Chapter Six: The Distance Between Us
MAYA
There's a special kind of silence that happens after you say something unforgivable.
It doesn't scream. It just... lingers.
That's how it felt between Damian and me.
At Elevate Lab, things were... different. He was back to being TrainerBot 3000. All clipped instructions and zero emotion.
"Back straight."
"Engage your core."
"Next station."
No eye contact. No sarcastic remarks. No half-smiles. It was like the man who once said I wasn't my dad's scoreboard had vanished behind a stopwatch and a clipboard.
I told myself I didn't care.
Then I went home and stared at my phone like it owed me emotional stability.
Even Lola noticed.
"You broke him," she said while watching me stress-eat hummus with a fork. "You broke your hot coach with feelings."
I groaned. "It was one sentence."
"One nuclear sentence. Honestly, should I bake him a forgiveness cake? Like, banana bread with 'Sorry I weaponized my insecurity' in frosting?"
I tossed a pillow at her.
But deep down, I knew she was right. I hadn't just crossed a line I'd set it on fire.
At work, I had every reason to be happy. I presented the BarristerTech strategy with actual confidence. I got a standing nod from my boss yes, that's a thing and an official promotion to "ASSOCIATE LEAD".
People congratulated me. Marsha even offered me a backhanded compliment.
"You're kind of unstoppable lately," she said with a tight smile. "All it took was heartbreak and protein powder."
I laughed politely, then imagined hitting her with a kettlebell.
But the high didn't stick. Because life, in all its chaotic timing, decided to test me.
Eric showed up.
At my office.
With lilies.
I smelled them before I saw him. The moment I looked up, my spine tensed.
"Hey, stranger," he said softly.
I blinked. "What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to see you. And say I'm sorry."
I stood awkwardly, frozen between fight and flight.
"You look... amazing," he added, eyes scanning me like I was a puzzle he regretted losing.
"I didn't do this for you."
"I know." He stepped closer. "But I miss you, Maya. I made a mistake. You were always my person. I just didn't know how much until I lost you."
I didn't say anything.
Because for one terrifying second, I felt the part of me that had waited for this. For him to miss me. To come back. To choose me.
But that part of me wasn't in charge anymore.
That night, I walked into Elevate Lab unannounced.
Damian was alone, wiping down the benches, earbuds in. He looked up and paused when he saw me.
"You're not on the schedule."
"I know."
He waited.
"I saw Eric today."
He went back to wiping. "That supposed to mean something to me?"
"No," I said quickly. "It doesn't. I just... I needed to say it out loud."
I hesitated, then added, "Also, I didn't mean what I said. About Camilla. About love."
He stopped moving.
"I know you didn't mean it," he said quietly. "But you said it."
"I panicked," I whispered. "You see me too clearly. And I didn't know how to handle that. So I lashed out."
He turned to face me. Arms crossed. Eyes unreadable.
"I've trained a lot of people, Maya. Most of them don't finish. They give up when the soreness kicks in. You didn't."
I swallowed. "That was physical pain."
"Same principle."
I nodded, heart thudding. "So... what now?"
He studied me for a long moment.
"Now you stay," he said simply. "Let people love the version of you that's real, not just the one you've starved and reshaped."
That hit harder than any burpee.
I didn't deflect. Didn't joke. I just nodded.
"I'm here."
He gave the tiniest smile. "Then let's get to work."