I didn't realize I was in love with my nail tech until someone else asked him out

For almost four years, I went to the same nail salon every three weeks.

People thought I was loyal to the salon.

The truth was, I was loyal to one person.

He was my nail tech.

The first time he did my nails, we barely talked.

By my third appointment, he already remembered my favorite color.

A few months later, he remembered my birthday.

Then he started asking about my job, my parents, and even my dog by name.

It never felt forced.

It just felt... comfortable.

I never thought of him as anything more than my nail tech.

At least that's what I kept telling myself.

Four years went by like that.

I dated other people.

He was always polite whenever I mentioned a boyfriend.

He never asked personal questions.

Never crossed the line.

Somehow that made me respect him even more.

Then one Saturday everything changed.

A beautiful woman walked into the salon.

She wasn't there for a service.

She walked straight to his station.

She smiled, handed him a small piece of paper, and said she hoped he'd call her.

Then she left.

The entire salon watched it happen.

Even the other technicians started smiling.

I laughed too.

At least I pretended to.

The second I got into my car, I started crying.

I couldn't explain why.

I wasn't his girlfriend.

He had every right to date anyone he wanted.

So why did it hurt so much?

That's when the truth finally hit me.

Somewhere during those four years, I had quietly fallen in love with him.

I just never admitted it to myself.

For the next month, I almost canceled my appointment three different times.

Part of me didn't want to know if he had started seeing her.

When I finally walked in, he smiled exactly the way he always had.

Nothing had changed.

Halfway through my appointment, I finally asked the question I'd been afraid to ask.

So... whatever happened with that girl who gave you her number?

He laughed.

Then he reached into a drawer and pulled out the folded piece of paper.

It had never even been opened.

He smiled and said he was too busy with work to think about dating.

I don't know why, but hearing that made my heart race even faster.

I almost told him how I felt.

The words were right there.

Instead, I smiled, paid for my nails, and walked out.

That was six months ago.

I'm still his customer.

He's still my nail tech.

And every three weeks, I keep wondering if next time I'll finally be brave enough to tell him the truth.