Falling for the Fire

Chapter 42

*Brooklyn's POV

I drove away from Ariana's house, feeling more confused than I had in a long time.

I knew that staying with her last night and today was going to complicate things, and now that I had left, it felt more complicated than ever.

I didn't regret doing it, I know that she needed someone there with her. I was just angry with myself for letting these feelings creep in.

I felt like I needed to have a conversation with her and explain everything, but that was much easier said than done.

We clearly needed to go back to the way things were when this first started, or it was going to become a problem.

                                      ***

I got into work on Monday and immediately looked for Ari in the conference room, but I didn't see her.

"Hey, Eliana," I said, "is Ari here yet?"

She rolled her eyes at me before giving me an answer.

"She's in her office."

"Thanks," I mumbled before quickly taking off in that direction.

I was still feeling a little bit uncomfortable with everything that had happened this past weekend, but I needed to make sure she was doing okay.

I got to her office door and quietly knocked, and when she looked up at me I could tell how tired she was.

"Hi," I said as I came in and sat down across from her.

"Hey Brooklyn," she grinned.

"Are you doing okay? After - after this weekend?" I asked.

"Yeah, I'm alright," she said, "thanks."

"Good," I nodded, "I had to come check."

"By the way," I continued, "does Avery still hate me?"

"She doesn't hate you," Ari laughed, "she was glad that you were there on Friday."

It looked like there was something else that she wanted to say, but she left it at that.

"Okay," I said, "I guess I should get back out to the conference room."

"I'll be out in a few minutes," she responded.

"Sounds good," I told her as I stood up from my chair.

Her arms were sitting out in front of her on the desk, and gave one of them a quick squeeze before I left.

"What were you so frantic to see her for?" Eliana asked as I came back out.

"It was just about something we'd been working on," I said, "I had to check on it."

"Awfully vague," she scoffed, "but okay."

I ignored her snide comment and sat down at the opposite end of the large conference room table.

Ariana came out from her office a few minutes later and took the chair next to me. She still didn't quite seem like herself as we started to work, but I kind of figured that would be the case.

She had a lot going on right now.

The big event was getting pretty close, and we all stayed busy with our tasks for making sure it was ready.

A little later into the morning, Eliana called me over to where her and a few other people were working on a project.

"What's up?" I asked as I approached them.