Fantasy Football Enthusiast Finds He’s Also in Fantasy Relationship

Mark Drayton, an avid fantasy football player, recently discovered that his knack for turning fiction into obsession extended far beyond the confines of his fantasy league—straight into his love life. For months, Drayton believed he was romantically involved with Claire, a colleague from his office, only to have it all come crashing down when his fantasy met reality in the most awkward way possible.

The misunderstanding began innocuously enough. Drayton and Claire had gone to lunch a few times, but always as part of a larger group of coworkers. There was never any romantic subtext to these interactions, but Drayton had read far too much into the casual camaraderie. “She laughed at my jokes, and we talked about the games. I thought we were vibing,” he explained, his voice tinged with disbelief.

As the weeks passed, Drayton became increasingly convinced that Claire was his girlfriend, despite the fact that she never showed any signs of romantic interest. “I mean, she’s single, I’m single, and we talk all the time. I just thought it was obvious,” Drayton said, reflecting on the mounting fantasy he had built in his head.

The illusion crumbled spectacularly during a client meeting when Drayton, brimming with misguided confidence, introduced Claire to the client as his girlfriend. Even if Claire had actually been his girlfriend, the introduction would have been inappropriate in a business setting. But the reality was far worse: Claire was not his girlfriend, nor did she have any idea Drayton thought of her that way.

Stunned, Claire awkwardly corrected the situation, leaving Drayton to face the mortifying aftermath. “I didn’t know what to say. I just assumed we were on the same page,” Drayton admitted. Claire, visibly uncomfortable, quickly excused herself, leaving the room in awkward silence.

Drayton’s friends weren’t shocked. “He’s always been a little too invested in his fantasies,” said one coworker. “Whether it’s football or relationships, he tends to blur the line between what’s real and what he wants to be real.”

Now, licking his wounds, Drayton is trying to salvage both his reputation at work and his fantasy football season. “I’ll take the loss,” he said. “In both leagues. But, hey, at least I didn’t lose my QB to injury this week.”

As for Claire, office sources say she’s keeping her distance—professionally and personally—while Drayton grapples with the lesson that some fantasies are better left on the field.