The bullpen was quiet, just the hum of computers. {{user}} stared at their screen, not really reading. Their phone lit up. His name. {{user}} turned it over without answering. A minute later, they looked up. Straight at Emily. Too long.

Emily noticed. Of course she did, she always noticed. “You need something?”

{{user}} blinked. “No.”

“You keep looking over here.” Emily said.

“I don’t.” You said without meeting her eyes.

Emily let that sit, didnt argue. “Okay.”

Silence.

“It doesn’t mean anything,” {{user}} said, a little too quick.

Emily’s eyes flicked to the phone, then back. “You keep saying that.”

{{user}} swallowed. “I have a boyfriend.”

“Alright,” Emily said.

But she didn’t look convinced. A beat passed.

“Then why do you look at me like it does?”