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Even though we were keeping our distance, she and I still passed each other at work. Every time she wore earbuds, I could hear her music blasting in them. I was genuinely worried she was on the verge of blowing her eardrums out.

As I made my way to the counter to start a new brew, there was a lull in the conversation between the women, so I nodded toward Jacqueline.

“I have a question for you, Ms. Williams,” I made the tone of my voice incredibly serious. It made the other women hush, looking at me with curious glances. I turned, waiting for the machine to finish brewing my coffee, while I looked at the director of human resources.

Jacqueline had stiffened in her chair, her lips pressed together as she waited for me to continue.

“…Do you enjoy the feeling of blood dripping out of your ears when you listen to music?” My question made Mary laugh out loud, and Signe snorted while patting Jacqueline on the shoulder.

Jacqueline, however, looked so adorably confused.

She frowned at me, “What are you talking about?”

“The volume you listen to,” I smirked, “You wear earbuds, but I can hear what you’re listening to just the same.”

Jacqueline’s lips twitched before she rolled her eyes at me.

The look made the blood pump in my veins, and I hoped to god that she would want to see me again tonight. I’d love to make her pay for that attitude, in the most enjoyable way possible.

“My earbuds are old,” Jacqueline explained, completely ignoring the humorous tone of the conversation, “I have to turn my music up louder and louder for me to enjoy it,” She lifted a shoulder, “If you have a problem with it, maybe don’t stand so close to me at work.”

I shook my head, “It’s no problem. I enjoy a blast from the past myself.”

“Jacqueline has thebestplaylist,” Signe brightened, affectionately squeezing Jacqueline’s arm, “You should have her send it to you.”

“I’ve heard it.” I saw the moment Jacqueline stiffened at my agreement, my admission that I was already familiar with her playlist. How intimate it sounded. Would she deny that we listened to her music whenever we carpooled? Overlook the fact that I have seen her turn it on before she and I showered together at her flat.

But none of that happened.

Instead, Jacqueline’s frown changed. It wasn’t a frown of disapproval. It was different. The corners of her mouth were still tipped down. The basic description of a frown was still present. But her eyes brightened. Little crinkles appeared in the corners as they did. Her eyebrows even twitched slightly higher.

I was confident that Jacqueline was smiling at me.

It was just upside down.

Standing there, under the weight of her stunning gaze, something warm and terrifying expanded in my chest.

“Oh, right.” Mary leaned on the table, resting her fists under her chin as she opened her mouth to say something else, but one of the new hires poked their head in the breakroom.

“Jacqueline?” A young man’s voice asked. A blonde head poked around the door of the breakroom, dressed in a red and grey plaid button-up. He must have been in his early twenties, fresh out of university, “Sorry, I know you’re taking your lunch—”

“What’s up, Andrew?” Jacqueline turned in her seat to face the break room door, a friendly expression on her face as she addressed her new employee. In her hands, she started digging around in her purse for something.

“I was just wondering which file you wanted me to save this under.” He stepped into the room and held out an iPad for her to look at. He pointed at something on the screen, and Jacqueline’s brow pinched for a moment before lifting her own finger to point.

“This one,” she replied. She then pulled out a small…something. It wasn’t until I saw her fingers peel back the foil that I realized she was unwrapping a small piece of chocolate. She popped the candy into her mouth as she continued the conversation with her new employee.

I also realized that this wasn’t the first time I had seen Jacqueline do this.

The woman always had a small piece of chocolate to eat after she finished a savory meal.

“Okay, cool,” he swallowed, “That’s what I thought, but I wasn’t sure. So I thought I’d ask. I’m sorry to interrupt.”

“You’re fine, Andrew,” Jacqueline smiled at him, emitting a friendly, welcoming tone, “Please keep asking me questions. I don’t mind repeating things while you learn.”

He exhaled, his shoulders dropping a bit before he rubbed a hand on his shirt.

As if he had sweaty palms.