d told myself that over and over since the day prior, when I’d told Nolan I was a man of my word. It wasn’t a date.
But it didn’t feel like a business meeting either.
Instead of falling down that rabbit hole, I decided to push thoughts of our date–not date out of my mind.
And antagonize Nerdy Nolan a bit, if only because I considered it one of my favorite hobbies.
So what you’re telling me is you’re home... alone. Working.
I watched the text bubbles dance in wait of his reply.
I am, I thought we established this... he texted. I could hear the exasperation in his tiny little digital letters on the screen as text bubbles popped up again.
I just wanted to let you know everything was processed. I’ll keep an eye on this claim, and let you know if anything comes up.
Suddenly, I felt like an ass. I let out a sigh as I realized he was probably just trying to help, and I’d been an asshole taking advantage of the situation to what?
Flirt?
Make him all flustered?
Like some insensitive idiot.
Thanks, I appreciate it. Really.
It seemed forever until he’d texted me back.
Work’s been a little crazy as of late, but you made it pretty clear this is important to you, so it’s important to me too.
I wasn’t sure how to respond to that. I knew Nolan was being professional, despite my attempts to make things unprofessional by flirting, but a part of me also wanted to hope that maybe there was more to his words.
I wasn’t the kind of guy to ask for help with anything. I was the guy who always swooped in and rescued other people. But the idea that someone would back me up, support the things that were important me because it’s who they were or what was right, was something I was lacking in my life.
Before I could respond, those little bubbles started to come up again.
I knew I should just let it go, thank him, and be done with shit. But the weird hope that had somehow blossomed in my chest and my ever-present need to take something serious and make it less serious won out.
You know what else is important to me, Nolan?
