Do Not Fall For The Baseball Captains (Victoria and Elijah) novel Chapter 138

Chapter 138

Chapter 138

Author’s POV

10 vouchers

The late-afternoon sun beat down on the graduate student lounge, casting warm light across the scuffed wooden tables.

Outside the high windows, students rushed between classes, but inside, the atmosphere was thick with an uneasy silence.

Nova took a slow sip of her iced coffee, her gaze fixed on the girl sitting across from her.

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They had planned this meetup weeks ago to go over their course schedules and housing options for graduate school.

On paper, it was supposed to be an exciting milestone. In reality, the binder sitting between them remained unopened.

Victoria sat with her hands wrapped around a paper cup, her fingers tracing the faded logo printed on the side. She hadn’t touched the liquid inside.

She stared at the floor, her eyes empty, looking like she hadn’t had the strength to care in a long time.

“The department head sent over the assistantship details yesterday,” Nova said gently, trying to ground the conversation back to something tangible. “If we submit the preference form by Friday, we’re almost guaranteed to get the same research lab.”

Victoria blinked, coming back to the moment. She offered a small, polite smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

“Oh. That’s good. We should definitely do that.”

She took a sip of her drink, set it back down, and drifted right back out.

Nova leaned back, her knuckles resting against the grain of the table.

She had known Victoria long enough to read the subtle signs: the way her shoulders slouched, the heavy pause before every response, the constant, vacant stare.

Victoria wasn’t thinking about graduate school, research labs, or housing applications. Her mind was miles away, trapped in a mess she couldn’t seem to untangle.

“Victoria,” Nova called quietly. “You haven’t heard a word I’ve said since we sat down.

Victoria winced slightly, caught off guard. She opened her mouth to offer a lie, but the exhaustion winning out made her abandon the cover-up.

She slumped against her chair, letting out a long breath.

“I’m sorry,” Victoria murmured, her voice laced with a faint tremor. “I really tried to focus today. I just… I can’t get out of my own head.”

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15:47 Fri, Jul 24

Chapter 138

10 vouchers

40

“Is it Elijah?” Nova asked softly.

Victoria looked up, her lower lip trembling just enough to betray the mess of emotions she was trying to keep contained.

Tears gathered at the corners of her eyes, and she pressed her palms together to stop her hands from shaking.

“I don’t know if he’s ever going to forgive me, Nova,” Victoria choked out, her voice dropping to a vulnerable whisper. “I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions so fast.”

Nova’s chest tightened. She reached across the table, placing her hand over Victoria’s cold fingers.

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