𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐀𝐂𝐘: Bronny James

29

Sophia's POV:

As we continued to drive away from the arena, I couldn't stop thinking about what the hell just happened. I could still hear Taylor's voice in my head, the way she screamed at me, and the crowd surrounding us, phones in hand, recording every second. My mind was racing, and I couldn't stop my hands from shaking.

"This is all over social media right now, isn't it?" I muttered, staring out the window.

Bronny glanced over at me. "Sophia, don't worry about that right now."

I shook my head. "How can I not? Everyone saw that. Everyone heard her. They're going to think I'm the reason your relationship with her ended... that I'm some kind of home wrecker. People are going to bully me online, and they'll blame me for everything."

Bronny gripped the steering wheel tighter. "Nobody's blaming you. Taylor's the one acting out, not you. You didn't do anything wrong."

"I don't know, Bronny." I said, my voice trembling. "People love her. She's popular, and I'm... not. They'll say I ruined everything. That I ruined you and her. And I don't want to mess things up for you either. Your image... people are going to talk."

He shook his head, glancing over at me. "Sophia, listen to me. I don't care what people say. This isn't your fault. Taylor and I were done when I got you pregnant. If people don't get that, then so be it."

I rubbed my temples with my fingers, trying to calm down. "But what if this ruins your reputation? I don't want to be the reason people think badly of you, Bronny. I don't want to be the one that drags you down."

He exhaled sharply, clearly frustrated. "You're not going to ruin anything, okay? People will talk, sure, but that's all they do anyway. You didn't cause any of this."

I shook my head and sighed. "I don't know if it's that simple..."

"It is that simple." he insisted. "You're not ruining anything by being apart of my life. I'm not letting you face this alone. I'm serious, Sophia. I'm not leaving you by yourself after what happened. You're coming to my place, and we'll figure it out."

I sniffed, wiping my eyes as the tears I was holding back finally spilled over. "I'm just scared, Bronny. Scared of what people will say, what they'll do. I don't know if I'm strong enough for this."

He reached over and gently squeezed my hand. "You're pregnant and in university studying to be a lawyer. You're one of the strongest people I know, Sophia. And you don't have to go through this alone. I'm here, and I'll keep being here. I won't let them get to you."

I looked over at him. "But what about your parents? Won't they be upset if I come over after... everything that just happened?"

He flashed a small smile. "I don't live with them anymore. I've got my own place downtown. No drama, no worries. You'll be safe there. We'll lay low for a bit, and when you're ready, I'll take you back to campus. But tonight, I want to make sure you're okay."

I hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Okay... I'll come with you."

He smiled softly at me. "We'll get through this, Soph. I promise."

•••

Bronny unlocked the door to his apartment, and I stepped inside, taking in the space for the first time. It was sleek and modern, with tall windows that overlooked the city. The furniture was simple yet stylish, fitting perfectly with the neutral tones of the place. Everything felt calm, a peaceful place for me to be after escaping the chaos.