Page 94 of Through the Storm

“No, come on,” Tyler presses. “What if the baby isn’t even his?”

Something cold slips down my spine.

Silence stretches for half a second.

Then I hear Wyatt’s voice again, colder this time. “Watch your fucking mouth.”

Tyler exhales hard. “I’m not trying to be a dick. It’s just that he’s walking into a situation he can’t fix just because he thinks he loves her. This is just going to slow him down because a baby is a huge responsibility. Right now, he’s projected to go first overall in the draft, but that can disappear fast if he can’t keep up.”

“This isn’t your problem. You need to shut the fuck up about it,” Wyatt shoots back.

I stop breathing for a few seconds. The hallway suddenly feels too small. Like the walls are closing in around me.

Tyler isn’t wrong. Benistoo good. He’s loyal and selfless and willing to sacrifice himself for people he loves.

And maybe I’ve been selfish enough to let him.

My throat burns.

I back away before they can hear me, clutching the blanket tighter around my shoulders.

Out on the beach, Ben is laughing at something Mateo says, head tipped back, easy and happy and completely unaware that my entireworld just tilted sideways.

And suddenly all I can see is everything he could lose.

His dream to play in the NFL. His freedom. The version of his life that existed before me, before all my chaos crashed into it.

The realization hits like a punch.

Ben would give it up without hesitation if it meant protecting me.

And maybe I need to stop letting him.

I stand there for a second too long, staring at him across the fire, already missing him and the fantasy we’ve been living.

BEN

Caroline added Katy to the Davis Family Group Chat.

My phone lights up while I’m leaving practice, and I already know this is going to be a disaster.

Caroline

Hi Katy! Ben was just telling us how great you’re doing, so I thought it might be easier to add you to the chat directly. We’re so happy you and the baby are doing well. Send us more sonogram pictures please

I wince immediately. Jesus, is that how unhinged I am too?

Ben

Mom. Chill.

Caroline

Benjamin Davis, don’t you “chill” me. I’m incapable of chilling, you know this.

Dad reacts with a thumbs up to that message because of course he does.

Katy