Every Saturday, I sweated in a ridiculous bear suit, handing out flyers until my boss unknowingly started flirting with me.<\/p>\n
He had no idea who I was\u2026 and I was too scared to tell him because, in real life, I was anything but a cover girl.<\/p>\n
I stuffed the last piece of croissant into my mouth, watching Jake from across the office. My boss.<\/p>\n
He stood by the coffee machine\u2014tall, athletic, effortlessly charming. His dark hair was perfectly tousled as if he had just rolled out of bed and landed on GQ\u2019s cover.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, I sat at my desk, surrounded by crumpled notes, gripping a plastic fork like it was the last piece of dignity I had left.<\/p>\n
He would never notice someone like me.<\/p>\n
Someone like me\u2014soft around the edges, with cheeks that refused to cooperate no matter how many diet plans I started (and promptly abandoned).<\/p>\n
My feet were a solid size 10, making most cute shoes a cruel joke, and whenever I got nervous, my words tangled up like last year\u2019s Christmas lights.<\/p>\n
Jake leaned against the counter, stirring his coffee with lazy confidence. His friend, Greg, nudged him.<\/p>\n
\u201cDude, you ever notice how Emma looks at you?\u201d<\/p>\n
Oh no. Have I been that obvious?<\/p>\n
Jake took a sip of his coffee, eyes flicking briefly in my direction. I immediately turned my attention to my screen, pretending to be fascinated by Excel.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, Emma!\u201d<\/p>\n
My heart stopped. I looked up, mid-chew, only to find Jake watching me, amusement dancing in his hazel eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou good over there?\u201d He gestured toward me with his coffee cup. \u201cYou\u2019ve been staring at me for so long, I was starting to think I had something on my face.\u201d<\/p>\n
I nearly choked on my croissant.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat? No! I\u2026 I was just\u2026\u201d I waved my hand vaguely toward my monitor. \u201cDeep in thought.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDeep in thought\u2026 about spreadsheets?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes. Numbers are very\u2026 thought-provoking.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jake smirked. \u201cAlright, spreadsheet philosopher. Try not to get too lost in them.\u201d<\/p>\n
And with that, he turned back to his conversation, leaving me sitting there, cheeks burning. That was not helping my situation.<\/p>\n
I wanted to talk to him, just once, to see if he was as perfect up close as he seemed from a distance. But the very thought made my palms sweat.<\/p>\n
\u201cEmma!\u201d<\/p>\n
I jumped. My team leader, Mark, was standing by my desk.<\/p>\n
\u201cStop daydreaming! The reports won\u2019t print themselves!\u201d<\/p>\n
I sighed and turned back to my screen, defeated. Princes belonged in fairy tales.<\/p>\n
And in real life? Work, bills, and metabolism had declared war on me years ago.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
I would have laughed if someone had told me a year ago that I\u2019d be spending my Saturdays stuffed inside a pink bear suit, sweating like a rotisserie chicken while handing out flyers.<\/p>\n
And yet, I was, towering over tiny children, waving my oversized paw at passersby, and reconsidering all my life choices.<\/p>\n
The costume was stuffy, smelled faintly of popcorn and regret, and made every movement feel like I was trudging through syrup.<\/p>\n
A toddler waddled up, staring at me with broad, sticky hands.<\/p>\n
\u201cBear!\u201d she squealed, throwing his arms around my leg. Great. At that moment, I was a human jungle gym.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, small human,\u201d I said in my best bear voice, patting his tiny head with my paw.<\/p>\n
\u201cFear not, for I am a friendly bear.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her mother gave me a grateful smile before peeling her son away.<\/p>\n
I sighed\u2014only six more hours to go. And then\u2026<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, Bear! You look\u2026 very cozy.\u201d<\/p>\n
I froze.<\/p>\n
Oh no. No, no, no. That voice.<\/p>\n
Jake!<\/p>\n
I turned slowly, my giant bear head bobbing slightly, and there he was. In gym clothes. Looking like a walking advertisement for protein shakes and good genetics.<\/p>\n
He was smirking. That was it. That was how I died.<\/p>\n
\u201cUh, hi?\u201d I said, realizing that the suit muffled and distorted my voice.<\/p>\n
Jake tilted his head, pretending to listen. \u201cWait\u2026 what was that?\u201d<\/p>\n
Oh no!<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2026 did you just growl at me?\u201d<\/p>\n
His smirk widened, eyes full of amusement. I panicked.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes. I mean, no. I mean\u2026 I only growl at rude customers.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAh, so I\u2019m safe. Unless you secretly think I\u2019m rude?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat depends,\u201d I muttered, then immediately regretted it.<\/p>\n
Why couldn\u2019t I just nod and wave like a regular mascot?<\/p>\n
Jake chuckled.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d better make sure to stay on your good side. Do you at least get paid well for this?\u201d<\/p>\n
I glanced at the crumpled stack of flyers in my paw, then at the sun glaring down on me.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s just say I\u2019m not here for the prestige.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jake laughed again, the sound warm and\u2014ugh\u2014stupidly lovely. My heart did a ridiculous little flip.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d he said, giving me an appraising look. \u201cI think you\u2019re pulling off the Bear look pretty well. It suits you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGee, thanks,\u201d I deadpanned, waving a flyer at him. \u201cFlattery will get you nowhere. Do you want a discount on scented candles or what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTempting,\u201d he teased. \u201cBut I think I\u2019ll pass.\u201d<\/p>\n
He was still grinning. Still standing there.<\/p>\n
Oh no. He isn\u2019t leaving!<\/p>\n
Jake tilted his head slightly, his eyes narrowing like he was trying to figure something out. I braced myself.<\/p>\n
\u201cHave we met before?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUhh\u2026\u201d I scrambled for a response, my bear paws twitching. \u201cI mean\u2026 I have one of those faces. Very\u2026 generic Bear.\u201d<\/p>\n
He chuckled. \u201cRight. Well, enjoy your shift, Bear. Don\u2019t melt.\u201d<\/p>\n
With one last amused glance, he turned and jogged off. I groaned. This was getting dangerously complicated.<\/p>\n
Had he recognized me? No. No way. But also\u2026 maybe?<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Every weekend, it was the same. I stood outside, sweltering in my furry prison, and Jake stopped by me on his way to the gym.<\/p>\n
And somehow, it became our thing.<\/p>\n
\u201cBear, you\u2019re looking extra fluffy today,\u201d he said one morning, handing me an iced coffee like it was the most normal thing in the world.<\/p>\n
I took it with my giant paw, staring at him through the mesh of my bear head.<\/p>\n
\u201cPerks of the job.\u201d I lifted the cup slightly. \u201cAnd thanks. This is the highlight of my day.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWow. That\u2019s kind of sad,\u201d he teased, smirking.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, free coffee is a big deal in this economy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen maybe you should let me take you out for real coffee sometime,\u201d he said casually. \u201cYou know, when you\u2019re not a bear.\u201d<\/p>\n
Panic. Pure, unfiltered panic.<\/p>\n
Ha. Ha ha. No.<\/p>\n
\u201cHa! Uh, yeah. Maybe. Someday.\u201d<\/p>\n
I waved a flyer at him like that would somehow erase the moment. \u201cAnyway, don\u2019t you have muscles to go flex?\u201d<\/p>\n
Jake rolled his eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll take that as a no. See you next week, Bear.\u201d<\/p>\n
He walked off, and I exhaled so hard that my bear head almost slipped sideways. He liked talking to me and wanted to have coffee.<\/p>\n
But if he knew the real me\u2014the nervous, clumsy, croissant-loving disaster\u2014would he still be interested?<\/p>\n
At the office, it was a different story.<\/p>\n
When he walked into the break room, I turned into a ninja, tossing my sandwich back into my lunchbox and swapping a chocolate bar for an apple.<\/p>\n
If he glanced my way, I pretended to be fascinated by work.<\/p>\n
It was a delicate balance: being invisible in one world and an oversized talking bear in another.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
That Friday night, my best friend Claire listened to my dramatic retelling over a tub of ice cream.<\/p>\n
\u201cEmma,\u201d she said between spoonfuls, \u201cjust tell him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTell him what? That I\u2019m the Bear? That I\u2019ve been in love with him since he asked me for extra staplers last year?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, exactly that!\u201d She pointed her spoon at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cMen are dumb. He clearly likes you, and you\u2019re out here doing Olympic-level avoidance. Grow some confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n
I groaned, burying my face in my hands. \u201cBut what if he realizes I\u2019m just\u2026 me?\u201d<\/p>\n
Claire sighed. \u201cEmma, if he doesn\u2019t like the real you, he\u2019s not worth it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Easier said than done. Because what if the real me isn\u2019t enough?<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
So, the following day, I did twenty squats, checked my armpits for freshness (twice), and sprayed enough breath mint to fumigate a small room.<\/p>\n
Finally, I squeezed into my favorite dress\u2014one cheeseburger away from an emergency wardrobe malfunction.<\/p>\n
I was ready.<\/p>\n
That was it. I was going to tell Jake the truth.<\/p>\n
No more hiding behind a bear costume. No more pretending I was fine. Just being his anonymous gym-side coffee buddy.<\/p>\n
When I marched into the office, my nerves were buzzing. And then\u2026<\/p>\n
\u201cEmma?\u201d<\/p>\n
Jake\u2019s voice made me stop in my tracks. He was standing outside his office door, looking\u2026 serious.<\/p>\n
\u201cCan you come in for a second?\u201d<\/p>\n
Oh. Oh no. Is he onto me? Has he already figured it out?<\/p>\n
I followed him inside, my hands gripping the fabric of my dress.<\/p>\n
Okay. I could do this.<\/p>\n
\u201cJake, I have something to tell you. I\u2026 It\u2019s me. I mean, the Bear. The mascot you see every weekend. That\u2019s me.\u201d<\/p>\n
There. I said it. I waited for his reaction, my heart pounding like a drumline in my ears. Before I could finish, there was a loud \u201cPOP!\u201d<\/p>\n
I jumped. Then\u2026<\/p>\n
\u201cSurprise!\u201d<\/p>\n
The door burst open, and my confused coworkers suddenly appeared from under the tables, balloons in hand, more whispering than yelling, \u201cHappy Work Anniversary\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Oh. OH.<\/p>\n
I had forgotten entirely.<\/p>\n
Jake looked at me, equally stunned. And then, just like that, the moment was gone.<\/p>\n
He\u2019d already stepped away, forcing a smile as our coworkers started clapping and shoving a cake into my hands.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have things to do,\u201d he muttered, brushing past me. \u201cEnjoy your party.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stood there, frozen, holding a cake I didn\u2019t even want. And that was that.<\/p>\n
That evening, I resigned. I left my notice on his desk with a simple, professional \u201cThank you for the opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n
No explanations. No second chances. I lied too many times to recover our coffee talking.<\/p>\n
And then I did what any heartbroken woman would do: drowned my sorrows in chips and old black-and-white romance movies.<\/p>\n
But I still had bills to pay. That meant Saturday came, and once again, I had to be the Bear.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
But on Saturday morning, something strange happened. A second mascot appeared. Not a Bear. Something worse.<\/p>\n
A Skunk!<\/p>\n
I stared. That had to be some kind of joke.<\/p>\n
\u201cMorning, Bear,\u201d the Skunk said, handing me a coffee like we were old friends.<\/p>\n
I froze. That voice! Again\u2026 It couldn\u2019t be!<\/p>\n
The Skunk stood there, tapping one oversized paw against his hip like he was waiting for me to say something.<\/p>\n
\u201cNice day for some flyering, huh?\u201d he continued, voice dripping with amusement.<\/p>\n
I narrowed my eyes. \u201cWho are you?\u201d<\/p>\n
The Skunk tilted his giant cartoonish head.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, come on. You don\u2019t recognize me?\u201d<\/p>\n
My heart started hammering. The voice. The ridiculous confidence.<\/p>\n
No. No way.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2026 you quit your job to pass out flyers?\u201d I blurted out, my brain short-circuiting.<\/p>\n
The Skunk shook his massive, foam-covered head.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot exactly. But let\u2019s say when I found out a certain someone was hiding behind a bear suit every weekend, I had to investigate.\u201d<\/p>\n
Oh. My. God.<\/p>\n
\u201cJake?\u201d<\/p>\n
And then, in one slow, dramatic motion, he reached up and pulled off the oversized skunk head.<\/p>\n
There he was, smirking. His hazel eyes shone with amusement, and he looked ridiculously pleased with himself.<\/p>\n
\u201cSurprise!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis\u2026 this is the dumbest thing you\u2019ve ever done.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cProbably.\u201d<\/p>\n
He stepped closer, holding my gaze.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, what do you say? Real coffee this time?\u201d<\/p>\n
I let out a breathless laugh, shaking my head.<\/p>\n
\u201cFine. But only if you promise never to wear that skunk suit again.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo promises,\u201d he smirked, reaching for my hand.<\/p>\n
And just like that, I finally stepped out of my costume and into something even scarier.<\/p>\n
Real life.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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