Chapter 123 TYLER
I’d never been home this early. The second the bell rang, I was already out of class and halfway to my car.
My head was still buzzing from the kiss. From Harper. From the fact that she was finally ready to be with me and I was the one holding things back.
I’d been that close to calling her mine. That close to not having to wonder if someone else would step in and take my place.
That thought alone was enough to get me through the rest of the day, enough to make me leave her behind without a second thought and head home like I actually cared about the curfew they’d set.
I pushed the front door open and dropped my bag in the living room without bothering to take it upstairs. The house smelled like food, something rich and familiar, and I followed it straight to the kitchen.
Mom stood by the stove, stirring a pot, her back half turned to me.
“Hey,” I said, grabbing a towel and stepping beside her like it was the most natural thing in the world.
She glanced at me, surprised. “Well, look at you.”
I smirked a little, reaching for a knife and pulling a cutting board closer. “What?”
“For someone who’s grounded, you’re in a very good mood.”
I shrugged, picking up a tomato. “Maybe I’ve decided to stop fighting it.”
Her brows lifted slightly. “Stop fighting being grounded?”
“Stop fighting you and Dad,” I corrected, slicing into the tomato. “You’re just trying to help. I get that.”
She watched me for a second longer than necessary, like she was trying to figure out what had changed.
“And now that I have to come straight home after school,” I added, “I figured I might as well spend that time with you.”
That earned me a small smile.
“Well,” she said, turning back to the pot, “that’s a nice change.”
“It is,” I agreed easily.
She stirred for another second before speaking again. “If you’re in such a bonding mood, why don’t you go see Jacob? He’s been asking about you. He leaves for school soon.”
I snorted softly. “Jacob doesn’t want to hang out with me.”
“On the contrary.”
I turned at the voice.
Jacob leaned against the doorway, arms folded, looking entirely too pleased with himself. “I’ve been waiting for you to get back so we could play.”
I raised a brow. “Play what?”
“PlayStation,” he said, like it was obvious. “Unless you’re scared I’ll beat you again.”
I laughed under my breath. “Keep dreaming.”
“Come on,” he said, pushing off the wall.
I followed him out of the kitchen, already reaching into my pocket.
“Actually,” I said, pulling out a dollar and handing it to him, “how about you play by yourself for a bit?”
He stared at the money, then at me. “Are you serious?”
“Very.”
He didn’t take it.
“You’re going to have to do better than that.”
I sighed and added another dollar.
He took a step forward, brushing past me like he was heading back to the kitchen. “Mom—”
I grabbed his arm, pulling him back. “Don’t.”
He grinned. “Three dollars.”
“You’re unbelievable.”
“And yet, here we are.”
I shoved another dollar into his hand. “That’s it.”
He weighed the bills, then tilted his head. “One more and I won’t even exist to you for the rest of the day.”
I stared at him for a second, then exhaled and handed over the last one. “You’re robbing me.”
“I prefer the term negotiating,” he said smoothly.
He started walking away, then paused, glancing back at me with a knowing look.
“Whatever Harper did to you,” he added, “I like it.”
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t stop the small smile that slipped through. “Get lost.”
He laughed and disappeared up the stairs.
I took a second to compose myself, then headed back to the kitchen.
Mom looked up when I walked in. “I thought you were with Jacob.”
“He got annoyed after I beat him first round,” I said easily.
She laughed. “Already?”
“Guess I’m just better.”
She shook her head, then reduced the heat of the stove and sat up on the counter, facing me. “So,” she said, studying me again, “tell me about your day.”
I leaned against the counter across from her, crossing my arms loosely. “Thought you’d never ask.”
I started with the usual stuff. Classes. Teachers. Random things that didn’t really matter. I kept it light at first, watching her relax into the conversation.
Then I let it slip.
“Harper asked me out today.”
Her expression changed instantly.
There it was.
“That explains it,” she said..
“Explains what?”
“You suddenly being helpful. Agreeable. Pleasant.”
I huffed out a quiet laugh. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
“It’s suspicious,” she corrected. Then her gaze sharpened slightly. “And we are not having this conversation without your father.”
“Mom.”
“No, Tyler.”
I leaned in closer, lowering my voice. “Please.”
She held my gaze, not budging.
“I need you to hear me out,” I continued. “I know what you and Dad are worried about. I get it. But you have to see this from my side too.”
Her expression softened just a little, but she still didn’t respond.
“I don’t know if I’m ever getting back on the ice,” I said quietly. “I don’t know what that’s going to look like for me anymore.”
The words felt heavier out loud.
“But this,” I added, “this is something I do know. I want her. And she wants me. I can’t just walk away from that because the timing isn’t perfect.”
She sighed softly. “Tyler, you’re still in high school.”
“So?”
“So what happens when you go to college?”
“I’ll go where she goes,” I said without hesitation.
Her brows pulled together. “You can’t base your future on a relationship.”
“Why not?” I shot back. “People do it all the time.”
“That doesn’t mean it always works.”
“I can handle it,” I said. “Even if we don’t end up in the same place, I can handle long distance.”
She didn’t look convinced.
I walked around the counter to meet her, taking her hands in mine. “Please, Mom.”
She looked at me for a long second, weighing it.
Then she exhaled. “Fine.”
Relief hit me instantly.
“But,” she added quickly, holding up a finger, “there are conditions.”
I smiled. “Of course there are.”
“You keep it appropriate. I mean it, Tyler. Nothing that would make me regret this conversation.”
I tilted my head slightly. “Define appropriate.”
“Tyler.”
I laughed, stepping forward and pressing a quick kiss to her cheek. “I’m kidding.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Thank you,” I said, already backing away.
“Where are you going?” she asked. “Dinner’s almost ready.”
“I have to plan something,” I said, heading for the door.
“Plan what?”
I paused just long enough to glance back at her. “My proposal.”
“Tyler—”
But I was already moving.
The store wasn’t far.
I didn’t really have a solid plan yet, just ideas bouncing around in my head. Something simple. Something that would catch her off guard in the best way.
I walked through the aisles, picking up and putting down things I wasn’t sure I’d even use. It didn’t matter. I just needed something that felt right.
By the time I checked out and made my way back to the parking lot, the sky had started to dim slightly.
I unlocked my car and tossed the bag into the passenger seat, just as a harsh voice broke through the silence, followed by a quieter, more hesitant one, and I froze.
I glanced over instinctively.
A car was parked a little further down, angled away from mine. I couldn’t make out their faces clearly, just the movement. The way the guy was standing too close. The way the girl’s posture was turned away, like she was trying to create space that wasn’t being given.
I hesitated.
It wasn’t my business.
I turned toward my car.
Then I heard her raise her voice.
Something about it made me stop.
I looked back just as the guy grabbed her roughly.
Before I could think, he shoved her against the car.
The sound echoed in the empty lot.
My chest tightened.
He had his hand around her throat.
That was enough.
I moved.
“Hey!”
He didn’t even see me coming.
I grabbed his arm and yanked him back, throwing him away from her with more force than I meant to. He stumbled, barely catching himself.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” I snapped.
He swore under his breath, glaring at me, but I was already stepping between them.
“Get out of here,” I said, my voice low. “Before I call the police.”
He hesitated, like he was deciding whether I was worth the trouble.
Then he scoffed and backed off, muttering something under his breath as he turned and walked away.
I didn’t watch him go.
I turned back to her.
She had her back to me, pressed against the car, head turned away, arms wrapped around herself like she was trying to disappear.
“Hey,” I said, softer now. “Are you okay?”
She didn’t answer.
Her shoulders shook slightly.
I stepped closer, careful this time. “You’re safe. He’s gone.”
Still nothing.
I reached out slowly, my hand hovering before I gently touched her arm. “Hey. Look at me.”
She resisted at first.
Then, slowly, she turned.
And everything in me stilled.
“Racquel?”
Her face was bruised. Her lip was split, her eyes red and swollen, like she’d been crying long before I got there.
The second her eyes met mine, whatever she’d been holding together completely broke.
She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around me, holding on like she didn’t have anything else.
“Tyler,” she said, her voice shaking. “Please you have to help me.”
Shit.
Racquel. Of all people.
I didn't move.
My instinct was to pull away, to remember every single harm she'd ever caused Harper, but she was shaking against me, clinging like I was the only thing keeping her upright.
My jaw tightened as I stood there for a second too long, then I let out a quiet breath and brought my hand up to her back anyway.