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CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Brooks

The sound of the football game hums in the background, the announcer’s voice rising and falling with the rhythm of the play.

I’m sitting on the couch, a cold bottle of beer in my hand, but my attention isn’t on the screen. The flickering images of the game pass by in a blur as my thoughts spiral toward Ally.

It’s been a few days since she came down with that bug, and she hasn’t been as responsive in our group chat. I keep telling myself that’s normal, people need rest when they’re sick. But the knot in my stomach says otherwise.

I take a swig of the beer. The room feels quieter than usual, even with the game playing. My leg bounces restlessly, the motion a poor outlet for the tension coiled inside me.

Every time I glance at my phone, I hope to see her name light up the screen with one of her usual witty replies. But the chat’s been mostly quiet today, and it’s driving me crazy.

The football game shifts into a commercial break, the volume spiking with an ad for some flashy car. I mute the TV, the silence somehow amplifying the unease gnawing at me. My mind won’t let go of Ally, no matter how much I try to convince myself it’s nothing.

The front door swings open, and the twins walk in, their voices cutting through the heavy quiet of the room.

“Yo, Brooks,” Tyler calls, dropping his bag by the door. “What’s up?”

I glance up, managing a nod as Nick follows him in. They both head straight for the living room, plopping down on the couch beside me.

“What’re you watching?” Nick asks, but his tone lacks interest.

“Football,” I mutter, not taking my eyes off the muted screen.

Tyler tilts his head, studying me. “You look like you’ve got the weight of the world on your shoulders, man.”

I let out a long breath, setting my beer on the coffee table. “I’m just…worried about Ally,” I admit, the words tumbling out before I can stop them.

The twins exchange a look, their expressions softening.

“Yeah,” Nick says after a moment. “We’ve been thinking about her too.”

Tyler leans back, crossing his arms. “It’s weird, though, right? Like, how do we check in without making it…weird?”

I shrug, the knot in my chest tightening. “I don’t know. But I can’t just sit here and do nothing.”

Nick nods, his jaw tightening. “Yeah. She’s been quiet. That’s not like her.”

Tyler frowns. “She’s probably just sick, but still…I get it. It’s hard not to worry.”

The weight of their agreement solidifies my decision. “I’ll check on her after practice tomorrow,” I say firmly.

“Good,” Nick says. “Let us know what’s going on.”

Tyler leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Do you think she’ll even want company, though? I mean, what if she’s just trying to ride it out on her own?”

I shake my head. “Maybe. But I’d rather risk annoying her than sitting here wondering if she’s okay.”

Nick gives a slow nod. “Makes sense. Besides, the first game’s coming up. It’d be good to know she’ll be there cheering us on.”

“That’s what I’m thinking,” I say, my voice quieter now. “It’s not just about the game, though. I just…I need to see her.”

The twins exchange another glance, this one more loaded with meaning.

“We get it,” Tyler says, his tone unusually serious. “Just don’t forget to tell us what’s going on, okay?”

I nod, appreciating their support even if they don’t say it outright.

The rest of the night passes in snippets of conversation about practice, the upcoming season, and random jokes that ease some of the tension in the room. But even as we talk, my mind keeps circling back to Ally.

When I finally head to bed, the decision to check on her feels like the only thing keeping me sane.

The next day, the drive to Ally’s place feels longer than it should. The rumble of the engine fills the cab of my truck, but it does little to drown out my thoughts.

What am I doing?

Part of me wonders if I’m overstepping, if showing up unannounced is the right move. But the other part, the bigger part, can’t shake the image of her sick and alone.

My thoughts drift, unbidden, to feelings I haven’t let myself acknowledge. Ally makes me feel things I haven’t felt since my ex-wife. But where my marriage had grown stale and fractured, Ally feels like the opposite, new, vibrant, and full of possibility.

That scares the hell out of me.

What if I’m setting myself up for another heartbreak? What if I’m misreading everything, and this thing with Ally is just…fun for her?

The questions churn in my mind, my heart racing as her street comes into view. I slow down, scanning the house numbers until I spot her apartment.

I pull into the driveway and shift into park, my fingers lingering on the key before I turn off the engine. My heart pounds as I sit there, staring at her front door.

Whatever happens next, I know there’s no turning back.

I climb out of my truck, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows across Ally’s quiet street. Her house looks just like it always does, small, cozy, and inviting. But something feels off.

Walking up the path, my boots crunch softly against the gravel. I knock firmly on the front door, my voice steady but tinged with worry as I call out, “Ally? It’s me, Brooks. Are you in there?”

No answer.

I lean in closer to the door, listening for any sound from inside. “Ally, come on. You okay?” My knuckles rap harder against the wood, but the only response is silence.

I take a step back, frowning as I glance around. Her car isn’t in the driveway. Through the window next to the door, I can see her living room.

It looks just like it always does, the throw blanket draped over the couch, her cat’s toys scattered across the floor. Everything seems normal. Too normal.

Peering into another window, I catch sight of the kitchen. No signs of movement. Nothing out of place. But the pit in my stomach only grows.

Across the street, I notice a neighbor stepping onto their porch, their eyes fixed on me. Great. The last thing I need is someone thinking I’m trying to break in.

I wave awkwardly and make my way back to the truck, my heart heavy with worry. Something isn’t right, but I can’t exactly barge in. I’ll have to try again later.

The drive home feels longer than usual, my thoughts racing. Ally’s absence gnaws at me, her silence louder than any words. What if she’s not okay? What if something happened to her, and she can’t answer the door?

The thought makes my grip on the steering wheel tighten, and my knuckles turn white. By the time I pull into my driveway, I barely remember the drive itself.

Slamming the truck into park, I leap out and jog up to the front door, throwing it open without thinking. The sound echoes through the house, startling the twins in the living room.

“Jesus, Brooks!” Tyler shouts, sitting up straight. “What the hell’s with the dramatic entrance?”

Nick looks up from his phone, his face immediately serious. “What’s wrong?”

I run a hand through my hair, pacing back and forth in front of them. “She wasn’t there,” I say, my voice tight. “I knocked, called, everything. Her car’s not in the driveway.”

Nick frowns, setting his phone down. Tyler exchanges a glance with him before leaning forward, elbows on his knees.

“You think she’s okay?” Nick asks, his voice low.

“I don’t know,” I admit, my voice cracking slightly. “I thought maybe she’d just gone out, but…I don’t know. It doesn’t sit right.”

The twins nod solemnly, their concern mirroring my own.

Tyler rubs the back of his neck, his expression uneasy. “What if…” He pauses, glancing at Nick.

“What if what?” I snap, my patience wearing thin.

“What if she’s having second thoughts?” Tyler says, hesitating before continuing. “About…everything. About us.”

I stare at him, my chest tightening. “You think she’s avoiding us?”

Tyler shrugs, though his eyes don’t meet mine. “I don’t know, man. I mean, we just…all of us, you know. And now she’s sick and hasn’t been responding much. It’s weird timing, right?”

Nick shakes his head, his voice firm. “I don’t think Ally’s the type to ghost us like that. She doesn’t seem like someone who’d back out without saying anything.”

Relief flickers through me at his words. “Exactly. If something was bothering her, she’d tell us.”

Tyler leans back, his arms crossed. “Maybe. But you’ve gotta admit, it’s hard not to think about it.”

I exhale slowly, my hands on my hips. “Yeah, it’s weird. But jumping to conclusions won’t help. She’s supposed to be back at work Monday. I’ll talk to her then.”

The room falls into an uneasy silence, the weight of our shared concern pressing down on all of us.

“I just want her to be happy,” I say finally, my voice quieter. “Whatever’s going on, I just…I hope she’s okay.”

Nick nods, his brow furrowed. “We all do.”

Tyler lets out a long breath, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. “Guess we’ll just have to wait and see. Doesn’t mean it’s not gonna drive me nuts in the meantime.”

I force a small smile, though the worry gnaws at me. “Yeah. Monday can’t come soon enough.”

The three of us sit there, lost in thought. The clock ticks, each second stretching out like an eternity.

For now, all I can do is hope that Ally’s okay and that Monday will bring some answers.