𝐱𝐯𝐢𝐢𝐢.

• • • •

Chris knew that relationships weren't without their bumps in the road. If he and Faith hit a rough patch, they'd talk things out and get whatever it was resolved. But now, he felt as though something had changed. And the worst of it was that he felt powerless to figure it out.

About a month after the Endgame premiere, Faith had suddenly become withdrawn. At first, Chris just chalked it up to work related stress. But where in the past she would usually vent to him about stuff like that, such was not the case in recent times. It was worrying to say the least. And his anxiety wasn't making it any better.

Still, he wanted to afford her the opportunity to feel comfortable enough to talk to him, not force her to. Problem was, ESPN had called upon her to travel to Milwaukee to cover the rest of the Celtics-Bucks series, as the senior reporter they'd initially sent had fallen ill. So any chance to talk face to face would have to wait until she got back. He felt like if they didn't address it sooner or later, then the next few days apart would be full of more awkward, underlying tension between them.

"Are you sure you've got everything?" Chris asked as she wheeled her suitcase into the upstairs hallway, adding to a growing pile of luggage that he was preparing to help her carry downstairs.

"Pretty sure," She set her hands on her hips, surveying everything. "I honestly feel like I'm taking too much with me as it stands right now."

Leaning against the doorframe of their bedroom, he let out a small sigh. "And you're positive you're the only person that can cover the games at the last minute?"

"I'm probably not the only one, realistically, but I'm the one they wanted. I'll only be gone a week at most, especially if the Bucks end up winning the series."

"I know...doesn't mean I'm not gonna miss you, though."

"I'm gonna miss you too. FaceTime is our best friend during times like this." She double checked her backpack to make sure there was nothing inside that Southwest didn't allow for carry-ons. "Besides, once I get back, we'll pick up right where we left off."

Something in his gut told him to just say what was on his mind. "Will we, though?"

Faith looked up at him. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I think you know what it means, Faith."

"No, Chris, I'm pretty sure I don't. Especially since you're being all vague and weird right now."

"I'm being weird? You've been weird for weeks." He shot back, folding his arms across his chest. "Or am I supposed to just pretend like you haven't been super withdrawn?"

"I've been busy, and you know that. Besides, it's not like we have to talk every single moment of every single day to prove our love to each other." She grabbed her backpack and practically stomped downstairs. Chris had no choice but to follow, hefting a duffel bag over his shoulder.

"You know that's not what I'm saying..." He dumped the bag in a spot near the front door. "I'm worried about you. Can't I be worried about you?"

"You can be as worried as you want to be. It doesn't mean there's anything wrong." Faith grabbed her jacket from the coat tree and draped it across her arm, slipping her backpack over her shoulders. "I sent you the flight info, right? That way you can see when I land and all that."

Chris's shoulders slumped, the resolve he'd once felt having vanished as quickly as it'd come. "Faith, come on. Don't shut me out."

"Stop!" She held up a hand, raising her voice—something she'd never done with him before. As if realizing this, she took a slow, deep inhale and let it out slowly, eyes closing for a second or two. "Please, just stop, Chris. I am fine. Trust me enough that I would tell you what was going on, if there was anything to tell."

He swallowed thickly. "There is absolutely no doubt that I trust you. I have always trusted you. But I also know you, babe. And you haven't been yourself."

In her eyes, there was a brief flash of wistfulness. For a moment, when she made eye contact with him again, Chris thought she might open up. But in the blink of an eye, it was gone, and she rested a hand on the handle of her rolling suitcase. "I gotta go. I don't want to get stuck in any long lines."

It was abundantly clear to Chris that whatever was going on, Faith wasn't going to share with him anytime soon. He just hoped that it didn't mean that this was the beginning of the end for them.

The thought alone made his heart hurt.

• • • •

Faith barely had the chance to check into her hotel and freshen up before grabbing an Uber downtown to head to Fiserv Forum for the game. Out of all the arenas she'd been to, Fiserv was probably her least favorite mainly because they were always slow with giving out credentials or knowing where to direct non-local media personnel. The fact that she worked for the biggest name in sports reporting did very little in the way of a remedy the situation, so she always made it a point to try and arrive early just in case they were up to their usual shenanigans.

After responding to a few unread emails, Faith opened her iMessage thread with Chris and sent him a quick text. Landed half an hour ago and heading to the stadium now.

He responded within a minute or two, Glad to hear it :) I'll be looking for ya on the sideline <3

Faith didn't deserve him. After snapping at him earlier, she felt terrible. They rarely fought—or least, they hadn't fought much in the past. Now, it seemed like everything devolved into some sort of heated disagreement. And she had no one to blame but herself for feeling like for some reason, the current situation was a secret worth keeping.

It was a little bit after the Endgame premiere that the texts from an un-programmed number had started blowing up her phone. Derek. She had no clue how he managed to get her new number, especially since the only reason why she'd changed it in the first place was because of the hell he made her life.

Faith knew it was dumb of her to respond to any of them, but she had. Just one, only to tell him to stop contacting her or else she would inform the authorities. After she blocked the number she knew to be his, she thought it was over. But then he located her social media accounts and began spamming her. First with likes on Instagram—only of the pictures that had her in it, nothing with Chris—and commenting on her articles and general analysis during the NBA playoffs.

If the likes on her IG posts weren't enough, he spammed her in the comments, too—heart eye emojis, things like "you're beautiful", "I miss you", "stop ignoring me". Faith blocked him on there, too, but it was practically of no use. Burner accounts that had usernames or titles only she would get the reference to from their relationship came in the wake of Derek's main account, each more persistent and incessant than the last.

It had gotten to the point where outside of work-related content, Faith would go without using her social media for days at a time. It had once been a source of happiness for her, and now it was anything but.

Here lately, whenever she was out and about—whether it be with Cass, Mina, Chris, or someone else—Faith would swear that she saw Derek. Watching her, or even following her. Maybe it was her mind playing tricks on her, or maybe not. But it made her uneasy all the same.

The way he'd been so easily able to find out where she was celebrating her birthday made her think: just how far would he go to be near her again?

Filing a restraining order was obviously the most logical conclusion, but things like that took time and she would need a lot of it in order to compile evidence. Not involving Chris was probably her tendency to try and handle things herself. Even though she knew she didn't have to.

It had been radio silence from Derek for the last week or so, which provided Faith with a little bit of relief. Still, it was the reason she and Chris hadn't been on the same page. She didn't know how much longer she could afford to keep him in the dark, though she knew that the moment he find out he'd probably freak out on her. Not that he wouldn't have a reason to.

The Uber had to pull up a few blocks away from the stadium due to traffic delays, so Faith thanked the driver and got out, weaving in between a few cars to make it onto the sidewalk. As evening fell, the sun cast a orange-ish glow on the stadium and the scores of Bucks fans entering their beloved home stadium excitedly.

Clutching her purse tighter to her body, Faith struggled a bit to press through the throngs of people and make it to the media checkpoint. After a surprisingly unfettered process, she went through security and weaved her way towards the entry for press row.

Playoff games always brought out the big crowds, and this was no exception. Putting her game face on, Faith greeted several of her colleagues as she found her seat, a placard with her name and the ESPN logo sitting on the table in front of them. TV cameras were already starting to roll in and get set up for pre-game coverage just a few seats down where Mike Breen and Jeff Van Gundy sat.

Behind press row were a handful of 100 level seats, fans spread out here and there but having not completely filled in the rows yet. After setting her purse down and getting out her laptop, Faith grabbed her phone and stood, trying to capture pictures like she always did before the start of games. She did one of the court as the players filed out and began shootaround, then some of her colleagues on either side before choosing to do a selfie.

She took a handful just so she could have a variety to choose from. Opening up Twitter, she went to her gallery and chose one at random. Deciding that she liked it, she moved her thumb to add a filter...and then froze.

There, in the background of the photo she'd chosen seated three rows behind her, was Derek himself.

• • • •

i asked y'all a few chapters ago what you thought derek's plans were...i guess we're finding out!!

thanks sm again for 27k reads! y'all are the best, i love you <3