Falling for the Fire

Chapter 30

*Brooklyn's POV

I tried to calm my racing heart as Ariana and I walked back towards my car.

Not only was it racing from seeing her almost get crushed by a falling part from the stage, but our interaction afterwords was affecting me more than I wanted to admit.

Being attracted to her wasn't a huge deal, but after what had already happened between us, I didn't think it was a good idea.

Sure I could try to sleep with her again, but I had a pretty good feeling that me calling it a mistake the last time it happened had ruined any chance of that.

I was pretty used to getting what I wanted when it came to women, and I didn't want Ariana to ruin that for me.

I was fully aware that I sounded extremely conceited, but it was true. I wasn't sure if I could handle being turned down by her.

She wasn't like most women that I went after, and I was really starting to wish that I hadn't in the first place. Maybe it would be easier to resist if I didn't know what it was like.

I wouldn't really be asking for much, all I wanted was to get my hands on her again. I just didn't know how to approach it.

Somehow I had a feeling that, "hey Ari want to have casual sex again" wouldn't exactly work on her.

She didn't seem like that type of person, even though that's basically how we met; but she was also right that I really didn't know that much about her.

I really just needed to stop thinking about it altogether. That was obviously a lot easier said than done, especially when we had to work together every day in such close proximity.

"Brooklyn"

Ariana's voice cut through my thoughts and I looked up at her.

"Your car is this way," she said as she nodded in the opposite direction of where I'd been trying to go.

"Oh, right," I responded, "sorry, just not paying attention."

She grinned at me as I turned and started walking towards the side of the parking lot where my car was actually at.

I started to drive us back to the office, and I was thankful for the distraction when Ariana started talking about the event again.

"It seems like we're on schedule with everything," she said, "but it still seems like there's so much left to do."

"Well there kind of is," I responded as I glanced over at her and grinned, "but you're right, we are on schedule so we shouldn't have a problem getting everything done."

"I don't know how you're so calm about all of this," she sighed.

"I'm not always," I laughed, "but I feel pretty comfortable with where we're at for this, so I'm not worried."

"Although I might be worried if you keep walking under falling stage pieces," I continued.

Ari looked over at me and rolled her eyes, but I could see that she was trying to hide a smile.

"You better just stay around to save me then," she responded teasingly.

I grinned to myself as I drove us the rest of the way back to the office, my mind still feeling conflicted.

"I have to get to a couple of meetings for another event I'll have coming up," I told Ari as I stopped in front of the building.

"Oh," she said, almost sounding disappointed, "so you're not coming back in today?"

"No, sorry," I shook my head, "I have to get to the other side of town, but I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yeah, sounds good," she said as she got out of the car.

"Hey Ari," I called after her, waiting for her to turn around and face me, "don't get yourself killed while I'm gone, okay?"

I smirked at her and she smiled back and shook her head in my direction.

"Bye Brooklyn," she said.

I watched her walk back in to the office as I sat in my car in a trance.

I didn't have any meetings to go to, it was a last minute lie that I'd concocted to get myself some space. I needed to be away from this whole situation for a while and clear my head.

***

I was in the office working with everyone a few days later when Ariana had gone back to grab something from her desk.

I stood up and was walking over to make a few copies, when I heard a knock and a vaguely familiar voice.

"Sorry to interrupt, is Ariana around?"

My head shot back to find Ari's mom standing in the doorway of the conference room. Before I could lie and tell her that she wasn't here, Eliana spoke up.

"Yeah she's back in her office."

She gestured down the hallway without looking up, and my mind went into a panic. I knew that Ari wouldn't want to see her, and I didn't want her to have to.

I discreetly rushed out of the room and went to find her.

"Ari, hey, your -"

I stopped in her doorway when I realized that she wasn't at her desk. Fuck, where had she gone?

I heard footsteps approaching at the same time that the sink turned on in the bathroom across the hallway. She must have been in there.

I rushed over and stood in front of the door as the sound of the steps got closer. I knocked quietly and it cracked open just as her mom rounded the corner.

I pushed inside as I put my hands on Ariana's waist and moved her back. I slammed the door behind me as she looked back in confusion.

"What the hell are you - "

"Your mom is here," I cut her off in a whisper, "like right outside of your office."

A dark look came over her face, and I wasn't sure what else to say.

"Why would..." she trailed off as she looked down at the ground.

For the second time this week, I felt my pulse quicken as we stood there with only inches between us. I still had ahold of her waist, and I didn't want to let go.

"Thank you," she said quietly.

I nodded back at her as her eyes slowly came back up to meet mine.

"Do you want me to..." I started, not even knowing what I was trying to say.

My eyes briefly flitted down to her lips, but I shook the thought out of my head. This wasn't the time or place.

"Want you to...what?" She asked in a whisper.

"Um," I cleared my throat and finally let my hands fall from her waist, "just stay here for a second, okay? I'll take care of it."

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