2024-08-07 “Off/On Track” by Merritt/Hannah

OFF TRACK by Merritt It seems every time I go to the office, something happens that I feel I  need to share. True again today. The tech department had, for me, a device that uses sonar to accurately measure rooms. It connects to my iPhone that has a measuring tool that uses the camera. Combined, the two produce far more accurate results. So that happened. On my way out, I ran into Hannah once again. “Hello, Merritt. Here to see my smile once more?”	ON TRACK by Hannah I’m going back a couple weeks again to fill in some details, back to 2024–08-07. Merritt came by the office to pick up a sonar measuring tool. I saw him and made my way too him.  A few days earlier, I’d ran into him and asked why he was in the office. In a most charming way he had said he had come to see my smile. I went with that. “Hello, Merritt. Here to see my smile once more?”
I laughed and held up the sonar device. “Ah,” Hannah replied. “I used one of those for a project at school last year. Pretty cool device.” We talked about her project a little, then she said, “So, how are things with you and Emma?” “Good. Same routine…” “I think you two will make a nice couple.” She smiled and shrugged. I replied. “We’re not really trying to be a couple. Things are too… complicated with new jobs and… Now’s not the time.” Hannah tilted her head, and shook it a little. “So, you stand by the claim that you're not dating or even talking?” “We aren’t,” I said. Hannah laughed and looked down. “If it looks like a duck, it’s probably a duck.” I understood her implication. “We’re not dating.” Hannah looked up. “Really?” “Really.” “Then ask me out to dinner for tonight.” My brain went into warp speed as I played through what it would mean if I refused and how Emma would respond. Wednesday was one of her matinee days, so she’d be home. I could text her and tell her not to count on me for dinner. To refuse would give fuel to Hannah’s “look like a duck” position. I tried to buy time. “For tonight?” “Sure… Wednesday… Why not? No big deal… co-workers grabbing a meal. Back to the grind tomorrow.” That made it sound less… something. I decided to defend Emma and my position of not being romantically involved. “Okay, why not?” Hannah was looking down. “Ask me, then.” That made it very awkward for me, but I managed. “Do you want to grab a bite to eat after work?” She looked up and pretended to be surprised (and it was very cute). “Oh, that would be great. We can meet in the lobby… 5:15?” So, that’s the plan.	He laughed and held up the sonar device. “Ah,” I replied. “I used one of those for a project at school last year. Pretty cool device.” I told him about my project a little, then I thought it was time to clear up some things about him and his next-door neighbor. “So, how are things with you and Emma?” “Good. Same routine…” I gave him a chance to make things clear. “I think you two will make a nice couple.” He replied. “We’re not really trying to be a couple. Things are too… complicated with new jobs and… Now’s not the time.” It didn’t add up to what I’d felt at his house for dinner a week earlier. “So, you stand by the claim that you're not dating or even talking?” “We aren’t,” He said. I laughed and looked down. “If it looks like a duck, it’s probably a duck.” Merritt held his ground. “We’re not dating.” Then I got brave for some reason. “Really?” “Really.” “Then ask me out to dinner for tonight.” Merritt seemed to get lost in his thoughts for a moment, then he looked up at me. “For tonight?” I thought I’d back down from it being anything romantic. I hadn’t expected things to go that way, and I didn’t want to scare him off before I even knew if he was available. “Sure… Wednesday… Why not? No big deal… co-workers grabbing a meal. Back to the grind tomorrow.” Merritt seemed to think that sounded easier to swallow. I think he even smiled a little.  “Okay, why not?” But something still felt artificial. I pushed a little more, just to see if he was sincere. “Ask me, then.” Merritt flushed a little, then he looked at me. “Do you want to grab a bite to eat after work?” I thought I’d better try to lighten the moment up, so I pretended to be surprised that he had asked. “Oh, that would be great. We can meet in the lobby… 5:15?” So, that’s the plan.