His After The Heartbreak (BL)-Chapter 199: The Call

Chapter 199- The Call

TYLER’S POV

"Tell him I’m not in the mood to talk to anyone," I said quickly, trying to escape the moment.

My voice was flat. I didn’t even look at Logan when I said it. I just wanted to avoid everything—especially that call. I wasn’t ready. Not mentally. Not emotionally. I wasn’t ready to hear whatever my dad wanted to say.

But Logan wasn’t letting me off that easily.

"And what’s stopping you from telling him that yourself?" he said, his tone calm but firm. "If you really don’t want to talk to him, then tell him. Here’s the phone."

He extended the phone toward me.

I stared at it like it was a loaded gun.

Now I had no excuse.

I was trapped.

I knew my dad—Declan—well enough to know that he wasn’t just calling to say "hi." He’d want answers. He’d have advice. Maybe even judgment.

And I wasn’t sure I was ready for any of that.

Still, I didn’t argue.

What was the point?

I just sighed, stretched out my hand, and took the phone from Logan.

He placed it gently into my palm, and I gave him a small nod of thanks. He didn’t say anything back. Just looked at me, like he was wondering why I was making an excuse not to talk to him.

I closed my eyes for a second, took a deep breath, and slowly brought the phone to my ear.

"Hello, Declan?" I said quietly. My voice cracked just a little.

There was a short pause, and then I heard his voice.

"Hello, son," he replied. "How are you doing this evening—or should I say this night?"

He chuckled lightly after saying that, but I didn’t laugh.

My throat felt tight. My heart was thudding hard inside my chest. I kept my eyes closed like it would protect me from whatever was coming next.

"I’m doing okay, Declan. Thanks for asking," I replied, trying to keep my tone steady. But I knew he could probably hear the fear in my voice.

I was bracing myself.

I was waiting for the real reason he called—the question I didn’t want to answer.

But it never came.

Instead, he said something that caught me completely off guard.

"That’s great to hear," he said gently. "I’m glad you’re okay. I just wanted to check in... and also let you know that the doctor said your mom is responding well to treatment."

I opened my eyes.

"She’s improving faster than expected," he continued. "If everything goes well, she might even be strong enough to talk to you by tomorrow. Maybe not for long, but enough to hear your voice. I think that would help her a lot."

For a second, I forgot how to breathe.

Then I let out a deep exhale—like I had been holding my breath without realizing it.

That was not the question I thought he’d ask. I was sure he was going to bring up Logan. Or ask why I left home. Or worse, tell me how disappointed he was in me.

But he didn’t.

Instead, he talked about Mom. And hope.

And suddenly, I felt like I could breathe again.

I nodded my head slowly, forgetting he couldn’t see me.

But I didn’t care.

Because for the first time in days, I felt a small wave of peace washing over me.

I was just glad that—for now—that was all he wanted to say.

"Alright, Declan. Thank you so much for the information," I said softly, trying my best to sound calm.

"I’m really glad she’s getting better. It means so much to me. She’s a strong woman... stronger than I ever gave her credit for. I’m proud of her. Honestly, I just can’t wait to see her. I want to look her in the eyes and apologize for being such a jerk. I need her to forgive me."

There was silence on the other end for a few seconds before he finally replied.

"Stop blaming yourself for what happened," he said, his voice steady but warmer than usual. "You weren’t the reason any of it happened. You didn’t pull the trigger. You didn’t plan it."

I didn’t say anything. I just listened.

"Everything happens for a reason, Tyler. Even the hard stuff. Even the painful stuff. Somewhere—maybe in the stars, maybe in a book written by whosoever is writing our stories—it was already written that your mother would get shot."

"It could’ve happened anywhere," he continued. "Even if nothing went wrong between you two... even if you never left the house or argued with her... she might still have ended up getting hurt. At least I was there when it happened. At least she wasn’t alone."

He took a short breath. He was saying the truth because imagine we settled and she wasn’t with my dad when she got shot.

Imagine she was alone when those bastard came to the house to finish her off

Who would be there to save her?

"Who knows what would’ve happened if she was at home when it happened?" he said, his voice quieter now. "If she collapsed there and no one was there to help her... she might not have made it. So please, son... stop blaming yourself. You did not cause this."

My throat tightened, and for the first time in a while, I didn’t feel like I was drowning in guilt.

It was strange.

The way his words sank into my chest and slowly started to loosen something that had been tied up. That heavy knot of blame and shame inside me—it was still there, but it wasn’t choking me like before.

Even Logan had told me to stop blaming myself.

But I didn’t listen.

Because deep down, I kept thinking... What if I had stayed? What if I had tried harder? What if I hadn’t shut her out?

I knew it wasn’t fully my fault.

But that didn’t stop me from carrying it on my shoulders anyway.

Still, hearing Declan say it—hearing the words come from him—it helped. More than I expected.

"All that matters now is seeing her," I whispered to myself, my fingers tightening slightly around the phone. "I just need to see her, apologize face to face, and hear her forgive me. Maybe then I’ll feel okay again."

There was another pause. He didn’t say anything, and neither did I.

But inside, my heart was racing again.

Because even though we were talking about Mom... a part of me was waiting—dreading—the moment he would shift the conversation.

The moment he would ask me the question I wasn’t ready for.

The one about Logan.

I could feel it coming.

Or maybe I was just scared.

I waited, silently praying he wouldn’t ask. That maybe he hadn’t heard. That maybe Logan’s dad hadn’t told him yet.

My pulse pounded in my ears as I held the phone close, preparing for a question I didn’t want to answer... and knowing I had no explanation to give if he did ask.

"Alright, Tyler. I’ll talk to you later. After this call ends, I’ll text the hospital address to you so you can go see her tomorrow," Declan said.

"Have a great night."

I closed my eyes and smiled a little, breathing out slowly. "Thanks. You too."

I didn’t realize I’d been holding my breath the entire time.