I choose me.

Part 18: Life as it resumes

Right back to the grind on Saturday, she was up early and did some sparring and heavy bag work while Crawford slept, she stayed downstairs going through mail, bills and invoices. Olivia opened the doors at six and got a few tired "Heys" and "Wondered when you'd be backs"

The front needed reorganizing, so she tasked herself to that and did inventory on their PureSide merchandise and product. "Yo, my Ma said she saw you on T.V. the other night." Mike walked over between his sets.

She rolled her eyes, "I didn't know they had electricity that far north."

He gave a chuckle, "All that true? You guys never talk about nothing." She leveled the stack of papers in her hand.

"Exactly, we don't talk about it."

"Olivia—come on." He wiped his sweaty brow.

"I'm moving to San Diego...alone. Crawford is just helping me." She watched the shock register on his pale face. "What about the gym? Everything."

She leaned forward, wanting to calm him, "Everything stays the same, I'm not selling the gym, I just won't be here." She said and looked around her home.

"Does Ben know?" He asked automatically.

"I don't know Mikey—it doesn't matter really."

"How doesn't it matter 'Livia?"

"No disrespect Mikey, but I really don't need to hear it from you too okay?" Crawford came down the stairs, Mike gave him a long stare before going back to his workout, he had his bags. "Is it that time already?" She checked the clock with a frown. "I can get Andrew to give you a ride."

He shook his head, "I've got an uber coming."

"You and uber." She smiled.

"Think you'll make it to New York before March?" He asked her and she smiled with a shrug.

"I can sure try, Boston isn't that far from New York." A van pulled up outside of the gym and she walked out with him. "Morning mate." Crawford greeted the driver, he tossed his bags in and turned to her, Olivia tip toed and gave him a hug and breathed in his sent, ran her hands through his hair. "I'll see you soon."

"You will." He kissed her forehead and rode away, she shivered, it was so cold here, but she stood outside in the freezing, drinking in the sights of her neighborhood. The old tired buildings, a stray dog or two, the little stores and Benny—Benny. She saw him staring at her and it jarred her. He was in a big jacket, carrying grocery bags for old lady Doherty, she rushed back inside with a racing heart.

Busy was the name of the game that day, she went through her office and organized everything she could, and re-cleaned it. "Olivia?" PJ was at her door and she jumped, brushing the dirt off of her hands. "What's up?" He looked highly uncomfortable. "What is it?"

He cracked all his knuckles, and picked at a thread on his shirt.

"Uh, Kiki just showed up—um—she won't say what happened." She stood up and crossed her arms. "What. Is. Wrong?"

"Her lip is all busted, she said nothing...she's been back with Xander."

She blew past him and went out to the front, when she didn't see Kiki out there, she went into the women's locker room. "Kiki" Olivia touched her shoulder and she winced, "Kiki." She turned her around and inwardly gasped, her bottom lip was scabbed over and you could see a large bruise under her dark skin by her eye, her shoulder was hurt badly. She couldn't quite describe the rage and hate that instantly exploded from every cell in her body. "Oh sweetheart." She hugged Kiki. "What happened."