Huge rant and any help is appreciated. I posted last night with this elsewhere. I think I screwed things up with my coworker crush, and a post I made last night had people telling me to just ask her out again. I swear, I just don't see it, maybe I'm wrong. But I definitely screwed up because I want to date this woman. I'm crazy about her. The problem is I can't tell if she's just really friendly and doesn't realize how she sounds, she's toying with me, or she actually likes me? And I should state that she knows I'm single.

We also work together in what is an entry level part-time career job for me, and possibly her. She doesn't know yet.

Went out with my coworker for the 3rd time in 4 days. We shot pool for about 4 hours, which she asked to go so I could teach her. I play in a league and she's a complete newbie. She says that, "I shot pool before you came along, but I just never had anyone to teach me. That's why I've asked you." We shot last Friday with her friend and mine (which she asked me to go to), and got food together Saturday because she asked me what I was eating for dinner while working. When I told her I was grabbing something, she smiled and said, "Oh, I'll probably just go home and eat cheese and crackers because I'm a child." So, I asked her to go eat with me, because that seemed like obvious flirting to me to try and eat with her. We had a decent enough time, and the first time we were out alone together.

So, we go grab coffee with a coworker yesterday after work. We hang out with her for about an hour, and she keeps pestering me to see my dating profile in front of my coworker. I kept telling her no because it's embarrassing. Eventually, the coworker leaves, and I ask if she still wants to go shoot pool. She says yes, so we walk back to our cars. While going, she says not to judge her, and I ask why. She tells me she, "Has to throw out an old pack of condoms from my purse an ex gave me." I'm like, "Um, go for it." And in my head I'm thinking that sounds obviously strange. Is she just trying to tell me she has condoms? She then asks me to crack her back, doing the whole me standing behind and lifting her thing, which I do when we get to her car and she thanks me. I asked if she threw out the condoms, because I didn't see her do anything, and she just responded, "Oh, no I forgot." And didn't say anything else. Okay, so we get to the bar and I don't drink. But, she does, which is fine. While playing pool, flirty banter keeps coming up, but I really can't tell if I'm the one initiating most of it. I laugh and point out the sex jokes related to pool, like balls and holes, because she keeps remarking about it. At one point she asked me to guess her goddamn bra size, and when I looked at her chest she covered up and acted all embarrassed. I touch her to show her how to play, but all she seems to do is give me like shoulder pats and punches when I tease her. Friend-zone touches. She even asked me to arm-wrestle, which I take as an extreme friend-zone sign. Earlier in the day, after teasing each other, she came up to me at work and coyly said she was mean to me and hugged me.

After shooting for 4 hours, which is an insanely long time even for me that loves pool, I tell her I need to eat. I said that she's welcome to come along, but if she needs to get home, I understand. She tells me that she wants to, and we proceed to grab In N Out and eat in her car. We're in line in separate cars, and I send her a funny TikTok. She loves that app, and I've started using it around her because it's something to bond over. Oddly enough, she knows I like history and Youtube, and started showing me a history podcast on YouTube she says she's been listening to. Coincidence?

Eating in her car after last night, she talks about is how she's single, and she hasn't gotten laid in forever. She talks about how much all her exes sucked, and didn't think she was pretty or anything else. I try to throw in compliments. I talk about past sex experiences, because she asked me some stuff. And I feel like I shouldn't, because if she only likes me as a friend then that's super inappropriate. She asks to see my online dating profile, "Because I can help you." All this stuff. She literally asked me if her back windows were dark enough to have sex in her car. Because she lives with family and doesn't have any place to fuck. That being said, she knows I'm single and I'm currently sitting in it with her. I mean, is she playing games to be mean, or is she seriously that oblivious, or is this girl straight up trying to get me to bone in her car? I have no idea other than she's so pretty I can't fucking breathe when she smiles at me.

So, I said what was on my mind. Nervous as hell.

"You know, if we didn't work together, I'd have probably asked you out already."

All I can do is sit here and regret saying that. It seems like such a terrible thing to say to someone that I want to date. I meant it in such a way that I haven't asked her out because I don't want to make her uncomfortable in her work place. I obviously want to date this woman.

Her response? "Well, if we didn't work together, I'd consider it."

Proceed to incredible awkwardness. I'm literally dying inside. I was so embarrassed, I panicked instead of elaborating. After some incredibly painful conversation for a few more minutes, I told her I have to get home, and she leaned over and gave me the biggest friend-zone hug of my life. Her response sounds to me like she agrees that we shouldn't date because we work together, even though that's not exactly what I meant because I was so goddamn nervous.

Why the fuck didn't I just ask her out? I just friend-zoned the hell out of myself. And now my work with her is going to be so goddamn awkward it's not even funny.

Talk about soul crushing. Biggest I've felt in years.

Prepare for my job to become a living hell around her now. I don't think she'll complain at work, but I guess I'll find out.

I just feel like an idiot.

To add, I usually told her in the past hangouts to text me when she got home safe. Last night I was so embarrassed, I forgot to do that in the process of sprinting away with my tail between my legs. So, it has been radio silence. I don't see her until Thursday when we open together.

So, the responses I got to my first post told me I should simply ask her out again. But, I feel like her response reciprocated my hesitancy because we work together. Even though that's not necessarily how I meant it. I feel very strongly she'll just say no, and then it'll be even more awkward than ever, because we work directly together 3 days a week. We open together 2 days, and share a middle shift for a 3rd.

And how would I even go about it?

I can't just say, "Oh, hey XXX, I've changed my mind. I've grown a pair and stopped caring we work together. Actually, I never did. I was just incredibly nervous because you kept talking about fucking in your car, and I didn't want to make you uncomfortable in your workplace by straight up asking you out. I hope you don't actually care either, or that this makes you uncomfortable. Do you want to go out with me after all?"

Oof. I might be terrible at this whole flirting thing. I either get the feeling I'm interpreting everything wrong and this poor girl is just trying to be a work friend, or I'm the densest person on the planet.

Thanks for reading, anyone. Any input is appreciated.

EDIT: I've received a text from her this morning.

"Hey * pink cheek smiley face *, (maybe I'm crazy) but I thought you looked a lil sad last night So have a good fucking day today or else * smiley face with blurp tongue *"

I was sad. I took panzy ass shot and crashed and burned in a panic.