it started as something you brushed off.
“there’s this guy at work.”
caleb looked up from the report he’d been reading, his attention shifting to you immediately. “what about him?”
you sighed, kicking your shoes off before collapsing beside him on the couch.
you already knew that look.
“he transferred into my department a few weeks ago.” you rubbed at your forehead. “at first i thought he was just trying to make friends.”
“and now?” clasping his hands together.
“…now i think he doesn’t understand the word no.”
caleb closed the folder in his lap.
“he keeps finding excuses to corner me.”
his expression didn’t change.
“today he waited until everyone left the break room before walking in, asked if i’d changed my mind about dinner.”
“i told him, again, that i have a boyfriend.”
“he said…” you looked down at your hands. “‘your boyfriend doesn't have to know.’”
the silence that followed felt heavier than before.
you forced yourself to keep talking. it felt good to get it off your chest.
“he keeps standing too close. he’ll lean over my chair while i’m working. yesterday he put his hand on the back of my chair and wouldn’t move until i asked him twice.”
you let out a nervous laugh, an attempt to try and lift the crushing weight in the room.
“i’m starting to dread going to work.”
"why didn’t you tell me sooner?” his eyes met yours.
“because i didn’t want you getting involved.” looking away.
he looked at you for a long moment.
“not yet.” you bite your lip, it did feel good to finally tell someone but caleb's not reacting the way you thought he would.
“because if i make a complaint…” you sighed. “everyone at work is going to know.”
“okay.” he said sucking in a deep breath.
that was it. he reached over, brushed your hair behind your ear, and kissed your forehead.
you leaned into him, grateful more than anything.
he wrapped an arm around your shoulders.
his hand rubbed slow circles against your back.
the next morning… daniel wasn’t at work. you frowned when you walked past his desk, empty. his monitor had already been unplugged. his nameplate was gone.
“where’s daniel?” you asked.
miles glanced up from his computer.
“didn’t you hear?” he looked around.
“hear what?” you said setting your stuff down.
“that was… fast.” trying to digest the news, curious as to what happened. miles shrugged.
“management was in his office for like an hour yesterday.”
you looked at the empty desk for another second before shaking it off. strange. really strange.
you didn’t think about it again until dinner.
caleb was standing at the stove, sleeves rolled to his forearms, quietly stirring something in a pan while you wandered into the kitchen.
“guess what.” you say, tapping him on the back.
his hand paused for the smallest fraction of a second. then continued stirring.
“…that’s all you have to say?”
he looked over his shoulder.
“were you hoping i’d sound surprised?”
he turned the burner down before facing you completely.
“…because i’m relieved.” trying to find a clue on his face.
going over to the sink to wash your hands before setting the table. trying not to be like that but you were definitely expecting more of a response.
you studied him for a moment as you were drying your hands.
he didn’t answer immediately.
instead he walked over until he was standing in front of you.
close enough that your knees almost brushed his.
“you remember what you told me?”
“that he ignored you when you said you had a boyfriend.”
“you thought i wasn’t going to do anything?”
“i thought you’d tell me to go to hr.” trying to make a little bit of space so you could see him better.
“that would’ve taken time.” instead of letting you move, he pushed you even closer to the counter.
he smiled. it felt like the whole world stopped.
“nothing you need to worry your cute little head about.”
“caleb.” a broken whisper escaped your mouth.
"let's just say daniel won't be bothering you anymore." stroking the top of your head.
gently smoothing your hair away from your face. his fingertips lingered against your cheek. warm and comforting. completely at odds with the conversation.
he didn’t answer immediately.
instead he looked at you with an expression that almost resembled confusion.
like he didn’t understand why it mattered.
looking at him waiting for him to continue.
he takes a deep breath, quickly looking back at the stove.
“that continuing to bother you…”
he leaned down, his lips barely grazing the side of your neck as he spoke.
“…would be the last thing he ever does.”
your breath caught. you werent angry. just very certain now how far caleb is willing to go.
he pressed one lingering kiss against your neck before pulling back enough to look at you again.
“i don’t like seeing you afraid.”
his thumb traced a slow circle against your waist.
“you won’t have to worry about him anymore.”
you searched his face for some indication that he regretted what he’d done. there wasn’t one. only relief. like solving the problem had been the obvious thing to do.
“…you scare me sometimes.”
the words left your mouth before you could stop them.
he smiled, caleb wasnt offended.
despite everything a tiny laugh escaped you.he leaned down, resting his forehead against yours.
“means the rest of the time…” another gentle kiss against your temple.
that was the part that stayed with you the longest.
not the empty desk, not daniel’s resignation. or even the unanswered questions. it was the way caleb had held you afterward.
like removing daniel from your life hadn’t been something extraordinary. just another way of taking care of you.
note: another little draft for you guys, new content coming this week ;33