Sarah sat on her couch, staring blankly at the TV as her mind wandered back to the office party. She couldn't shake off the feeling of Jake's lips almost touching hers, the spark of electricity that had run through her body.
She was torn. Part of her wanted to give in to her desires, to see where things could go with Jake. But another part of her was hesitant, afraid of compromising her professionalism and risking her job.
Just as she was starting to feel like she was going crazy, her phone buzzed with a text from her best friend, Emily. "Hey girl, what's up? You've been distant lately."
Sarah sighed, knowing she needed to talk to someone about her feelings. "Hey Em, I'm just having some mixed emotions about Jake," she typed back.
Emily's response was immediate. "Spill the tea! What's going on with you two?"
Sarah took a deep breath and poured out her heart, telling Emily everything that had happened since the office party. Emily listened attentively, offering words of encouragement and support.
"Sarah, you deserve to be happy," Emily wrote. "If Jake makes you feel that way, then why not explore it? Life is too short to let fear hold you back."
Sarah felt a weight lift off her shoulders as she read Emily's words. Maybe her friend was right. Maybe she did deserve to be happy, and maybe Jake was the key to unlocking that happiness.
Just as she was starting to feel more confident, her phone buzzed again. This time, it was Jake. "Hey Sarah, I was thinking maybe we could grab dinner this week? Just the two of us?"
Sarah's heart skipped a beat as she hesitated, unsure of what to say. But then she remembered Emily's words, and she knew what she had to do.
"Sure, Jake. I'd love to," she typed back, a smile spreading across her face.
As she hit send, Sarah felt a thrill of excitement mixed with a dash of nervousness. What would happen next? Only time would tell.