I Ran From My Psycho Step-brother Straight Into The Alpha's Lap novel Chapter 104

**When Night Grows Softer Hope Returns To Lead Us by Asa Rowan Finn**
**Chapter 104**

Sage: “Not sure. I didn’t go. Sorry you got stuck at work.”

Talya slipped her phone back into her pocket, feeling a mixture of disappointment and anxiety. She had been eagerly waiting to hear from Brandon, hoping for some good news about the game. Perhaps it had run longer than expected, or maybe it had gone into overtime. But as the clock struck eleven and the minutes ticked by with no message from him, a knot of worry began to form in her stomach. What if something had gone wrong? She pushed the thought aside, focusing instead on helping Joe finish up with the closing tasks at the café.

By the time the clock read 11:30, she decided it was time to leave and made her way to the bus stop. The air felt cool against her skin, and she was acutely aware of the late hour. She kept her gaze fixed on her surroundings, her heart racing slightly as she navigated the dimly lit streets. Thankfully, the bus stop was just around the corner. Once she arrived, she barely had to wait a couple of minutes before the bus pulled up. Climbing aboard, she quickly sent a text to Brandon.

Talya: “Hey, I’m so sorry I missed your game. How did it go? Did you win?”

She pressed send and stared at her phone, her heart pounding with anticipation. As the bus jolted forward, she felt a flutter of hope. But when she reached her stop and saw that he still hadn’t replied, a sense of dread washed over her. What if he was ghosting her because she hadn’t been there to cheer him on? She exhaled sharply, frustration bubbling to the surface. There was nothing she could do about it now; all she could hope for was that he would calm down and they could sort things out tomorrow.

But the days dragged on, and luck was not on her side. Saturday and Sunday slipped away without a word from Brandon, despite her attempts to reach out multiple times. She had long shifts at work to keep her mind occupied, yet every night as she lay in bed, her thoughts spiraled back to him. What would he be like at school on Monday? Would he even acknowledge her?

“I’m staying home today because I’m sick.”

Talya quickly typed a reply, expressing her hope for Sage’s swift recovery. But as she sat there, she couldn’t escape the feeling of eyes on her. The whispers and curious glances from her classmates felt like daggers, and she couldn’t tell if they knew about Brandon’s indifference or if it was just her imagination. All she wanted was for the day to end.

When the bell finally rang for lunch, Talya had reached her breaking point. She resolved to ignore Brandon completely. If he wanted to talk, he knew where to find her. With that thought in mind, she made her way to the lunchroom, but deep down, she wished she had stayed away. The atmosphere felt charged, and she could sense that her day was far from over.