April 25, 2025
by Vanessa Leigh Warren

It started as a harmless joke. The kind of stuff couples say to mess with each other. You know, “Hey, my boss looked extra good today,” followed by an exaggerated wink and some sarcastic eyebrow wiggles. My husband would roll his eyes, laugh, and fire back with something about his gym instructor. All in good fun.

But here’s the thing: I’m not exactly joking.

I don’t know what it is. Maybe it’s because I’ve only ever had bosses who were middle-aged men in wrinkled shirts with mustard stains. But this one? He’s different. Way different.

He wears these fitted black jeans that honestly shouldn’t look that good on anyone, and somehow they do. Always paired with a clean sweater or a sharp jacket—like, Pinterest-level style. And his hair? It’s the kind you just know feels soft even from a distance. It’s like that shampoo commercial hair, except on a real person, sitting across from me in meetings.

I catch myself staring more than I should. Like when he walks past my desk, or when he’s leaning over his computer, sleeves pushed up just enough to show those forearms. I swear, I’m a grown woman with a mortgage and meal prep containers in my fridge—why am I turning into a walking cliché?

But I’m not trying to cheat. I love my husband. I really do. We’re good. Stable. Safe. Maybe that’s what makes this little attraction feel so electric—it’s a break from the ordinary. A mental daydream in the middle of spreadsheets and team calls.

Still, I sometimes wonder if the line between “harmless joke” and “real thought” is blurrier than I’m comfortable with.

I’d never act on it. I know that for sure. But damn… sometimes, it’s just nice to have someone to silently admire from afar. Like a little secret crush that never leaves your head.