VALERIE
Valerie’s POV
The room was eerily quiet after Kyle stormed out. I blinked multiple times, staring at the door he had slammed shut, as if somehow that would bring him back or undo the scene that had just unfolded. But he didn’t return, and the guilt sitting heavy in my chest didn’t budge either.
Chris walked in shortly after, his expression as calm as it could be, though I could see the storm brewing in his eyes. Evans followed close behind, his jaw tight and his hands shoved deep into his pockets. Neither of them said anything at first, their gazes shifting to me like I was some fragile glass that had already begun to crack.
“I didn’t mean it like that,” I began softly, breaking the silence. My voice was shaky, barely above a whisper, but I needed to say it. “I just—”
Evans s
