All Chapters of Too Big to Fit.: Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

Tyler“Your dad won’t be able to make it tonight.” Mom said that morning, a glass of wine balanced between her fingers. “He had an emer—”“Emergency at work.” I finished for her. “Cargo problem. Has to be in Miami by midnight. The world ends if he isn’t there.”“Tyler.”I looked at her for the first time since I walked downstairs, catching that familiar look she gave me when she felt I was spiraling again.“I don’t like your tone.” “By now you should know I’m used to him never being around, Mom.” I said dryly. “He’s never available.” “Tyler,” she called again, a little sharper this time. Then she watched me for a moment before dropping the glass.“He wanted to be here, okay?” She said calmly. “It’s just not his fault he moves around so much.” I nearly groaned.Maybe throw my bag across the living room from hearing that same sick line for the seventieth time since I learned to play basketball.But my hand was shoved deep into my pocket Hurt.So instead, I turned away and sighed.“

SydneyI stopped for a moment, my eyes fixed on Tyler as Lakeview players jogged out onto the court beneath a storm of admiration and screens.Purple towels spun through the air, students jumped to their feet.The guy with the drum kept hitting the bass. And every time it thundered through the gym, the floor seemed to shake beneath my shoes.But none of that mattered because all I could see was Tyler’s hand.No bandage, no wrap.Just bare skin, exposed.Which was a good thing, right? I mean, if the bandage wasn’t there, that meant he was fine, right?Maybe yesterday wasn’t as bad as I thought. Maybe he could actually hold a basketball without looking like his hand was about to detach from his arm.Right?My breathing ragged, something in my chest banging slowly against my ribcage like it wanted out.But I wasn’t letting it.I watched the boys settle into positions. Lakeview on the right and Redwood on the left.Aaron planted himself near the paint like a human wall. Sammy bounced lig

Tyler I almost died. I swear there was this white light just sitting right there every time my hand touched the ball, just begging me to give up. And I almost did. Multiple times. “Yo, those guys are animals!” Aaron complained as we shoved through the locker room doors, the screams from the gym still ringing in my ears. I forced out a chuckle. “We still beat their asses, though.” “Yeah,” Aaron’s jaw tightened. “Right after they nearly killed Dean.” I scoffed, remembering the look on Dean’s face each time he tried to breathe. “Dude, you alright?” Micheal asked, walking in front of me. But before I could answer, the rest of the team stormed into the locker room, their voices echoing through the room. “We won!” “Did you see that shot?!” “Bro, I swear that dude almost cried.” Someone launched a towel across the room. Another turned on a speaker and climbed onto a bench like he’d personally carried us to victory. A basketball flew across the room and smacked Aar

Sydney Any other person could have made me jump by ten in the morning when I’d just crawled out of bed like a grumpy troll. There was Maeve, there was Principal Lawrence, there was Oscar…maybe. But somehow, the universe chose this plot twist so early in the morning, like I’d committed an offense. And I have to give it to her. My heart leapt clean out of my chest and ran back straight into my room. “God,” I muttered again, throwing a hand over my face. “I didn’t mean to scare you.” His voice rang through my head. Oh wait, he’s still here. My eyes dropped again and immediately caught that amusement on his face. He wasn’t smiling—not exactly. Just that look that said he’d absolutely enjoyed watching me nearly launch myself down the stairs. My stomach twisted. Great. “Brooklyn isn’t home.” I said quietly. “I know.” That made me pause. And for a second, I just stared at him like he’d suddenly realize how weird that sounded. Instead, he stared right back.

TylerI didn’t plan to climb the stairs to her room.At least not at first.I mean, I went from asking Dr Holmes to help convince my mom that it was just a few broken bones in my hand and not cancer so she could let me go for the post-game party.Because that was apparently the only way I could escape Mom strapping me to her back.And then, the next minute, I got a call from Micheal.“Some staff at the airport got some documents scrambled, and now my dad thinks it’s some kind of training if I go unscramble them.” He’d said tiredly over the phone.“And what do I need this information for?” I asked, basketball in hand, like it was some funeral.Since I wasn’t allowed to touch one for the next two weeks.“Come on,” Micheal groaned. “I’m not about to sit in some office staring at numbers for hours. That’s something you like doing.” I scoffed. Even though it wasn’t really a compliment.Honestly, I wasn’t in the mood for any of that. And frankly, I was still angry at Luna for knocking down