Am I reading too much into my coworker’s behavior, or is there some flirting going on?
There’s a coworker I’ve had a bit of a feeling about for a while. Even before we ever followed each other on Instagram, I had this gut feeling that maybe she was open to something casual. I could be completely wrong about that, though. It was never based on anything concrete.
For context, I only work part-time and I barely see her. Sometimes it’s once a month, sometimes maybe 4-5 times depending on the schedule, so it’s not like we’re constantly around each other.
A while back, we were talking and she mentioned that she had seen me on Instagram. I jokingly asked why she hadn’t added me, and we ended up exchanging Instagram accounts.
She’s a single mom and posts her kid fairly often.
Yesterday, I was joking with her about how I’ve basically been around since her kid was growing up, and I asked if he was always smiling in her pictures.
Later that day I needed some USB sticks, so I asked her if she had any. She brought them to my office and jokingly asked me how much I loved her. I made a gesture with my hands and said, “This much.”
It was obviously a joke, but I wasn't expecting the conversation to continue the way it did.
When she got home, she sent me a picture of her kid crying and said something along the lines of, “He’s not smiling.”
I replied, “Ah no, I think I gave him the evil eye :(”
She said, “lol it’s all your fault.”
I said, “You gotta tell me how I can make it up.”
She said, “I’ll have to think.”
I said, “Alright, I’ll be waiting to hear that.”
Then she said, “I’m open to suggestions though.”
I said, “Okay, give me a hint then.”
She said, “Get your own USB stick 😂”
I said, “That will only make his mom happy lol.”
She said, “lol that’s very important I think.”
I said, “That’s easy, tell him I’ll make her happy.”
She said, “You’ll make me happy?”
I said, “Yes, by bringing my own USB sticks.”
She then said something like, “Well, you have two weeks until I see you? That’s enough time lol.”
I said, “I’ll put my best efforts.”
She said, “Lol I’ll be waiting with anticipation.”
I replied an hour or two later, “Consider it done!!”
She said, “Have a good night!”
And that was basically it.
Now, I know this could all be completely innocent. I might be picking up on cues that aren't actually there. But yesterday felt a little different because I was definitely flirting back a little, and she seemed to play along rather than shutting it down. The “make me happy,” “I’m open to suggestions,” and “waiting with anticipation” comments are what made me wonder.
For some additional context, I’m not exactly sitting here hoping something happens. She’s not someone I’m particularly excited about pursuing, and I’m not actively looking for a hookup with her. If she were genuinely interested, I probably wouldn’t say no, but I’m also not going out of my way to make something happen.
So I guess my question is: does this sound like two coworkers joking around, or does it sound like there may actually be some mutual flirting/interest here?
And please don't assume she's definitely interested just because of the way I interpreted it. I’m genuinely trying to figure out whether I’m reading the situation correctly.