Chapter Eight

SOLANA

Tyler is already up when I wake, pacing the room as he talks on the phone, his voice filled with excitement.

“Yeah, man, this is our game. If we pull this off, there’s no way they won’t take us for the program.”

His back is to me, but even half-asleep, I can feel the energy radiating off him.

This game—it’s everything to him.

It’s all he’s talked about for weeks, every conversation circling back to the chance to play against pros, to prove himself.

I sit up slowly, rubbing my eyes as he turns, noticing me. His expression softens instantly, the sharp intensity fading as he grins.

“Morning, sleepyhead.” He crosses the room in two strides, sitting beside me on the bed. His hand slides around my waist, pulling me closer. “You excited for tonight?”

I force a small smile. “Of course.”

He chuckles, pressing a kiss to my cheek. “You better be. It’s gonna be insane.”

I nod, even though my stomach twists at the thought of the crowd, the screaming fans, the way everyone’s attention will be on him.

Because when Tyler is riding high, when things are going his way, he’s electric. Untouchable.

But when things don’t?

I push the thought away, unwilling to let doubt ruin the moment.

Tonight is important to him.

So I’ll be the supportive girlfriend. I’ll wear his jersey, sit in the stands, and cheer him on.

Because that’s what he expects.

And right now, I can’t afford to disappoint him.

~~~~~

The stadium is packed when I arrive, the stands already teeming with students, faculty, and alumni.

The energy is electric, and the roar of the crowd echoes in my chest. I make my way down to the field, where Tyler is warming up with his team.

He catches sight of me and jogs over, a grin lighting up his face. “There’s my girl,” he says, pulling me into a quick hug.

His teammates catcall from behind him, and Tyler throws them a mock glare before turning back to me.

“You look good in my jersey, baby.” he says, his voice low enough that only I can hear.

“Thanks,” I say, my cheeks flushing.

He brushes a strand of hair out of my face, his thumb lingering against my cheek.

“You’re gonna cheer for me tonight, right? Loud enough for everyone to hear?”

“I always do,” I reply, trying to match his energy.

“Good.” He kisses me quickly, then heads back to the team, his focus already shifting back to the game.

I climb into the stands, finding a seat near the front where I can see everything. The game starts with the usual fanfare—loud music, the national anthem, and the cheerleaders hyping up the crowd.

Tyler is unstoppable. Every pass is precise, every play executed with perfection. The crowd chants his name, and I can’t help but feel a swell of pride watching him. This is where he shines, where he feels most alive.

But as the game goes on, I notice something else. The way his teammates look at him with admiration, the way the crowd cheers for him, the way he commands the field—it’s all so effortless for him. And yet, off the field, everything feels so much more complicated.

By halftime, the team is leading, and Tyler is the star of the show. He glances up at the stands, his eyes finding mine, and he gives me a small nod. It’s a silent acknowledgement, a reminder that I’m here for him, just like always.

The team wins in a spectacular fashion, and the stadium erupts in cheers. Tyler is hoisted onto his teammates’ shoulders, the crowd chanting his name. I clap along, my heart pounding, but there’s a strange emptiness in my chest.

He finds me after the celebrations on the field, his face glowing with triumph.

“We did it!” he exclaims, pulling me into his arms. “Did you see that last play?”

“You were incredible,” I say, and for once, it doesn’t feel like I’m exaggerating.

He kisses me deeply, not caring about the crowd around us. “You’re my lucky charm, Solana. Always.”

For a moment, I let myself believe him. Let myself believe that maybe this version of Tyler—the one who’s confident and kind, who makes me feel like I’m part of his world—could last.

But as we walk off the field together, the noise of the crowd fading behind us, I can’t shake the feeling that this high, like all the others, won’t last forever.

~~~~~~~

The path to the locker room is crowded with students and fans still buzzing from the victory. Tyler has his arm slung casually over my shoulders, his grin wide as he basks in the attention.

People keep stopping him to congratulate him or ask about the game. I stay quiet, a supportive shadow at his side, smiling politely when anyone acknowledges me.

“Matthews! You coming to Nick’s tonight?” someone yells from the other side of the hallway.

“Hell yeah, we’ll be there!” Tyler calls back without hesitation.

“We?” I glance up at him, surprised.

“Of course, babe,” he says, smirking. “You’re coming with me. It’s gonna be the party of the month.”

I hesitate. Crowded parties weren’t exactly my scene, especially not the ones Tyler’s teammates hosted. They were always loud and chaotic, with music so deafening it drowned out any chance for real conversation.

“I don’t know, Tyler,” I start, but he cuts me off with a dismissive wave.

“No ‘I don’t know,’ Solana. You’re coming. Everyone’s gonna want to see the QB and his girl celebrating.”

I press my lips together, not wanting to argue in front of the others lingering nearby.

As we approach the locker room, more of Tyler’s teammates join us, and the talk about the party intensifies.

“Nick’s pulling out all the stops tonight,” one of the guys says, grinning. “He’s got a DJ, a keg, and I heard someone’s bringing fireworks.”

“Fireworks?” I murmur, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah, it’s gonna be wild,” another guy says, then turns to Tyler. “Bro, you better show up. This win was because of you.”

“Wouldn’t miss it,” Tyler says confidently, giving them all high-fives as we stop outside the locker room.

He turns to me, his expression softening slightly. “Go home, get ready, and wear something hot,” he says, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “I’ll pick you up in an hour.”

I nod reluctantly, knowing there’s no point in arguing. “Okay.”

He kisses my forehead quickly, then disappears into the locker room with his teammates, their voices echoing behind him.

As I walk away, weaving through the thinning crowd, I can’t help but feel a knot of unease settle in my stomach. Tonight was supposed to be a celebration, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that, for me, it might just be another night of pretending to fit into Tyler’s world.

~~~~~

I stand in front of the mirror, staring at the black dress clinging to my frame. It’s short, with a low neckline that I’ve never felt entirely comfortable in. But Tyler likes it. He’s always told me how great I look in it, so I wear it anyway.

My hands smooth down the fabric,   fidgeting as I try to convince myself that this is fine—that I’ll get through tonight like I always do.

I apply a little makeup, just enough to enhance the features the way Tyler prefers and leave my hair loose because he likes it that way.

The knot in my stomach hasn’t gone away, but I push the feeling aside. Tonight isn’t about me—it’s about Tyler and his big win.

The sound of Tyler’s car pulling up outside pulls me from my thoughts. A moment later, I hear the door open. I grab my purse and take one last glance in the mirror before heading out of the room.

Tyler is leaning casually against the doorframe, still wearing his cocky post-game grin. His eyes travel over me, and for a brief moment, I see approval flash across his face.

“There’s my girl,” he says, pulling me in for a quick kiss. “You look amazing, babe.”

“Thank you,” I say softly, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

He goes to the bedroom to change real quick. He comes out looking as handsome as ever.

He then takes my hand, leading me down to the car. As we drive to Nick’s house, Tyler talks animatedly about the game, replaying every big moment and every cheer from the crowd. I nod along, offering words of encouragement, though my mind is elsewhere.

The closer we get to Nick’s, the louder the music becomes, even from blocks away.

It's going to be a long night.

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