Chasing the puck

Chapter Twenty

The dim morning light crept through the curtains, casting a muted glow over the apartment, but the tension was palpable, pressing down on Sarah and Tyler as they sat in silence. Sarah’s phone buzzed for what felt like the hundredth time that morning, the endless news notifications adding to the weight that hung between them. She hesitated before looking, already knowing what she would see: another headline, another twist in the story that had consumed their lives.

“Ford’s Girlfriend: In the Know or Innocent Bystander?”

“Ford Cover-Up Scandal Deepens: Did He Lie to Protect Himself?”

Each headline hit her like a punch to the gut, and though she tried to push them aside, they lingered, a constant reminder that no matter what they did, they were always being watched. The media’s relentless focus on Tyler hadn’t let up—in fact, it had only gotten worse. Not only was Tyler under constant scrutiny, but now they were dragging her into the mess as well.

Across the room, Tyler sat slumped on the couch, his face buried in his hands. His phone lay discarded beside him, the constant stream of news too much to keep up with. His usual strong, confident demeanor was gone, replaced by exhaustion and frustration that seemed to weigh him down more with each passing day.

Sarah watched him for a moment, her heart aching at the sight. She set her phone down on the table and crossed the room, sitting down beside him. Gently, she placed her hand on his knee, feeling the tension in his body.

“It’s getting worse, isn’t it?” she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Tyler lifted his head, his eyes heavy with exhaustion as he met her gaze. “Yeah,” he muttered. “It doesn’t matter what I do. They’re not going to stop. No matter what I say, no matter how I try to explain, it’s never enough.”

Sarah leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder. “We’ll figure it out,” she whispered, though even she wasn’t sure how. The weight of the scandal felt like a noose tightening around their necks, and with every new headline, it seemed to pull tighter. “We’ll get through this together. We always do.”

Tyler sighed, his hand coming up to cover hers. His fingers squeezed gently, though his voice was laced with doubt. “I’m trying, Sarah. I really am. But it feels like everything’s falling apart, and I don’t know how much longer I can hold on.”

The raw vulnerability in his voice made Sarah’s heart clench. She shifted slightly, pressing a soft kiss to his temple. “You don’t have to do it alone,” she said. “I’m with you, always. Whatever happens, we’ll face it together.”

Tyler closed his eyes, his face leaning into her touch. For a long moment, they sat there in silence, the weight of the world pressing down on them, but at least they had each other. At least that was still something.

Later that morning, Sarah sat at her desk, staring at the blank screen of her laptop. The familiar hum of the apartment filled the background, but inside, her mind was loud, chaotic. Ever since she had stepped away from her job, a hollow space had opened up where her passion for journalism used to be. She had always thrived on the chase, the thrill of uncovering a story, but now, without that, she wasn’t sure who she was anymore.

She had stepped back from the story about Tyler’s scandal, choosing him over her career, and at first, it had felt like the right decision. It still did, in many ways. But as the days passed and her inbox remained empty, the doubt began to creep in. Was this all worth it? Could she ever return to her job, or had she sacrificed too much?

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, wanting to write something—anything—but the words wouldn’t come. Every time she tried, her mind filled with doubts. If she went back, what would she write about? Could she even trust herself to be objective anymore, knowing how close she was to the story?