Monogamy has never been my thing. Either my own or my partners. So I had no problem getting flirty with the new guy at work, even though he was a good 10 years younger than me.

About 3 months into his employment – he mentioned to me how he and his wife were trying to have a baby…and that she was holding out on him until she was most fertile.

As I processed this information, I realized that my flirtations might be entering complicated territory. The revelation that he was actively trying to start a family made our light-hearted banter seem more consequential. I took a step back, pondering the implications.

“Sounds like an exciting time for you guys,” I said, steering the conversation to a safer, more neutral ground. His eagerness to be a dad was clear, and despite our flirty dynamic, I respected the boundaries that his commitment entailed.

From then on, I made a conscious effort to keep our interactions professional and supportive, focusing on helping him integrate into the workplace rather than continuing our previous flirtatious exchanges. It was important to me to respect his situation and keep the office environment comfortable and respectful for everyone involved.