Luke and Stacy
Luke’s fingers hovered over the keyboard, his mind drifting from the dense legal text on his computer screen. Across the office, Stacy was engrossed in her own work, her brow furrowed in concentration. He allowed himself a moment to admire her — the way her chestnut hair fell across her face, how her lips moved silently as she read.
At 27, Luke had never asked a woman out. It wasn’t for lack of interest, but rather a paralyzing fear of rejection that had haunted him since his awkward teenage years. But with Stacy, it was different. Over the past two years as paralegals at Hawkins & Reed, they’d formed a bond that went beyond mere workplace camaraderie.
Coffee breaks turned into long conversations about life, dreams, and the peculiarities of legal jargon. Lunch outings became the highlight of Luke’s day. He found himself looking forward to Monday mornings, a concept that would have been alien to him before meeting Stacy.
As the days turned into weeks and months, Luke’s feelings grew stronger. He cherished their inside jokes, the way she’d roll her eyes at their boss’s pompous speeches, and how she always seemed to know when he needed a pick-me-up after a tough day.
But the thought of risking their friendship terrified him. What if she didn’t feel the same way? What if things became awkward at work? The “what ifs” piled up like the case files on his desk.
One Friday evening, as they worked late on a challenging case, Stacy stretched and sighed. “You know, Luke, sometimes I wonder if there’s more to life than just this,” she said, gesturing at the stacks of papers surrounding them.
Luke’s heart raced. Was this an opening? He took a deep breath, steeling himself. It was now or never.
“Stacy,” he began, his voice shaky. “I’ve been thinking… would you like to go out sometime? Like, on a date?”
The moment the words left his mouth, time seemed to stand still. Stacy’s eyes widened, and for a horrifying second, Luke thought he’d made a terrible mistake.
Then, a slow smile spread across her face. She stood up, walked over to his desk, and leaned in close.
“It took you long enough,” she whispered, and kissed him softly on the lips.
As they parted, both slightly breathless, Luke couldn’t help but grin.
“What are you smiling at?” She asked
“Its not everyday dreams come true!” He said
For the first time in his Life, Luke felt truly happy.
