The clock was ticking down, and Angela could almost taste the freedom that came with the end of the workday.
Her desk was cluttered with papers and coffee cups, but all she could focus on was the phone in her hand.
Lisa, ever the one to tease, stood up from her own desk and waved cheerfully at her.
“Going to see Eric, huh?” Lisa winked, a playful grin on her face. “Better not leave him hanging.”
Angela rolled her eyes but couldn’t stop the smile that tugged at her lips. She had been waiting for the workday to end, and the thought of seeing Eric made everything feel a little lighter.
Lisa didn’t miss a beat. “You better tell him he’s got some competition. I’m starting to think you two are too perfect together.”
Before Angela could respond, her phone dinged, cutting through the teasing atmosphere. It was a message from Eric .
“Are you done with work?”
Angela quickly tapped out her reply: “Almost done. Just wrapping up.”
A moment later, another message appeared. “I’ll be waiting for you downstairs. I’ll take you home.”
Her heart did a little flip, and she couldn’t help the giddy excitement that bubbled up. Packing up her things quickly, she powered down her laptop, grabbed her bag, and almost jogged to the elevator.
The thought of Eric waiting for her sent a rush of warmth through her veins.
When she arrived in the lobby, she spotted him immediately. He stood by the car, his sunglasses perched on his nose, his arms folded across his chest. He looked effortlessly cool, and Angela couldn’t help but notice the way people passing by stole glances at him.
And why wouldn’t they? Eric was nothing short of stunning.
Angela felt a twinge of pride. He was hers.
She made her way toward him, a little faster now, her heart racing.
As she got closer, Eric’s face lit up with a smile, and before she knew it, he had wrapped his arms around her, pulling her in for a brief but tender kiss.
“Hey, beautiful,” he murmured, his voice low and warm.
“Hey yourself,” she said, grinning up at him. Her nerves were a mess, but in a good way. She was finally going to do it.
He opened the car door for her, and she slid into the passenger seat. Eric jumped into the driver’s seat, starting the engine. The ride was mostly quiet, the hum of the engine filling the space between them.
They exchanged small glances and smiles, each of them savoring the moment.
“Tell me about your day,” Eric said, glancing over at her with a smirk.
Angela leaned back in her seat, letting out a content sigh. “Just the usual. Boring meetings. Emails. Same old, same old.” She paused, looking over at him. “But I’m glad it’s over.”
He chuckled, his eyes gleaming. “I’m glad, too. You deserve a break.”
They both fell into a comfortable silence, the kind that only seemed to happen when two people were genuinely at ease with each other.
Angela couldn’t help but steal glances at him, at the way his jawline looked sharp under the dim glow of the streetlights, how effortlessly handsome he was.
And that’s when it hit her.
She had been debating it in her mind all week, but tonight, the decision was crystal clear.
“I’ve been thinking…” she started, her voice slightly shaky despite her best efforts. Eric turned his head toward her, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.
“Yeah?”
Angela took a deep breath, her heart pounding a little harder now. This was it. “I think… I think I’m ready to be your girlfriend.”
The car screeched to a halt, the sudden stop making Angela jolt forward in her seat.
She blinked in surprise, eyes wide. Eric ’s gaze was fixed on her, his mouth slightly agape.
“I—what?” he stammered, clearly caught off guard.
Angela laughed, a nervous giggle escaping her lips. “What, you didn’t think I would say yes?”
He blinked, then grinned sheepishly. “Honestly? I thought you’d never accept me.”
Angela smiled, her heart swelling with warmth. “Well, looks like you were wrong.”
Before she could say anything else, Eric ’s hands were on her, pulling her toward him.
His lips crashed against hers, hungry and intense, as if he couldn’t wait another second. The world around them seemed to blur as their kiss deepened, a rush of desire flooding through her body.
Angela’s breath caught as Eric ’s hands trailed down her body, brushing against the exposed skin of her thighs.
The heat between them grew with each passing second, the intensity of the kiss building as their bodies responded to the growing passion. She could feel his pulse racing against hers, the fire igniting between them.
His lips moved from hers, trailing down to her neck, his breath warm against her skin.
Angela let out a soft sigh, her fingers threading through his hair as she pulled him closer. The car seemed to disappear around them, and all that mattered was the way he made her feel.
But then, a sudden, sharp jolt hit the car.
Eric ’s hands froze, and Angela’s heart skipped a beat as she pulled away, her eyes wide with shock. What the hell just happened?
Eric cursed under his breath, gripping the steering wheel tighter. “Shit.”
Angela looked through the rearview mirror and saw another car’s headlights bearing down on them, the sudden impact causing the vehicle to lurch forward. Her pulse hammered in her chest as she tried to process what had just happened.
“What the hell?” Eric growled, slamming the car into park and immediately unbuckling his seatbelt.
“Stay here,” he ordered, his voice harsh and urgent.
Before she could respond, Eric had already flung open the door and stormed out of the car. Angela’s mind raced, her body still buzzing from the kiss and the shock of the crash.