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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Help please! Flirtation with a guy at work

178 replies

SomewhereBeyondTheSea · 07/11/2013 10:39

Ok MNers, I've been considering posting this thread for some weeks now and have finally got frustrated enough to do it. So - tough love needed please.

I really fancy a guy at work. Am 99.9% sure he likes me too. We've worked together for over a year but the flirtation has only been going on for about 10 weeks. We drunkenly kissed at the end of a work evening out - that's what started things.
The next day I did the whole 'oh I was so drunk last night' thing, basically because I'd never thought of him like that before and I was a bit embarrassed. So he got the impression I wasn't interested, I think.

But since then the flirting and chemistry has ramped up to the point that everyone else we work with has noticed and it's become pretty full on and, tbh, embarrassing - I hate feeling I'm being gossiped about.

But - here's the rub - he hasn't asked me out. We've been out for work drinks with colleagues several times since then and nothing has happened. Each time, he spends the whole evening talking just to me, lots of chemistry and eye contact, but we never seem to actually make a move on each other.

The latest time was last night. I am sick of this now. I would rather he left me alone and didn't fancy me than continue like this. It is driving me batty quite frankly.

One further consideration (trying not to drip feed): I recently got a BIG promotion which means I will be leaving his department next month and won't see him from one day to the next. I am wondering whether he's either intimidated by this (I will be in a much higher status role than him, in terms of internal politics, kudos etc), or he's waiting for me to move jobs so that if things go wrong or I turn him down, he won't have to work with me every day.

On the other hand I just keep thinking, keep it simple, stop making excuses for him: if he liked me, he would have done something about it by now. He hasn't, so he's clearly just not that into me.

All my female friends reckon they had to make a move on their partners and I should just bite the bullet and ask him out. I did vaguely say something a couple of weeks ago about 'would he like to go for a drink' when he gets back from holiday (he has been away for the last couple of weeks), and he said yes definitely when he gets back. Yesterday was his first day back, we were in the pub all evening and he didn't mention it at all. Is that a hint that I should just drop the idea?
Aaaargh.

Seriously, tough love needed. Should I try and push it forward, should I tell him to stop flirting because it's making me uncomfortable at work, should I just be zen-like calm and professionalism and write the whole thing off? Or should I be patient and wait and see what happens when I move jobs?

Help please!

PS. Yes we are definitely both single!

OP posts:
mammadiggingdeep · 07/11/2013 17:30

Do it!!!

But can you also please use cog's line of "you. Me. O'malleys. 7pm" just because I love it Grin

SomewhereBeyondTheSea · 07/11/2013 17:31

Haha, I've been dealing with the suspense for weeks! This is why I'm going slightly out of my mind.

Work got in the way so I didn't do the postit note thing. Will try tomorrow. I promise.

OP posts:
SomewhereBeyondTheSea · 07/11/2013 17:32

I'll need to find a pub called O'Malley's ...

OP posts:
silvermantella · 07/11/2013 17:50

I think he does like you, but is biding his time/psyching himself up until closer to when you move departments. Mainly because this is definitely what I would do if I were in his position (If I liked a man I worked with)! Think of it from his POV, it would be weird and awkward if you said no, and you had to carry on working together.

Just beat him to it and ask him! He'll be so a) happy and b) relieved you'll have an amazing time!

LessMissAbs · 07/11/2013 20:20

halfwildingwoman Are you sure he's not in a relationship? I really hate to be so cynical, but what if he's the type that loves to flirt but has a girlfriend at home. I have known many of these and a friend has just discovered after months of flirting with a work colleague that he isn't actually available

Same here. He is keeping his work life separate from his home life

Does he have a car? Why not ask him for a lift somewhere near where he lives after work, saying your car is in the garage or something?

verytellytubby · 07/11/2013 20:41

Email him. Drink tonight.

SomewhereBeyondTheSea · 07/11/2013 20:52

This guy is deffo not shacked up with anyone. He and his ex split last winter. He may be dating casually, it's not impossible, how can one ever know? But no sign of it afaik. I know people can deliberately mislead but I really do feel that if it turns out he's either attached or not interested but enjoying the attention then I will have fundamentally misjudged his character. Which is of course entirely possible. What can I say ..

OP posts:
temporary · 08/11/2013 12:49

So?

cantthinkofagoodone · 08/11/2013 12:58

Did you leave the post it?

You could always e-mail asking him for his number. When he eventually sees his e-mail and responds you could text him

I don't know if I can cope with the suspense of that one though.

QuintesKabooom · 08/11/2013 13:09

I would not bother. You have kissed, you have flirted, you have even mentioned going out for drinks.

If he has not taken the hint/bait by now, he is either not interested, or so spineless I would not want him.

Joysmum · 08/11/2013 13:40

We'll if I'd taken that attitude quinteskabooom I'd wouldn't be with the man of my dreams and 19 years down the line.

Either we want equal rights and responsibilities or we don't. It costs nothing to try or she can do nothing and possibly be missing out.

QuintesKabooom · 08/11/2013 13:44

I dont see equal rights here as an issue, she has already told him she wants to go out with him. He has not acted on this, yet.

struggling100 · 08/11/2013 14:07

I faced the same dilemma as you, having never, ever asked a guy out. I plucked up courage, did it... and we are now married. Go for it!

SomewhereBeyondTheSea · 08/11/2013 14:22

I brought in a vintage postcard to write a message on and leave on his desk. Am going to do so this afternoon before I leave. Eek.

OP posts:
SomewhereBeyondTheSea · 08/11/2013 14:23

PS. Thanks for all the encouragement Smile
I have never done this before. I am bricking it. But I talked to a friend earlier who has recently been in a similar situation - she prevaricated for so long and in the meantime the guy has met someone else ! That has motivated me ....

OP posts:
Livinginlimbo2 · 08/11/2013 14:25

Please, just do it!

SomewhereBeyondTheSea · 08/11/2013 14:29

Btw, in my private life I am pretty laid back but at work I am a hyper-ambitious, driven career woman an I think he is judging me on the basis of that, and thinking that I'm the kind of person who will go for something if she wants it. So I suspect that he thinks if I want him I will ask him. (He by contrast is a very laid back, non ambitious non-career person).

I may be very wrong though ! Maybe I am just reading too much into it and he's not into me after all. Time to put on my big-girl pants and find out.

OP posts:
Shakey1500 · 08/11/2013 14:35

Good luck! Thanks

Look forward to the update Smile

StealthPolarBear · 08/11/2013 14:47
wakemeupnow · 08/11/2013 14:58

well ?....

FortyFacedFuckers · 08/11/2013 15:02

Good Luck OP Grin

Jan45 · 08/11/2013 15:06

Again, I just think if he was interested, he would have asked, you've dropped enough hints. For me, if it was that he was just too scared, I'd actually find that a complete turn off.

Then again, I would LOVE for you to prove me wrong! Hurry up woman.

struggling100 · 08/11/2013 15:09

Oooh! Good luck!

I think the idea that guys will just leap on any woman who looks remotely available is old-fashioned now. Some men are just as shy and nervous about asking a woman out as some women are about asking a guy! :)

Snapespeare · 08/11/2013 15:14

blatant placemark

good luck OP!

ProphetOfDoom · 08/11/2013 15:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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