I recently started a new job, and have formed a new friend group with a group of my younger coworkers. I work for a very big company with a lot of older employees, and I’m in a new city so I’ve really clung to this friend group. Two of the people in the group are actually a couple who met through work. And I’d say within the past 4 months I’ve been here, about half of the married people I’ve met at my job are married to someone who also works for the same company. So dating in the workplace at my job is totally acceptable as long as they aren’t your authority. It’s even encouraged by some people lol.

Anyway, through this younger friend group I met someone and I pretty quickly developed a crush on him. He’s not at all the type I usually go for, but he’s extremely funny and I just gravitate to him in a crowd. One night, our friend group went out and we all had a little too much to drink. But the whole night he and I were attached at the hip. Literally inseparable. We went home separately that night and the next day I realized I didn’t have his number so I asked my friend for it. She gave it to me and made a joke about us looking cute together. I texted him and invited him out but he had plans that day. The next day he asked me if I wanted to go to dinner with him, which I couldn’t make it to but I made it clear I wanted to plan for another day. Since then I’ve seen him at a couple gatherings and we’ve texted very very seldomly. I got to the point where I thought he just wasn’t into me and was just a friendly guy. However, all of my friends insist differently and are convinced he’s just too scared to make a move and get rejected considering we are technically coworkers. I can’t decide if I should just go for it and ask if he wants to go on a date, or wait for him to pursue me. I’ve never had any feelings towards a coworker, so in all honesty I’m terrified of rejection and everyone knowing I tried and got turned down. Especially being a new employee here.