Unexpected

Part XLIII: A Familiar Face

"Three more!" Kate cheers.

I groan, sweat drips down my forehead, my muscles beg for me to stop.

One, two, three.

I let out a deep breath and collapse onto the floor, lying flat on my back.

"Careful of your head!" Kate gasps.

I shoot her an annoyed look. "I'm fine. It's been three months, Kate."

"Okay if you're so fine, get off the floor by yourself." Kate stands back and crosses her arms over her chest, looking at me skeptically.

Fuck. Come on, Kristine. Get up.

I sit up and ease myself onto my knees, I push myself off of the floor using extra support from my hands. I wince as I stand up straight and I breathe hard as I place my hands on my hips. "Ha. Did it." I stick my nose up in the air.

"I wish I could have gotten a video of that, you looked ridiculous," Kate snorts.

I playfully punch her arm. "Get out of here, go home," I laugh.

"Happily." She sticks her tongue out at me. "But first—" Kate steps toward me and checks my eyes and my heart rate, before taking a quick look at the scars on my abdomen. It's become a very invasive post workout routine. Finally, she nods, satisfied with her findings, and enters my room to gather her bags.

"Thanks for doing my physical therapy exercises with me!" I call, wiping the sweat from my face with the sleeves of my sweatshirt.

"Hey what else are best friends for, other than doing physical therapy to help heal bodily trauma?" She exits the bedroom and I stare at her with wide eyes. Kate winks. "Oof, too soon?"

"Get out!" I laugh and chase her out of the apartment.

I latch the door and I take off my sweatshirt. I toss it onto the couch and casually walk around in just my leggings and sports bra. As I enter my bedroom to get ready for a shower, I hear a knock on the door. If it's Kate, she would just walk back in. I remember that I had latched the door and I would need to let her in myself.

I pull the door open. The familiar, friendly, hazel eyes that I came to love, meet mine.

"Elliot?"

"Hey," he says quietly, his face flinching into a quick smile.

"Wha—at are you doing here?" I stutter.

About damn time. "I wanted to check in and see how you were doing." Elliot shrugs. "I got your new address from Julia."

"You know there's such a thing as phones, right?" I say sarcastically. I open the door wider, allowing him to enter the apartment.

"When I talked to Julia though, I was surprised to hear that you had quit your job."

I sigh and lean against the back of the couch, crossing my arms over my chest.

"I tried to go back, I did," I say quietly. "I wanted to dive right back in as if nothing had happened. As if I didn't nearly die because one of my client's lost his shit."

I take in a shuddering breath. "But I didn't belong there, not anymore. I need to do something different. After I got my acceptance letter, I knew it was time to embrace that next step. I started my Master's program last week."

Elliot shoves his hands into his pockets and nods, the corner of his mouth pulls into a real smile this time. "I was happy to hear you were accepted, I'm really proud of you."

"Thanks."

I wanted to tell you so badly, I wanted you to share my excitement. You had been the one to encourage me...