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Chapter Eight
Tyson
Sweatbeadedonmyforehead. My legs shook as I completed the final set of exercises. I grunted, embarrassed it was so difficult for me. A few months ago, this would be nothing. Something I could do in my damn sleep.
“Good job, Ty.” Clara touched my arm, ready to offer support. I refused to lean into her even though my knee screamed in pain. “You’re doing so well. The doctor is impressed with your progress.”
I gave a stiff nod as she guided me to a table on the back wall of the therapy room. No one was in here to watch me, but I hated how I limped.
All the doctors and physical therapist had been happy with my healing so far, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t frustrating. In the past three years of fighting MMA, I’d become no stranger to injury. But this was different. This was for the long haul and even though I was improving, I wasn’t back to my old self. I couldn’t train. I couldn’t fight. They still didn’t know if I’d ever fight again. Even though I tried not to think about it, it hurt.
I’d once felt invincible. Now, I was constantly reminded of my weakness.
I lay down on the table as Clara stretched out my leg and knee. Damn, it was painful, but I kept my face expressionless.
Clara flicked her short bangs out other eyes. “So, I saw you came in with Ellie today.”
I glanced at her, frowning. Clara was slightly younger than me, but she was sweet. I knew her before she became a physical therapy assistant. We’d actually gone out one time and even though I was worried she would hold a grudge from our hookup so many years ago, she hadn’t.
“Her car broke down this morning and she needed a ride.”
Her brow furrowed. “Oh, that’s too bad.” She continued to stretch out my muscles with a practiced, gentle hand. “Her dad is a sweetheart. He’s one of my favorite patients.”
I nodded, unsure of how to respond. She’d never spoken about Ellie or her father before. “They’re good people.”
Clara held my gaze, her mouth opened as if she wanted to say something, but then she simply nodded. She set my leg back on the table, her arms falling to her sides.
“You’re good for today. We’ll see you again next week. The doctor might discuss with you then about moving you down to once a week.”
I sat up, my knee felt better but still sore after the stretches. “Sounds good. See you then, Clara.”
I smiled and she blushed, looking away and taking a step back. “See you, Ty.”
I walked to my Jeep alone. I hadn’t wanted Ellie and her father waiting around for me to finish my appointment. Atlas had come to take them home on his lunch break. It had been good timing when I called and asked if he was busy at the police station. Apparently, we got lucky and nothing too exciting was happening this afternoon that demanded Sargent Atlas Ranes’s attention.
I turned the key in the ignition and the Jeep rumbled to life. As I drove home, I thought of Ellie. I’d have to call Mel at the shop later and make sure he fixed her car. I scrubbed a hand over my stubbled jaw, wondering if I should’ve done more to help her. I didn’t like that she was stuck without a vehicle. If the mechanic hadn’t been able to come out today, I’d drop my Jeep off at her house and drive Atlas’s truck for a while. She wouldn’t like it, but I didn’t care. Ellie wasn’t one to ask for help. It didn’t matter that she wanted nothing to do with me, I cared for her and I was going to do everything I could to make sure she had what she needed.
I hesitated at Ellie’s front door, my hand hovering uncertainly in the air. I hadn’t heard a peep from her since yesterday, other than the time she told me to be here. Part of me was nervous, but another part was excited for the excuse to see her.
I knocked; two hard raps on the door.
She answered almost immediately. Swinging the door open, she stared at me like she was surprised I showed up.
“Hey,” she said, a little breathless.
I raised a hand. “Hey.”
A low mewing noise made me glance at my feet where a pair of round, golden eyes stared up at me. I grinned, crouching down to scratch the calico behind the ears. “Hey, Buff.” I hadn’t seen her in so long. I was glad she seemed to be doing well. She purred loudly.
Ellie cleared her throat and I straightened. She stared at me a second longer before stepping back. “Come in.”
This wasn’t the first time I’d been inside Ellie’s home, but this felt different. Like I was a stranger rather than a friend.
Ellie eyed the cat who hadn’t followed me inside. “You coming?” she asked. Buffy blinked at her, unmoving. Ellie shrugged and closed the door. Her long dark hair was loose down her back, the silky strands falling over her face as she looked at Charlie sitting in the tiny living room to the right of the door.
“He should be settled in for the most part,” she said, avoiding my gaze. “He’ll need lunch, but I’ve already prepared everything. It’s sitting on a plate in the fridge.” She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. “There’s a contact list hanging on the fridge in case of an emergency.”
I nodded. I hated that she wouldn’t look at me. “Will I know if he needs anything?”
