Semua Bab When The Sky Falls: Bab 21 - Bab 24

After the game, Lia waited just outside the boys’ locker room, her heart racing. The cheers from the crowd still echoed faintly down the hallway, but inside her chest it felt suffocatingly quiet. Panic surged through her. What must be going through Tyler’s mind? And who the hell posted that video?Her palms became sweaty as minutes dragged on. At last, Tyler appeared. He was alone, as usual. He had never been the type to walk out with crowd. His damp hair clung to his forehead, his gym bag slung lazily over his shoulder."Babe?" Lia’s voice cracked, the word coming out more like a question than a greeting.Tyler didn’t meet her eyes. "Lia, I’m really exhausted. I just want to go home and take a nap," he said flatly, walking past her."So you’re mad at me… because of some dumb video?" Lia blurted, her voice defensive.Tyler froze, then turned back to face her. His expression was unreadable, but the hurt in his eyes was clear. "I don’t know, Lia! I called you that night. I needed you th

"Tyler, I…" Lia’s voice cracked as she cleared her throat, fighting against the haze of alcohol that still clouded her system. She straightened her posture, willing herself to appear steady even though her legs felt weak. "...I didn’t know you were coming."Tyler’s expression was unreadable, his jaw tight. "Yeah," he said flatly, "I won’t be staying long. I just came to wish you a happy birthday… and give you this." His grip tightened around the wrapped present in his hands."You don’t have to leave," Lia blurted, her eyes glassy as they searched his. "You could come inside, we could talk and have a little fun?." Her voice softened, almost pleading, as though the words themselves could pull him closer.But Tyler’s gaze flickered to Asher, still lingering nearby. His glare was sharp. "I don’t have to," he muttered. "Besides… it seems like you already have company."The tension thickened, heavy and suffocating, until Asher finally raised his hands in surrender. "I’ll give you two space