Chasing the puck

Chapter Ten

The kiss had stayed with Sarah long after Tyler had walked away. As she lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling, she could still feel the warmth of his lips on hers, the way his hands had briefly held her close. It had been everything she had dreamed of—soft, intense, filled with the promise of something more. But now, in the quiet of her apartment, that promise felt distant, almost fragile. He had kissed her, but then he had walked away without a word. It was as if the kiss had opened a door between them, but neither of them knew how to step through it.

The following morning, Sarah couldn’t shake the feeling of uncertainty that lingered like a shadow over her thoughts. As she sat at her kitchen table, sipping her coffee, her phone lay silent beside her. She glanced at it every few minutes, hoping for a message from Tyler—something to let her know where they stood, what the kiss had meant. But there was nothing. Just the quiet hum of the morning and the gnawing feeling in her gut that maybe, just maybe, he regretted it.

She pulled her knees up to her chest, hugging them close as she replayed the kiss over and over in her mind. The way his lips had moved against hers, the way his body had leaned into hers as if he couldn’t help himself. But then, the moment had shattered, and he had pulled away, his eyes conflicted, his jaw tight. He hadn’t said a word. Not then, and not now. The silence was louder than anything he could have said.

Unable to take the silence anymore, Sarah reached for her phone and called Summer. Her best friend answered on the second ring, and before Summer could even say hello, Sarah blurted out, “We kissed.”

There was a pause on the other end, followed by a long, exaggerated “What?” Summer’s voice was filled with equal parts surprise and curiosity. “Hold on. What do you mean, you kissed? When? How?”

Sarah sighed, resting her forehead on her knees. “Last night. We met up, and… it just happened. But then he walked away, Summer. He kissed me, and then he just left.”

“Okay, back up,” Summer said, her voice firm but gentle. “Tell me everything.”

And so, Sarah did. She recounted every detail—the way Tyler had looked at her, the tension between them, the way their hands had brushed before the kiss. “I thought it meant something,” Sarah said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. “But now I don’t know. He hasn’t texted, and I feel like he’s just going to disappear again.”

Summer was quiet for a moment, thinking. “It sounds like he’s scared, Sarah. You know Tyler has trust issues, especially after everything with his dad. The kiss probably freaked him out, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t care. He just… needs time to process.”

Sarah let out a long breath. She knew Summer was right, but it didn’t make the waiting any easier. “I don’t know what to do,” she admitted. “I want to talk to him, but I don’t want to push him.”

“Don’t push,” Summer agreed. “Give him some space, but let him know you’re still there. He needs to work through this, but he also needs to know that you’re not going anywhere. Trust me.”

Sarah nodded, even though Summer couldn’t see her. “Thanks, Summer.”

“Anytime,” Summer said with a smile in her voice. “Now, go take a walk or something. Clear your head. If Tyler’s worth it—and we both know he is—then he’ll come around.”

Sarah hung up the phone, feeling a little better, though the weight of uncertainty still sat heavy in her chest. She stood up, slipping into her jacket before heading outside. The cool morning air hit her face, sharp and refreshing, as she made her way down the familiar streets. Walking always helped clear her mind, and right now, she needed clarity more than anything.