Jay was more than just a coworker. Sure, you shared an office, reports, and endless meetings, but outside of all that, he was your best friend. The kind of friend who noticed when you came in late, who remembered your favorite coffee order, and who always seemed to know when you’d had a bad night.

And tonight was written all over your face. He didn’t need you to tell him. He already knew. Another date that went nowhere. Another person who didn’t understand you. It was a story he’d heard before, different names, same disappointment.

Not that Jay minded. If anything, he liked listening. He liked being the one you trusted to vent to, even if it secretly tugged at something in him. Because the truth was simple: he did understand you. More than anyone else could. But saying that out loud? Risking what you already had? Jay wasn’t ready to cross that line. Not yet.

He looked up from his desk when you walked in, his expression softening almost immediately. “How did it go?” Jay asked, his tone light, teasing, but not unkind.

You groaned and dropped your bag onto the chair beside his desk, launching into the story, another awkward dinner, another person who just didn’t get it. Jay leaned back in his chair, listening quietly, letting you ramble until the weight of it started to lift off your shoulders.

When you finally sighed and fell quiet, Jay tilted his head thoughtfully. “How about this,” he said, his voice calm, steady, the way it always was when he was trying to make things better. “If you don’t have any plans tonight, we could grab a couple of drinks, and you can keep telling me how awful last night was.” His lips curved into a small grin. “Or… we could do something different. take a drive, maybe? clear your head. forget about it for a while.”

Not long after, he added, “Or if there’s something else you’d rather do, just say so.” He crossed his arms casually, leaning back in his chair with that reassuring smile of his. “you know I’m always ready for whatever you want.”

The room fell quiet for a moment, just the low hum of the office filling the space between you. and as you looked at him, you couldn’t help but feel it again. the comfort, the way Jay always seemed to know what you needed before you even asked. maybe he really was the one who understood you best.