Caught Off Guard During a Shift

Hey there everyone, I've been feeling pretty conflicted about something that happened recently at my coffee shop. You know how it is sometimes; the days blend together, but certain moments stick out like sore thumbs. So let me set the scene: I work as a barista at this trendy little café near campus. It's not too busy, and there's usually a laid-back vibe going on between us employees and regulars alike. My boyfriend, Jake, he's forty, is one of those regulars who's been coming in for years now. He always greets me with that familiar smile and orders his usual, a double espresso and a croissant. We've known each other long enough to be comfortable around each other, but our relationship has stayed strictly platonic at the workplace. Or so I thought. The incident happened last week when it was super busy during finals season. The place was packed with students cramming for exams and trying to get their caffeine fix before bed. Jake walked in as usual but seemed extra flustered, like he had something weighing heavily on his mind. He looked at me, eyes wide with urgency. I knew him well enough to see the vulnerability behind it all. Without really thinking about protocol or personal boundaries, I told him we could talk after my shift. So there we were, sitting in a quiet corner away from nosy coworkers and busy customers. We started off just catching up on the usual, his job, my classes, and that's when things took an unexpected turn. Jake let out a sigh and confessed something he was clearly hesitant about sharing; his life had been extra stressful lately with work and personal issues piling up, leaving him feeling overwhelmed. He then dropped this bombshell: he felt drawn to me in ways we hadn't acknowledged before. Not just friendship or companionship, but something more. It took a lot of courage for Jake to admit it, and hearing him say it left me stunned. Now, let's fast forward a few days later. I've been trying hard not to overthink it or jump to conclusions because there is still my boyfriend at home waiting for me. We’re solid in our relationship, but something about the tension between Jake and myself has lingered since that conversation. I feel guilty every time we interact at work now, like maybe I should have pushed things further when he was vulnerable, but also terrified of complicating everything. It's confusing because my feelings towards him are still just platonic despite his admission, yet there’s this undeniable chemistry between us. So here’s the big question: Am I overthinking this? Is it normal to feel conflicted about someone who isn't your partner expressing romantic interest during a period of stress and vulnerability? How do you navigate these waters without hurting anyone involved? Thanks for reading. Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated.