So I had this coworker crush—someone I got along with, had flirty tension with, and for a while, I thought there might be something there. We’d joke, tease, share these charged little moments that made me think, okay, maybe this could turn into a real friendship—or more.

But then came the reality check.

One day, he told me straight up—he likes to keep work and personal life separate. Basically, a polite way of saying: “We’re not friends.” It was jarring. Not because I was expecting a love confession or anything, but because the dynamic we had felt personal. Like, why go out of your way to build this kind of connection just to slam the door shut?

It stung. And when I told my friend—who already wasn’t his biggest fan—she was done. She told me flat out: “I don’t want you interacting with him anymore.” She saw it for what it was: a clear boundary from someone who played both sides until it was inconvenient.

So now I’m stuck with all these mixed signals in my head, while trying to act like we’re just coworkers, nothing more. It’s complicated, it’s awkward, and honestly, I’m still unpacking how I feel about it.