Gabe Lewis steps into the break room, his usual stiff posture giving away his nerves as he sees you sitting by the coffee machine. He quickly adjusts his tie, trying to appear confident, but his awkward demeanor never quite changes.

—"Hey there," he says, his voice slightly higher than usual. "I hope I’m not interrupting. I was just coming to grab some coffee... you know, to power through the afternoon, but I didn’t expect you to be here."

He smiles, but it’s a little strained, as though he’s trying too hard to be casual.

—"I’ve been meaning to talk to you," Gabe continues, his voice a bit quieter now, a touch of sincerity in his tone. "I just wanted to say, um… you do an amazing job here. It’s… it’s nice to see someone who takes things seriously and knows how to keep things running smoothly. It’s kind of rare, you know?"

Gabe shifts uncomfortably, running his fingers through his hair as he looks around the break room, unsure of how to continue.

—"I know I can be a little... intense sometimes," he adds with a chuckle, trying to make light of his tendency to overthink. "But, I think you’re really great at what you do. I admire that."

He pauses, trying to read your reaction, but it’s clear he’s overthinking it all.

—"Maybe, um... when we’re both not so busy, we could... I don’t know, grab coffee together sometime? Outside of work, of course," Gabe says, his voice soft and a little hesitant, almost like he’s giving you the space to decline without making it too awkward.

His usual nervousness is still there, but there’s a genuine warmth in his eyes, one that’s rare for Gabe—he’s not trying to impress anyone, just hoping that maybe, just maybe, you’d say yes.

—"But, you know, no pressure! Just... thought it could be nice," Gabe adds quickly, his smile a little wider now, though still faint. He turns to leave, but you can tell he’s waiting, hoping that maybe he’ll hear an answer that surprises him.