The Blind Date Debacle

Two years. Two long years had passed since that first chaotic day, and somehow, Ava and Ethan had learned to coexist in their own odd way. They still argued daily, over everything from office supplies to who got to use the coffee machine first in the mornings, but it had become routine. Their back-and-forth was almost... comfortable. And no matter how much Ethan tried to deny it, he had grown used to Ava’s presence.

The office had long ago started referring to them as the “office married couple,” a nickname that was both annoying and oddly fitting. Sarah from HR never missed an opportunity to chime in with a cheeky comment whenever Ethan and Ava were mid-argument.

“Seriously, you two should just get a couple’s therapist,” she said one morning as Ethan and Ava argued over the best filing system again. “I can give you a great recommendation.”

Ava shot her a look. “Very funny, Sarah.”

Ethan, as usual, said nothing, though he did flush slightly and immediately pretended to be deeply engrossed in his paperwork.

On one particularly quiet Friday, Ava walked into the office, looking completely different. Normally, she was all about comfort—blazers, flats, and minimal makeup. But today, she was wearing a black dress that hugged her figure, paired with heels, and her makeup was flawless. Her hair, which was usually tied up in a messy bun, was styled into loose waves that framed her face. She was a vision, and the entire office noticed.

Even Ethan.

Sarah was the first to pounce. “Whoa, Ava, who are you all dressed up for?” she asked with a grin.

Ava blushed, fiddling with the strap of her purse. “No one. Just a blind date tonight.”

“A date?!” Sarah’s voice went up several notches, drawing attention from across the room. “Oh my God, this is huge!”

“Relax, it’s nothing serious,” Ava said, laughing nervously. “My mom’s friend set it up. You know how that goes.”

By this time, Ethan had looked up from his desk. His gaze lingered on her for a moment longer than usual, taking in the dress, the makeup, the heels. He cleared his throat, trying to play it cool. “A blind date, huh?”

Ava turned to him, surprised by his interest. “Yeah, why?”

“No reason,” Ethan said, his voice a little too casual. He forced his attention back to his computer screen, though he could feel his jaw tightening.

“What’s the big deal?” Sarah teased, nudging Ethan with a grin. “Jealous much?”

Ethan shot her a glare. “I don’t see why I would be,” he said flatly, but the way he quickly returned to his work spoke volumes.

Ava watched the exchange with amusement. Was Ethan... jealous? No way. He barely showed emotion on a good day. Still, something about his reaction made her smile as she walked over to her desk.

Throughout the day, Ethan kept stealing glances at Ava, unable to help himself. She looked incredible, and while he had no right to care who she was going out with, the idea of some stranger taking her out didn’t sit well with him. He found himself wondering what kind of guy it was—probably someone charming, someone who would compliment her dress and make her laugh. Ethan felt a strange, uncomfortable twist in his stomach at the thought.

By the end of the day, the whole office was buzzing about Ava’s date. Sarah, ever the instigator, walked by Ethan’s desk as she was leaving, a wicked smile on her face.

“So, Ethan,” she said slyly, “think you’re going to survive the weekend without your ‘office wife’ around?”

Ethan glared at her, his cheeks reddening. “I think I’ll manage, Sarah.”

“Sure you will,” she said with a laugh. “Don’t worry, she’ll be back on Monday. I’ll bet the date’s a disaster.”

Ethan didn’t say anything, but the truth was, he couldn’t stop thinking about Ava and her date for the rest of the evening. It was ridiculous—he had no reason to care. They were colleagues, nothing more. But as he sat alone in his apartment that night, eating dinner in silence, the thought of Ava smiling at someone else kept playing in his mind.

And he hated it.

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