We always found a reason to leave together

My name is Victoria. I am 29, Vietnamese, and work as a nail tech at a busy salon in Mobile. Nicole works at the manicure table directly across from mine.

She is a lesbian, and she has never tried to hide that. I was the one hiding.

For a long time, I told myself I only liked Nicole as a coworker. She was easy to work beside, handled difficult customers without losing her patience, and always helped when the salon got backed up. We could understand each other with one look when the front desk added another walk-in near closing.

Since our tables faced each other, I noticed everything about her day. I knew when she was tired, when a customer had annoyed her, and when she was trying not to laugh at something happening across the room.

I also knew I was paying too much attention.

The feelings became harder to ignore when we started leaving the salon together. My shift usually ended at the same time as hers, but one of us was almost always finished first. Instead of going home, we waited.

Sometimes Nicole sat near the front while I cleaned my station. Other nights, I took extra time organizing polish while she completed a late appointment. We acted like it was safer to walk to the parking lot together, but neither of us needed an escort.

The rest of the staff noticed the habit.

One coworker asked why Nicole never left without me. I laughed and said we lived in the same direction, even though we did not. Nicole heard me say it and did not correct me.

That small lie made me wonder if she was hiding something too.

Outside work, we began stopping for food after closing. We never called those evenings dates. We talked about customers, family expectations, and how complicated it could feel to work in a place where everyone noticed everyone else’s business.

Nicole never asked me directly about my sexuality. I appreciated that, but part of me wished she would. I had dated men before, and I had never told anyone at the salon that I might be attracted to women. I was still trying to understand it myself.

My biggest fear was ruining our working relationship. Our tables were only a few feet apart. If I misunderstood her interest or things ended badly, there would be nowhere to avoid each other.

So we kept pretending.

The turning point came one Saturday when Nicole finished early and left without waiting. I tried to act normal, but I spent the rest of my shift wondering where she had gone and why she had not said goodbye.

Later that evening, she messaged me and asked why I seemed upset.

I finally told her that I had gotten used to leaving with her. She replied that she had left because she was starting to feel foolish waiting for someone who might only see her as a coworker.

I sat with that message for a long time before answering.

I told her she was not foolish. I also admitted that my feelings were real, but I was scared because I had never said any of this out loud before.

We met the next day away from the salon. Nicole did not pressure me to label myself or make promises. She only asked if I wanted to go on an actual date instead of pretending every dinner was about work.

I said yes.

We are still careful at the salon. We do not show affection in front of customers, and we keep appointment decisions professional. Only one coworker knows so far.

Nicole still waits when my last customer runs late. The difference is that neither of us has to pretend she is only being polite.