Very Interesting/ Confusing Situation...
I have become entangled in a very confusing situation. I will try to explain it in the best way possible to receive some opinions.
I have known this woman for a year and a half. I work with her at the office. I am 28, she is 35. The entire time I have known, she has been engaged, but it did not seem like a happy engagement.
While I have known her, we have always been great friends, but only at work. We never really seen each other or talked outside of work. Never really wanted to start anything, as she was engaged. During this year and a half, we talked about having a relationship, but in a light-hearted way. She gave me gifts every now and then at work. We never really talked about anything that happened outside of work, including our personal lives.
About three weeks ago, she ended her engagement. She began to call me at home, which is something that has never happened in the time we have known each other. Our work relationship has become very strained. It seems we are very nervous around each other, although when we text or talk on the phone, everything seems ok. Our last conversation went on for a few hours. During this conversation, we talked about her ended relationship, and she asked about my relationship. We also tried to figure out why our work relationship is so weird. She tried to keep asking me what she did to cause this, and to tell her what is on my mind.
I guess I have a few questions. The first would be does anyone have any ideas how to fix the work relationship. It feels very strange at work seeing as how we don't talk much at work, but we do outside of work now. Does anyone have any ideas as to why this awkwardness would occur?
I have another question. I am somewhat interested in pursuing a relationship with this person. Is it the right time to let her know that? She has given me a few subtle comments that make it seem she feels the same way, including talking to a mutual friend about us. Then I think about the fact that she just got out of the engagement, and it may be too early.
I am very confused with this situation.