Lame Names and Other Games

Oh god, this was awkward. I knew that I knew their name, somewhere in the back of my mind. It had probably come up in previous conversation, but I never cared to focus on it. 

But now...ugh. The new guy chatting to us by the coffee machine, and my mind drew a complete blank. He wasn't that new anymore, either - it'd been around three months since he joined the firm, well past the time where I could ask without the situation being colossally uncomfortable. 

So I stood there with Meg while he chatted to us, hoping the name would come up. That happens sometimes, right? People use their own names in conversation. Maybe I could avoid the situation entirely. 

Stuck in my head, I completely missed the joke no-name-guy was telling us, until abrupt giggling halted my internal berating. I joined in the laughter as to not draw suspicion, without any real clue about what was so funny. 

"That's great," said Meg, slapping her knee. "Oh my god, don't tell me that really happened." 

"I swear by it," new guy said, as the two tried to regain composure. "I couldn't make this stuff up."

He poured himself some coffee, and the conversation turned to our weekend plans. His brother was playing at some bar with his band on Saturday, so he'd probably be dropping by to that. Meg had a date with another guy she met online. 

My plans pretty much consisted locking myself inside my apartment to binge watch Netflix with my cat, so I observed more than I contributed to the topic. As the two talked, my thoughts turned back to the unknown name. 

Maybe he was Zach. He kind of looked like one, with his greenish eyes and cool-guy demeanor. Maybe he was more of a Josh. Or Matt. 

Really, it shouldn't be this hard to ask. I could totally do this. Maybe I could ask to exchange numbers - that's always a sure way to get someone's name. You just give them your phone and let them type their info in. But then maybe he'd get the wrong impression, and think I was trying to hit on him. Not that I would be. But god, what if he turned me down? I didn't want to date him, but that would be a blow to my self esteem. What if he didn't?

Yeah, no. Asking for his phone number was out. 

Maybe I could ask Meg - after all, she seemed to know him pretty well. As much as I liked my desk neighbor though, she was lacked the ability to, as we say, keep her mouth shut about anything. She was notoriously a huge gossip, and would probably tell no-name guy I was too embarrassed to ask about his name which would only make things more awkward than if I just asked his name in the first place. 

I was just going to ask him. Rip the band-aid off. Sure, it'd be a little unpleasant, but at least I'd know his name. 

I turned back to the conversation, resolute in my quest to learn his name. 

"Anyways, we should probably get back to work," he said. Do it now, I thought. C'mon, just get it over with. Ask him. 

Before I could get the words out, he turned to me. 

"It was nice talking to you," he said smiling, "By the way, could you tell me your name again?" 

Wait. What?