"Luke. Can you pass me that file?"
Noah's voice leaked into my consciousness, jolting me into attention.
"Huh?"
Great. JUST great! First I zone out on the job and then I sound like an idiot in front of my adorable coworker.
"The file."
He gave me a business-like 'WTF' look, pointing to a bright blue folder I was currently leaning on.
"Right… Sorry."
Removing my elbow, I grabbed the object of my anguish, cursing it silently.
Concentrating on my laptop, I pushed it along the desk, watching in my peripheral for his hand.
He slid it out to retrieve it, slowly brushing the top of my hand, sending a rush of nerves throughout me.
As I began to pull away, Noah's fingers wrapped around my wrist - as if meaning to hold it there.
Gulping, I turned my head and was caught in his intense and emotionless stare.
Whether it was frustration or mere affectionate impulse- I couldn't begin to tell, his brown eyes remained blank.
His mouth lay in a straight-laced line, letting no movement inspire any speech. Cheeks the normal peach showed no sense of embarrassment or judgment. Noah's visage was a completely professional guise- unaccountable and unrelateable.
"The file, Noah?"
I mumbled, my eyes fallen upon the blue folder on which our hands were strewn.
"Right."
Coughing, he lifted his palm from my wrist- a bizarre tension settled between us. The blue folder laid an equal length from the both of us an uncomfortable silence fell.
"The folder."
We muttered in unison, staring curiously at the thing before making eye contact.
One corner of Noah's mouth lifted, as I began to laugh uncontrollably. A full-toothed smile appeared on his face; my spirit lifting as it did.
For once, in the three weeks we had been working together, we had connected… Over a simple blue folder.
"Here."
I said, passing him the file, through my giggles.
"Th-Thanks."
He stuttered adorably, as our hands brushed once again in the exchange.
Gripping the folder, his face returned to his non-emotive expression which seemed over-trained.
In that moment, I decided I would never engage in a poker game with Noah Mayer.