just to break you like promise

“Yeah, never mind. I’ll go find someone else.”

“Come on. You know that I was the perfect choice for this. Don’t go and wallow.”

“As if you do.” A slightly annoyed breath slipped her lips as she put the leek into her basket. “You know, you’re really making this too much effort for me, I’m not even sure if I’m too interested in finding either red or green flags altogether.” 

“Depending on the situation I can be very open to instruction.” A laugh came at her response, the more difficult she was the more amused he was. “I think that you have to be a little bit interested or you wouldn’t entertain conversation with me as much as you do. We both know if you really wanted to cut things off you would. Unapologetically so.”

“I don’t need to do anything.” Andrea shrugged as she grabbed a leek from the nearby stand. “But go on then, what makes you such a good guy? That’ll save me some time having to dig for the green flags.”

“Someone doesn’t like to be told what to do,” he said with an amused smirk. “Oh no. I’m not going to just list things off because for one we both know you would just take it as all bullshit. And having you dig just sounds like so much more fun.”

“And if I come out showing signs that my lipstick is all smudged and your lips are suddenly pink, then what, hmm?” Hazal reasoned with him. He was disappointed. She could tell. He probably wasn’t buying her story either and while a part of her knew that it was probably better to just let him slip away instead of getting involved with Carson, she couldn’t help herself but feel bad. “I’m sorry,” She sighed “but it’s like I said, I’ve got other things on tonight buuut if you let me know ahead of time then maybe we can take a rain check?” The smallest hint of a smile broke through but she didn’t want to blow him off completely especially when it seemed he was making an effort.

“You do know that you can fix your lipstick before you go? No one has to know the wiser. Because I gotta tell ya. When we have our first kiss, I don’t see me being able to just go through a whole day moving forward without stealing kisses,” he pointed out. It being no secret that Carson wasn’t good at restricting himself from the things that he wanted. Hazal however seemed to have no problem doing such to the point he wasn’t sure if she even wanted this. He had done things for her that he didn’t do with other women. The extra steps to impress her. “Yeah well, I guess I’ll try next time,” he mumbled off while pulling out his phone, his demeanor completely different.

“What makes you think I’m not seeking out green flags? Don’t tell me you were expecting me to point those out too. I didn’t think your ego was that fragile.”

“There is nothing you could say that I don’t already know about myself so no, I don’t need to hear them, but if you are going to pretend that you are trying to even out the scales you need to actually act interested in the good things about a guy.”

“I’d say that scouting for red flags before allowing yourself to form a solid opinion on someone is more than reasonable.”

“If you’re not seeking out the green flags at the same time how solid can that really be?”

“What exactly are you implying here?”

“Oh I’m not implying. I’m saying that you don’t want to like me so you look for every reason not to.”

“So you’re into crazy stalkers for the fun they might bring? I’m starting to feel like this might be a red flag on your end.”

“With the way you look at me you’d use any excuse to find a red flag.”

“Sure, pretty privilege is obviously a universal thing. But still, creepy behavior is usually a red flag. No matter how much we love to ignore them when someone is hot.”

“Oh I am very aware of the red flags. I don’t really ignore them as much as I do enjoy them for what fun they can bring.”

“Ah, so beauty excuses creepy behavior for you? That’s good to know.”

“It would be complete bullshit if you don’t admit that it is the same way if a hot guy does something compared to an ugly one.”

“Ah, yes, I’ve been following your grocery shopping schedule for the past month, just so I can spontaneously run into you here. You got me.” 

“If you weren’t so beautiful I might find it a bit obsessive but on you? It’s absolutely endearing.”

“Yes, well, you’ve never exactly been subtle about it but I think it may raise a few red flags if I started kissing you in the staff room.” Hazal pointed out. “It’s not – it’ not like that.” She stammered a little, not really expecting him to get so upset about it. “I mean, I do like you and things are progressing. At least, I think they are but I just can’t tonight. You’re not forcing me but I – it’s like I said. I have other commitments.” Telling him about her mother was no where near something she were comfortable with doing just yet and it definitely wasn’t on the cards any time soon either.

“Then kiss me in my office with the door shut. See? I can compromise. I’m very reasonable.” Carson nodded as she spoke. He didn’t really know what to believe. He wouldn’t have been so persistent if he didn’t feel like their chemistry was strong. Yet sometimes he felt like there was a wall between them but he never knew when it was going to pop up. “Alright, fine,” he shrugged. “I’ll call and cancel.”

“Well it’s weird if I’m getting favourable treatment around here because I’m going on dates with the boss, is it not?” Hazal clarified. She knew she had a point. He had to understand that. “Trust me, it’s not that I’d rather go home.” Her frown stayed in place. That was the truth but she had other commitments on her hands. “It’s just – you can’t keep springing things up on me. I’m not always free.”

“To be fair I favored you before we started going out so I think that counts for something.” Carson was rarely serious. He never presented himself as such because he didn’t want any expectations made. So while he could have joked it off he decided to say what was actually on his mind. “I... I don’t get you. One minute you are into me and things are going great between us like things are actually progressing and then the next you act like you’re not into me and I’m forcing this.”

“If I’m working overtime I don’t know if it necessarily counts.” Hazal mulled the thought over in her head for a moment but she tried to hold back the little frown that formed. It wasn’t like she could tell him. Life was more complicated for her than he new. “I’ve just got to get back. Tonight’s not really a good night.” She pressed her lips together for a moment.

“You just always seem to feel the need to find away to skirt around me being in charge, don’t you?” He shook his head at her. Carson’s smile faltered slightly as she seemed to actually be rejecting his offer. “Come on, you seriously rather just go home then go on a surprise date that I planned for you?”

“Actually, you only call the shots when it’s work hours. What date? You couldn’t have asked first, could you? I have to get home.”

“Well according to you, you were still working for another 12 so my authority still rules. And what fun is asking when I can spring things on you?” He leaned against the doorframe. “Home for what?”

“Hmm, and somehow I don’t think Dolly calls all the shots here. You could’ve waited an extra 13 more. Then I’d be straight out the door.”

“You’re right. I do though so that makes it even better. It seems like I came just in time. So lets go. We have a date we need to get to.”