Chapter 26
Tyler couldn’t believe it. He sat in the car enveloped in stunned silence.
He wasn’t even shocked. This was so much more than that.
Everything had been wonderful. Last night had been amazing.
This morning had been sweet and fun. Lunch had seemed fine, but maybe that was where everything had started to change.
They had been so busy at the rink that he wasn’t sure what had happened.
Dmitrii had skated amazingly, then the quiet car ride to the hotel, and then this had happened.
Part of him wanted to chase after Dmitrii, but he stopped himself.
Everything was hitting him. The realization that Dmitrii had just broken up with him, heavy and sharp.
No, he needed not to be here. Tyler just wanted to be home.
He forced himself to start the car. He wasn’t far from his house, so he could be there soon.
He needed to be someplace private because even right now he could feel the tears escaping his eyes to run down his cheeks.
When he made it home, he didn’t bother to grab his bag from the car.
Tyler just ran into the house. He ignored his mother.
He ignored Molly barking for him. He ignored everyone as he ran up the stairs and slammed the door to his room before tossing himself onto his bed.
Only then did Tyler let himself go. Punching at the mattress, he cried and repeatedly asked himself why.
Nothing could change what had happened, and eventually he was just lying on his side, his pillow in his arms, as he softly cried. Dmitrii had seemed so perfect.
The sun had set before there was a soft knock on the door. His answer was instantaneous. “Go away.”
“I brought you something to eat, baby.” His mother’s voice was gentle as she waited outside his door.
“Fine.” He had learned long ago that it was easier to let her in than to have her worrying about him all the time. Better for her just to see him looking a mess than to worry her even more.
He didn’t look up as his mother walked in, a plate in her hands. “I brought you up a little dinner.” She set the plate down on his nightstand along with a glass of milk. “Try to eat something. I’m sorry, baby.”
As his mother sat down next to him, Tyler didn’t even think that he hadn’t told her what had happened. He just nodded, trying to sit up only to be pulled into a hug.
“I’m sorry, baby. Do you want to talk about it?” She was holding onto him, just keeping him close. “I hate seeing your heart broken.”
“How did you know?” Maybe he was just obvious.
The sadness in her expression was clear as she looked at him. “He sent me a text.”
“Why would he?” It didn’t make sense. Who in their right mind sent someone’s mother a text that they were breaking up with their boyfriend?
“Maybe he was worried about you?”
Tyler nodded and then with a sigh, he let himself lean against his mother again. “I thought he really liked me.”
“I think he did too, baby. He’s only here for a short time. Getting into a relationship with that being the case probably isn’t a smart thing. Maybe he just doesn’t want to see you hurt, either.”
“I don’t know. I thought it was worth it.” He pulled away from his mother to flop back down on the bed. “This isn’t fair.”
“I know, baby.”
“It’s like Romeo and Juliet. You think it’s a romance, but it’s just a tragedy. Five days and six bodies.”
She scoffed lightly at that. “Now you’re being dramatic. Noone died.” She gave him a soft kiss on the top of the head. “If you need me, you know I’m here. I love you. I’m sure you’ll find someone who doesn’t break your heart like this.”
He didn’t believe her, but he nodded anyway.
After she left, he poked at his food, almost forcing himself to eat.
It was a mistake, even the small dinner enough to make him queasy after what had happened.
He stayed in bed, staring at the ceiling as he tried to figure out where he had gone wrong.
Had he moved too fast or too slow? Was there anything he could have done that would have made Dmitrii not want to leave him?
Nothing changed. By midnight, he still hurt and had no answers for how this had happened.
He knew he should move on but didn’t want to.
He had thought there had been something, something real with Dmitrii.
At 3 AM, he wrote an email to his coach telling her he wasn’t feeling well, so he wouldn’t be at practice.
Whatever happened, he knew that seeing Dmitrii at the rink tomorrow would be too much.
A weekend of crying alone wasn’t the most mature option, but right now he didn’t think he could do anything else.
Eventually, sleep claimed him, but it was going to be a long weekend of hiding in his room and not wanting anyone around.