Once the two got inside, Adrian helped Natalie out of her shoes and coat, and over to the couch. He quickly shed his overcoat and shoes as well, then hurried to the back of his apartment. He returned with a large towel, which he draped over Natalie's shoulders as he sat down beside her.
"Are you cold?" He asked, his face etched with concern.
"No, I'm okay," She replied, shaking her head and she tightened the towel around her.
"Here, let me see your ankle," He instructed.
She lifted her leg and Adrian took her foot into his lap, leaning down to examine her ankle.
"Oh, no," Adrian began, "It's starting to swell. Does this hurt?" He asked, gingerly pressing his fingers against her ankle.
"Ouch!" She exclaimed, grimacing.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Adrian replied. "Here," he continued, moving a pillow from the couch onto the coffee table. "Prop your foot on this, I'll go get an ice pack."
Despite the growing pain in her ankle, Natalie couldn't help but smile. She was surprised by Adrian's willingness to hold her bare foot in his lap. She felt a familiar feeling of affection well up in her stomach and she inhaled sharply, forcing it back down.
Adrian returned from the kitchen, taking a seat on the coffee table so he could hold the ice pack against Natalie's ankle.
"Natalie, I am so sorry."
"It's okay, it was an accident." She replied, waving a hand of dismissal.
Natalie sighed, leaning back against the couch and closing her eyes.
"I guess I need to call a cab," she mused.
"Don't be ridiculous, Natalie, you should stay here," Adrian offered. "You need to stay off this ankle until we can get you to a doctor in the morning."
"We?" She asked gently, opening her eyes and shooting him a soft smile.
Adrian blinked a few times, just now realizing after all the commotion that he was actually seeing and talking to Natalie for the first time in a year. He smiled timidly, directing his attention back to her ankle.
"I've missed you, Adrian," Natalie whispered, leaning forward and squeezing his arm lightly.
He looked up, nodding slightly as his eyes met hers.
"I've missed you, too."
"How have you been doing?" She asked gently.
"Good," Adrian nodded, looking off to the other side of the room. He thought to himself for a moment. How had he really been doing? He had, indeed, made a lot of progress. Progress he was truly proud of. But he would be lying if he said he hadn't missed her terribly.
"I, uh," he continued, hesitating for a moment as he fiddled with the edge of the ice pack. "I think I've been getting a lot better."
"That's really wonderful, Adrian." She replied, pursing her lips into a smile. "I'm glad to see you're doing well."
"But, Natalie," He muttered, "It's just...not...the same without you here."
Natalie felt a lump form in her throat, touched by his honest admission.
"Oh, Adrian," she replied, blinking back the tears that were threatening to form in the corners of her eyes. She reached out and took his hand in hers. He tensed up for just a moment, surprised by her touch. She squeezed his hand softly and pulled him towards her, drawing him up from his seat on the coffee table and onto the couch next to her.
"You know I never wanted to leave, don't you?" She asked softly, still holding his hand in hers. "I mean, I just did what I thought was going to best for you. But you know it killed me to leave you, don't you?"
She searched his eyes, looking for affirmation before continuing.
"I tried to give you your distance. I thought maybe if I gave you some space, you could focus on getting better. I worried about you so much, every day. But then we started talking less and less and I realized maybe you really were better off without me. So, I -"
"Natalie, stop," Adrian interrupted, shaking his head. "I am not better off without you. You are a part of my life. I will admit, I have made a lot of progress, but it hasn't felt right without you here."
Natalie smiled as a tear escaped and trailed its way down her cheek. She leaned forward, wrapping her arms around Adrian and collapsing against his chest. Suddenly she was overcome with emotion, surprising herself as soft sobs crept their way up her throat. Adrian draped his arms around her, holding her gently as she sobbed into his chest. Natalie cried for several minutes, until she finally realized how vulnerable she had allowed herself to be.
"Sorry," she muttered, laughing nervously as she pulled back from Adrian's embrace and tucked her messy hair behind her ear. "I didn't mean to get all mushy. I just...really missed you," she finished quietly, rubbing her hand behind her neck awkwardly.
"It's okay," Adrian replied with a gentle smile, nonplussed.
"Well," she began, clearing her throat, "I better get some sleep. Would you mind just getting me a blanket? I'll use these pillows right here."
"No, Natalie," Adrian reproached her, "You should sleep in my bed. You will be much more comfortable there."
"Really?" She asked with a smile, surprised again at his compassion.
"Sure," He replied, standing up from the couch. "I'm going to go put on a new set of sheets. Oh, and you can't sleep in wet clothes. I'll bring you some of my pajamas. Give me just a minute."
Before Natalie could respond, he had already made his way towards the bedroom.
