Chapter 68 HURTS

Chapter 68 HURTS
THANE
“What?” Rachel shrugged, almost helplessly. “What are you going to say?”
That was where it got difficult.
Looking at her this way somehow wiped every word I'd been about to say from my mind. My jaw clenched hard as I tried like hell to remind myself that I couldn't be thinking about how much I wanted to fucking kiss her again in the middle of a damn argument, yet...
She nodded eventually. “Fine. If you've got nothing else to say, you're free to help yourself out.”
She said it, but didn't move either.
I bit the inside of my mouth, trying to calm the anger and the intense craving sending warm trails through me as I watched her grab the shorts she'd probably picked out from her wardrobe.
“I'm leaving in the morning.”
My voice barely rose above a whisper.
“Why are you telling me that?”
She didn't stop pulling the shorts up over her waist, as if she was already tired of having me in the room. Seeing her dress so indifferently in front of me should have been enough to drive me out.
But I was done leaving things to work themselves out.
“I can't possibly leave when I know things are like this between us.”
I stepped a little closer.
“Not when he's already looking for this kind of opportunity.”
Her glare lifted to meet mine.
“I don't think you understand.”
“Yes, I do. And my answer is no.”
I closed the small space left between us.
“I'm not breaking up with you if that's what this whole thing you're doing is about.”
My chest tightened.
“You think this is about breaking up?”
I didn't say anything.
Of course I knew it wasn't about that.
“I can't break up with you even if I want to.” Her voice faltered slightly. “Maybe that's the problem I'm having right now, but that's not the point...”
My body went completely still.
She stopped herself and exhaled sharply.
“Look...” She wiped her hands down over her face in frustration. “You know what...”
I caught the hesitation in her eyes.
“Let's just...” She swallowed.
I'd never felt this kind of fear in my entire life.
It was the kind that made me feel like I was waiting for a decision that could determine the rest of it.
“I need a break.”
Dread froze me in place.
The kind that completely shut me down.
“What?”
She didn't say anything. Just gave a small shake of her head, as if she didn't know what else to say.
“What are you...”
A scoff slipped out.
“What does that mean? Because if you ask me, that's what comes before a real breakup.”
“I don't know yet.”
She fired the words back at me.
I wanted to believe this was just one of those moments when someone made an impulsive decision.
But the look in her eyes told me something entirely different.
My heart hurt so badly I couldn't say anything else. I could only stare at her.
Reluctantly, my eyes dropped to my feet.
It wasn't supposed to be this hard.
So why the fuck did it feel impossible to get one damn thing right?
I felt like I was losing her, and I didn't know what to do to convince her that I could do better.
That I would do better.
But she'd made up her mind.
And it fucking hurt.
Dammit.
Slowly, I nodded.
“Alright.”
I dragged my eyes back to her.
“Fine.”
My tongue dragged over my dry lips before my gaze drifted away from hers again. Looking at her for too long had already become torture.
“Good night, Rachel.”
Then I turned and walked out of the room.