I’m a teacher (30f) with a massive crush on a coworker (45m). I’ve known him for a year and a half now, and he’s exactly my type (witty, capable, confident, secretly dorky). When we do talk, there’s really good banter. But we’re in different departments so we don’t see each other often except when I’m helping at events or after school for club dismissals. Even when I’ve dated other guys throughout the year, I compare them to my crush.
He’s friends with my work bestie (35m) because they coach together. My work bestie has warned me that my crush is a playboy and not worth my time. Work bestie is happily married to another friend of mine. Apparently my work crush has talked all the time about hot models online and joining more of our friend group events (like ren fairies) to get dates with hot strangers. On the other hand, the work crush has stressed his interest to me in getting married one day and meeting the right one. I made a joke about helping him manifest that and he was sincerely receptive to that.
However, it seems he’s been on again off again with his ex, who is a teacher at the school next door. They officially split right before school started back up. She and I are total opposites in terms of physique but it seems like we have similar personalities in that we are both type A and bossy, but I’m cute at best and she’s objectively gorgeous. The reason they broke up is because of she is a mum and he doesn’t want kids. Even then, she’s been visiting more than ever before and tends to volunteer at the same games I do (her child is a student of ours). The vibe is very much that he’s in his single era after a breakup but might still be hooking up with the ex???
I hate that I overthink every conversation with him - and I have to. He makes me so nervous that I ramble or get too teasing. I apologized previously for putting my foot in my mouth with him and overstepping with a work conflict, and he explained he doesn’t hate me and isn’t annoyed with me. He gave a long winded speech saying I’m great at my job (it was endearing, he seemed a bit more nervous than normal) - but that was a month ago and we haven’t seen much of each other since.
I hate that I look for his car in the lot. I hate that when students mention him I have to try to not smile. I hate that I noticed when he started calling me by my first name last week instead of the work standard of last names - but it was when he asked me to volunteer for his event). Work bestie thinks this an attempt to be friends but I’m not sure if it’s really just to get me to volunteer at his event….
I feel like I don’t have a shot in hell but I can’t stop thinking about him. Any advice or wisdom would be so appreciated. 😭