Chapter 66 SOMETHING SOFT

Chapter 66 SOMETHING SOFT
RACHEL
I didn't say anything. I simply watched him walk from the living room toward us, his eyes fixed on mine the entire time.
My gaze drifted past him to Nina. That was when I really noticed how beautiful she was. Tall. Elegant. Not intimidatingly so though, just enough to stand comfortably beside him without either of them looking out of place. More like a cute couple.
If the tabloids ever caught them together… I doubted Simon would object for even a second. The thought turned my mouth bitter, as though I'd swallowed something sour.
When my eyes shifted from hers, Thane had already stopped right in front of me. His eyes never left mine. I couldn't tell what was going through his head. Strangely, I wasn't even worried he'd misunderstood what he'd just walked into. Not after everything that had happened today.
If anything… The emptiness inside me had somehow hardened into something fiercer.
“Hey.” The lazy smirk barely touched his lips. I almost missed it.
I lifted my chin. “Hi.” The greeting sounded awkward the moment it left my mouth. I forced a small smile anyway. “Thought you weren't coming back tonight.”
His eyes flicked briefly toward Jay before returning to me. One thumb brushed lightly across the bridge of his nose. “Had something to take care of.” He gave a small nod.
“Oh.” I smiled again. This one felt even more forced. “Must've been really important.” My eyes drifted slightly to Nina’s again.
A faint crease appeared between his brows, like he couldn't understand where this was coming from. “Sorry?”
“Mum's staying overnight at the hospital.” I informed him, ignoring the puzzled look he gave me. “Jay's staying in the guest room.” I gestured toward the door beside us. “And Tiara's sleeping with me.” My eyes shifted briefly to Nina. “So... just letting you know, in case she's staying over too.”
For a moment, he didn't respond. Just a small nod. The kind that somehow managed to say, Whatever. It irritated me far more than it should have. Then he shrugged, the corner of his mouth dipping slightly.
“Noah's been worried about Tiara.” His gaze drifted toward the staircase. “Is she okay?”
“She’s about to be forced into an arranged marriage while her boyfriend won't return her calls, so... okay is probably the last thing she’s feeling right now.” I gave him a flat look.
“That’s right. He messed up, alright?” His voice softened. “Trust me, he’s been worried sick, and you know Noah wouldn't ignore her unless something had happened.”
I scoffed, rolling my eyes for a second. That was when I looked back and realized his expression had changed. He studied me quietly for a moment, but I refused to look away.
Slowly, his tongue swept across his lower lip. “Do you wanna tell me what’s going on,” he asked evenly, “or are you just going to keep giving me attitude?”
I shot him a glare. “Excuse you?” My face tightened. I needed to calm down. As a matter of fact, I was only one step away from saying everything that had been clawing at my chest since this morning.
How stupid he'd made me feel for believing I could finally let my guard down and trust him. For excusing him. For defending him every single time he'd given me a reason not to. And now… Seeing him walk through that door with Nina beside him, acting as though nothing had happened, like none of today mattered—only made it worse.
He wasn't even angry. He wasn't guilty. He just… looked normal. Somehow, that pissed me off more than if he'd walked in yelling.
I wanted to scream at him. To ask him if he genuinely couldn't see what he'd done. To make him feel even half of the mess he’d left inside me.
“Talk to me,” he said quietly.
I let out a humorless laugh. “There’s really nothing to talk about, Thane.”
My eyes drifted to Jay. He'd stayed silent through the entire exchange, looking like he was caught between stepping in and respecting whatever this was. I appreciated that he chose the second one. “Good night,” I told him softly. “We'll talk tomorrow.”
Without waiting for anyone to stop me, I turned and headed upstairs.
The minute I reached my room, I shut the door. Or maybe I slammed it. Who cared?
Tiara's eyes widened as I dropped onto the edge of the bed. For a moment, the room fell completely silent.
"Looks like someone's finally made you explode." Her voice came from behind me. "Let me guess. Someone whose name starts with a T and ends with an E? Did you finally take my advice, or did he call?"
I didn't answer. I didn't even look back. I just stayed seated on the edge of the bed, reaching behind me to unclasp my bra.
"What now?" she sighed. "Either you talk or you keep dying in silence. Your choice. I'm already drowning in my own problems over here."
I slipped a hand beneath my top, pulled the bra free through my sleeve, then pushed myself up and walked to my wardrobe. "He's here," I finally announced, pulling out a pair of my sleep shorts. "Said he spoke to Noah. Apparently, Noah's been worried about you." I turned to face her.
"Worried enough to ignore twelve missed calls and ten messages?" Her frown deepened as she stopped drying her hair.
"I told him exactly that." I shrugged. "He said something happened. Honestly... he didn't look like he was lying."
"I don't believe either of those idiots." She tossed the towel onto the bed with too much force before facing me fully. "Can I just get a hair dryer? I'm already frustrated enough."
I pulled my top over my head before wrapping my towel securely around myself. "Check the drawer beside my dressing table." I pointed toward it. "And don't throw it across the room if it gets too hot. You're still emotionally unstable." I even threw in exaggerated finger quotes to her.
She stared at me flatly. "Whatever. I'm not the one who looked like a drenched cat two seconds ago because of the guy she supposedly doesn't care about."
I let out a scoff, rolling my eyes.
"Duh," she sang dramatically.
Despite myself… I laughed.
"Seriously though," she continued, "you have to gist me. I wish I'd seen his face when he saw Jay." She paused. "Wait..." Her eyes widened. "Did he even see him?"
I kept quiet.
"Rachel?"
I still said nothing.
"Rachel!" She yelled this time.
Dammit!
"God, T." I laughed again as I headed into the bathroom. "Can you mind your business for, like, five minutes?" My laughter echoed softly against the tiled walls.
Finally… She went silent. Much better. Honestly, I wasn't even surprised she'd bounced back this quickly. That was Tiara. One minute she'd be crying over the mess with her dad. The next minute, she'd somehow find the energy to tease me about mine.
Ten minutes later, I finished showering. I squeezed toothpaste onto my toothbrush, brushed my teeth, rinsed my mouth beneath the tap and wondered what on earth Tiara had managed to occupy herself with out there seeing how quiet she was the entire time.
Predictably… My thoughts drifted toward Thane again. I shoved them away almost immediately. I'd had enough of him for one day.
I caught my reflection in the mirror one last time before stepping out of the bathroom.
The moment I did… My feet stopped. As much as my breathing almost did.
Thane.
He stood quietly inside my room. Both hands tucked into his pockets.
His eyes looked soft and tired. The kind of soft that almost made me forget every reason I was angry with him fifteen minutes ago.
Get yourself together, Rachel. I mentally scolded myself as I walked toward him.
I stopped in front of him. My eyes searched the room.
"T…” I stopped myself.
Where was Tiara?
I frowned at him. "Where's T—"
The question never left my mouth completely. Something soft pressed against my lips and then every word disappeared. My body went completely still.