Chapter 58 DAMN SECOND

Chapter 58 DAMN SECOND
THANE
Nancy was sniffing louder now, like she’d tried so hard to keep the tears in and they were finally slipping out anyway. By then, I was already behind her. The second she turned, there was nowhere left to hide those swollen eyes.
“I’m friends with your dad remember,” she stated, quickly pulling out face wipes from her bag to dab under her eyes. “So naturally, I’m concerned about you, alright?”
“Fuck that.” I cornered her before she could walk off again. “That’s got nothing to do with what I asked.” My hand dragged through my hair in frustration. “Did you seriously expect me to believe whatever this is, is just because you care?” A sharp laugh left me. “Shit, it sounds ridiculous even saying it out loud so how about you stop doing this and tell me what the fuck’s really going on?”
I didn’t even know what I was expecting her to admit to anymore, and honestly, that scared me more because a part of me already had an idea. Slowly, I held her gaze. “Wait…” My chest tightened. “Is this about those dreams?” I asked quietly now. “You finally think I’m losing my shit? That I’m just some crazy guy blaming everybody because I can’t let go?”
Her brows lifted instantly. “I would never think that about you—”
“No.” I cut in with a dry laugh. “This already says enough.” I shook my head slowly. “You’re pitying me right now and you think I’m fucking crazy. Because why else would you react like this? Why else would you cry over something that’s supposed to just be therapy unless there’s something else you’re not telling me?” My jaw tightened. “And honestly… that’s the part messing with my head the most.”
She shook her head immediately but I cut her off before she could speak.
“I think it’s best I don’t even hear it.” My throat felt dry as I swallowed hard. “Guess you’re finally being real now, huh?” A bitter laugh almost came out but stayed stuck in my chest instead. “I was stupid enough to think I could trust you so yeah… bad idea thinking my dad’s friend could somehow fix me.”
“Thane, listen…” She followed after me as I headed for the door. “Please, just listen to me.”
I grabbed the handle but her hand shot out to hold my arm.
“Please,” she whispered again. “Just listen.”
I turned sharply to her. “For God’s sake, please…” My voice came out rougher than I intended, cutting through the pressure burning behind my eyes. “I’ve heard enough for tonight.”
Her hand slowly slipped off my arm, like the guilt eventually settled in.
“Thanks for the hospitality,” I muttered before yanking the door open and shutting it almost hard behind me.
I walked down the silent hallway, my shoes echoing faintly against the floor as I made my way outside.
The scariest part was how quiet it suddenly felt inside my head.
The rain was still pouring hard by the time I reached my car. Cold drops slammed against my skin but I barely felt any of it. I jerked the door open harder than necessary and slid inside.
What probably hurt the most was how stupid I’d been to think Nancy was different.
She was the last person I should’ve trusted and somehow, she still proved me right.
I shoved the key into the ignition and started the engine. Droplets from my soaked hair rolled down the side of my face again despite the heater turned on.
I badly wanted to drive back home but Rachel was the last person I wanted seeing me like this tonight. And Sarah? Fuck. She’d probably have a thousand things to say to me after what happened earlier.
My grip tightened harder around the steering wheel. Everything inside me felt like chaos waiting to snap loose. Part of me wanted to hit a bar and drown the whole night in alcohol strong enough to shut my brain off for a few hours. But doing that would only prove Nancy right. I’d really become that emotionally messed up guy who couldn’t hold himself together.
The second I pulled up at the gate, I jumped out, shoved it open through the rain and drove in quickly.
My phone kept vibrating on the passenger seat. But I didn’t check it after seeing the name on the screen. Nina was the last person I wanted to talk to right now.
I reached my door but didn’t even get the chance to open it before it swung open on its own. The second my eyes landed on the person standing before me, my brain flipped so hard it felt like it went a full re-set.
“Nina?” I fumbled out, more shocked than anything else.
She looked like she’d been waiting there all night. For me. The second her face twisted with relief, she exhaled sharply and threw her arms around me so tightly it almost knocked the air out of my lungs.
My whole body went stiff. For a second, I genuinely couldn’t tell if I wanted to pull away from her or just stay there for one more damn second.