The hospital corridors were quieter than usual as Max followed Scarlet, his footsteps slow but steady. He couldn't help but feel a bit self-conscious, his ribs aching with every step. Scarlet glanced back at him, a soft smile lighting up her face.
"You sure you don't want a wheelchair?" she teased.
Max shot her a look. "I'm not that helpless."
She chuckled and pushed open the exit door, the crisp air hitting them as they stepped out. Scarlet's car was parked just a few feet away, and Max couldn't help but smile at the thought of finally leaving the sterile, too-bright room behind.
As they reached the car, Scarlet hurried ahead and pulled the passenger door open. "I got it," she said, gesturing for him to get in.
Max paused, giving her a sideways look. "You know, I'm not completely useless."
She raised an eyebrow. "You're not in the ring right now, tough guy. Just get in."
He smirked, but as he lowered himself into the seat, he couldn't help but notice how close she was standing, her hands still resting on the door frame. For a moment, her eyes locked with his, and the space between them seemed to shrink.
Scarlet cleared her throat, breaking the tension. "Buckle up," she muttered, before closing the door a little too quickly.
The car ride was quieter than he expected, the radio playing soft indie rock. Scarlet didn't speak much, her focus firmly on the road, and Max found himself glancing at her from the corner of his eye more than once.
Finally, as they stopped at a red light, Scarlet spoke up. "You know, you should be more careful."
Max turned to her. "It's just a few bruises. I'll be fine."
She shot him a glare. "You passed out in the ring, Max. That's not fine."
He gave a half-hearted smile. "I guess I didn't want to lose in front of you."
Scarlet's expression softened, and for a second, he thought she might say something important. But the light turned green, and she pressed the gas, keeping her eyes on the road.
When they finally reached his apartment complex, Scarlet parked the car and turned off the engine. Max moved to unbuckle his seatbelt, but she was faster, leaning over to help. Their faces ended up mere inches apart, and Max froze, his hand still hovering over the seatbelt.
Scarlet looked up, her eyes wide, and he couldn't help but notice the faint blush creeping over her cheeks. She pulled the seatbelt free, but didn't move back right away.
Max swallowed, his voice softer than usual. "You, uh… always this helpful?"
She smirked, but it looked almost nervous. "Just for reckless boxers who pass out."
Their eyes met again, and for a moment, Max thought about leaning in—just a little. But before he could make up his mind, Scarlet pulled away, pushing open her own door.
"Come on, let's get you inside," she called, her voice a little higher than usual.
Max nodded, shaking off the lingering tension. He slowly got out, and Scarlet walked around to his side, offering her arm for support. He waved it off, managing a cocky grin. "I'm good."
As they approached his door, Scarlet hesitated, looking like she wanted to say something. Max glanced at her curiously. "What's up?"
She bit her lip. "Nothing. Just… don't scare me like that again."
He smiled, softer this time. "I'll try not to."
Before he could say more, Scarlet gave him a light shove toward the door. "Go on, tough guy. Rest up."
Max turned back as he unlocked the door. "You sticking around?"
She shrugged. "If you need me to."
His heart did a weird little flip. "Yeah. I could use the company."
Scarlet nodded, and they both stepped inside, the awkward tension from the car still hanging between them like a weight they couldn't quite shake off.