Daring Desires

Ari *tick* *tap* *tock* *tap* “Ari!” Sarah yelled over the top of the cubicle. “Sorry,” I blushed and shrugged my shoulders just as Sarah’s head popped over the top of the cubicle. “Girl, what’s got you all worked up this week?” Sarah said rolling her eyes. “You know I’m meeting Ricky this weekend, five more minutes and I’m blowing out of here like I’ve got wings.” I smiled to myself as Sarah slumped back into her cubicle. Sarah seemed a little put off at times by my eccentric lifestyle, but I knew it was just because she didn’t let lose when i was out of town. “I’ll be back before you know it. We’ll grab drinks next weekend, I promise,” I gushed. “Okay,” Sarah sighed, “I need my wing woman back here ASAP. You know it’s slim pickings here, and I’m not going to Ruby’s without you.” “You’ve just got to relax, Sarah. You intimidate everyone you meet, that’s the problem,” I lifted my eyes and smirked slightly waiting for the sassy response to her jab. Sarah returned to her normal headspace peering into my cubicle. I watched her inhale sharply, pursing her pouty lips ready to tell me off. I couldn’t see her completely, but I knew my best friend well enough to know her perfectly manicured and delicate hand was squeezing her hip bone on one side. I also knew the other was pointed at me ready to combat my sass. However, when Sarah noticed the smirk growing on my face she just let out a breath and deflated. “You are something else. I truly believe you just like to fire everyone up around you,” Sarah said softly. “You see right through me, love,” I cooed. “I will miss you, but you know I have to fire you up before I leave. That way you miss me twice as much.” Sarah rolled her hazel eyes again and smiled. “You are fired up enough for the both of us twenty-four/seven, you don’t need any help.” She moved to the edge of her desk to start gathering her things. I thought I heard her laugh quietly as my heels clicked quickly on the floor rushing to grab the elevator to get out of the office before I had to hold the door for thirty other people. “Bye, rude!” she yelled jokingly in my direction. “Love you, gorgeous. I’ll text you later!” I squeaked into the elevator and smashed the closed button excitedly. The floors seem to drag on and on during my decent. Luckily we only stopped at two other floors on the forty floor ride down. Two others in a rush to start their weekend just like me. Today, I didn’t have to even fuss with parking garage traffic. I took a cab into work and had the front desk hold my bag so I could meet Ricky right outside and start our trip. I needed this long weekend, and I couldn’t wait one more second. I straightened the folders in my hand impatiently and practically sprang from the elevator to rush the front desk. “Thank you!” I practically screamed at Harold as he had my bag waiting for me to roll away. He laughed whole heartedly. “Slow down Ari, just watching you in a hurry makes me nervous” Harold smiled softly. I paused a moment and gave him a big smile. “I’m sorry. I’m just ready to start another adventure.” As I clicked quickly away he chuckled once more. I finished sorting my files and shoved them in my bag on the move. I had finally got them swiftly in their place when I looked up and ran head first into a wall. I let out a high pitched and utterly surprised squeal as I toppled backwards from the impact. All of a sudden the wall. . . grabbed me? Confused and dazed I looked up to see Austin peering down at me. Stunned and my ego a little bruised I managed to squeak out, “Uh, excuse me.” His light blue eyes peaked down with concern. “Are you okay?” I could tell he was trying to keep a straight face and stifling a laugh at our predicament. “I think I’m fine. I just can’t move,” I admitted sheepishly. In the rush and awkwardness of our encounter he must not have realized he was still crushing me against him like a rag doll. My heels were dangling off the floor and my hands up against his chest from the impact. He blushed slightly which lit up his face as he set me down softly. “Instinct,” he stammered, “I didn’t want you to fall.” He seemed to collect himself and repeated, “Are you sure you’re okay?” I peered up at him to see the slight smirk reappearing now. I smiled shyly and internally kicked myself. I was usually so cool and confident. “I haven’t ran into any other walls lately. That was one heck of a way to end the week.” I laughed and tried to skirt around him towards the door. “A wall, huh?” He questioned as he raised an eyebrow. Again, caught of guard I blurted, “you’re just really . . . hard.” Good lord, I thought to myself, I have to get out of here. This time he let out a full laugh, “Well, thank you for the . . . compliment,” he returned slowly and confidently. I let out some air, “Have a good weekend,” I stated and rushed around him out the door. Mentally I was overwhelmed. What the heck was that? I’d seen Austin a million times before he worked in one of the executive offices on my floor. For goodness sake we had business lunches together all the time. Come to think of it though, it was the first time I’d seen him without a desk, banquet spread, or meeting room table between us. In fact, I didn’t realize how tall he was. . . six foot, six foot at least? “Where is your head?” Jolted quickly from my thoughts there was Ricky ready to take my bag. “Sorry,” I apologized quickly, “still in a bit of a haze from . . . work.” “Relax now,” Ricky commanded, “All fun and games, no work allowed” He commanded and I did. Ricky truly was so calming. “I’m so ready,” I admitted and pushed away the thoughts of Austin.