“So what do you want to do?” I asked, desperately hoping to change the subject.

“Let’s stretch in that area.” Sophia pointed to a mirrored corner that offered both privacy and an unfortunate amount of self-reflection potential.

“I don’t know what you’re going to have me do today,” I muttered as we settled onto the mats.

“You’ve got to train your stabilizing muscles,” she said, demonstrating a stretch that looked more like advanced yoga. “I can’t lift all of that…”

“Hey, this is my comfort zone.”

Sophia’s smile turned knowing. “Well, they say the comfort zone is not a place for someone who wants to progress in life.”

What the actual…

I stared at her, but she just kept smirking while deliberately not meeting my eyes…

“Nobody is thinking about you, dear,” she said suddenly, reading my constant awareness of the other gym-goers with irritating accuracy. Then she grinned. “Well, maybe that one over there, but that’s it.”

“So how are you, Juni?”

“I’m good,” I started, then decided to push through to what I’d actually asked her here for. “I did want to tell you I’m kind of sorry about the other day. I understand that-”

“It’s fine, Juni. We shouldn’t have done that either.” She paused, her next words careful. “I think you might need to talk to Daniel though…”

“Yeah, I will. I told him whenever the office opens, you know.” I aimed for casual confidence, complete with duck-lip face turned pointedly away.

“Juniper.” Her tone was flat.

“You need to take it easier on him, and you need to take it easier on yourself. I can see what happens to you those few times - you want someone you care about to have their own life. It’s important.”

Even here, surrounded by the familiar burn of exertion, I couldn’t escape the weight of what had happened, the questions left unanswered.

“I don’t know, I’m just done giving my time away to people who don’t appreciate me. A one-way street, you know?”

“Getting to know someone can be hard at times, especially when they’re someone you work with.”

I couldn’t help the bright smile that spread across my face. “And a swing and a miss!”

Her confused look only made my smile wider.

“Yeah, so do you like weather? Oh you do? I like weather too!” I chirped with exaggerated enthusiasm.