Chasing the puck

Chapter Fourteen

Sarah sat at her desk, staring at the email from her editor. The subject line glowed on the screen: “Exclusive Assignment – Tyler Ford’s Former Coach Scandal.” Her heart pounded as she read through the message. The assignment was huge—a career-defining piece on a former coach of Tyler’s, now tied to rumors of misconduct. The team had kept it under wraps for years, but now, her editor wanted the truth out. It was everything she had worked for, a major story with real stakes. But Sarah’s gut twisted as she thought of Tyler. This wasn’t just any story; it was tangled with his past, and she had no idea how he would take it.

She hadn’t told him yet. She wanted to, but every time she picked up the phone, she froze. The thought of seeing that flash of betrayal in his eyes made her stomach churn. Instead, she dialed Summer, hoping for some clarity.

Later, at their favorite coffee shop, Sarah leaned across the table, her fingers nervously circling her coffee cup. “I don’t know what to do, Summer,” she admitted. “This assignment… it could wreck everything with Tyler.”

Summer took a sip of her latte, her expression thoughtful. “You’ve worked so hard for this, Sarah. And yeah, it’s messy, but he has to understand. It’s not like you’re writing this to hurt him. You need to be honest and trust that he’ll get it.”

Sarah sighed, her thoughts swirling. “I just don’t want him to think I’m betraying him.”

“He won’t,” Summer said firmly. “Just talk to him. Don’t let fear keep you from what you deserve.”

That night, Sarah sat across from Tyler at his apartment, her heart heavy. She had practiced what she would say a dozen times, but now that she was facing him, the words felt all wrong. The air between them was thick with the weight of her hesitation.

“I got a new assignment today,” she began, her voice careful. “It’s about your former coach.”

Tyler looked up from his dinner, his brow furrowing. “My coach?” His voice was calm, but Sarah could sense the tension creeping in.

“There have been rumors,” she continued, her heart racing. “My editor wants me to cover it.”

His jaw tightened, and for a long moment, he didn’t say anything. The silence between them was deafening.

“So, you’re going to dig into my past now?” he finally asked, his voice low and edged with frustration. “Into the man who helped shape my career?”

Sarah swallowed hard. “It’s not about you, Tyler. This story is bigger than that.”

But Tyler’s expression hardened. “I get that it’s your job, but I thought… I thought you’d keep your work away from my world. I didn’t think we’d end up here.”

Sarah’s chest tightened. “I’m not trying to cross any lines, but this is my career. I have to follow the story.”

Tyler stood up, running a hand through his hair, frustration evident in every move. “I don’t know, Sarah. It feels like I’m always being dragged into this media circus, and now it’s coming from you.”

His words stung more than she expected. She wanted to reach out, to make him see that she wasn’t the enemy. But the distance between them felt insurmountable, and the conversation ended without resolution, leaving them both heavy with unspoken fears.

The next day, Tyler couldn’t shake the tension. He hit the ice hard during practice, skating faster, pushing himself, trying to drown out the noise in his head. But nothing clicked. His passes were off, his focus shattered. Every missed shot felt like another weight dragging him down.