Chapter 170 What if I've lost her forever?

Chapter 170 What if I've lost her forever?
Zayne's POV 
My phone was ringing again. This was like the fourth time just this evening. 

I pulled out the phone. It was Quinn just like I'd suspected.

I stared at her name for a few seconds before answering.

"Where the hell are you?!" she screamed at me the moment I picked up. 

"I—"

"How could you break up with Valeria, Zayne? What the hell is wrong with you?!" she yelled. 

I removed the phone from my ear and kept it far away. She continued yelling.

"Do you know what you've done? She came here and packed her things and she's going back to her house. Her father's house, Zayne! She's leaving because of you!"

I closed my eyes and sighed.

I didn't have the energy to explain myself. Anything I said would only make things worse.

"I'm coming home," I said and ended the call before she could say anything else.

I pulled my jacket closer before I climbed onto my motorcycle. When I finally got home, Quinn was waiting for me. 

I barely made it through the door before she confronted me. The argument that followed was heated, with her demanding answers I wasn't ready to give and me trying desperately to shut everything down.

Eventually, I couldn't take it anymore. I walked away from her, headed straight to my room, and shut the door in her face.

My head hit the door as I leaned against it for a moment, my eyes closed.

How much longer would I have to deal with this? 

For the rest of my life? 

Fuck.

I released a shaky breath and slowly pushed myself off the door. My eyes darted around. And just like Quinn said, Valeria's things were gone. Really gone.

Frantically, I rushed to the wardrobe. My jaw tightened as I pushed the wardrobe open. But reality was there in front of me.

She was really gone.

Her clothes were all gone. Her little things scattered around the places she'd claimed without even realizing it—everything was gone.

But one thing still remained.

Her scent. That sweet scent that had become so familiar to me.

I swallowed hard, taking it all in. I turned around, my gaze wandering around the room until it landed on my jersey lying on the chair. 

She had worn it a few days ago before everything went to hell.

Slowly, I walked over and picked it up.

I just stood there holding it, then I brought it to my face and inhaled. Her scent was faint, but it was still there, still all over the fabric.

My chest tightened painfully. I squeezed my eyes shut, holding the jersey against my face as another overwhelming wave of sadness hit me.

I walked toward the bed absentmindedly, but I couldn't bring myself to sit on it. Instead, I slid down the side of it until I was sitting on the floor.

I held the jersey tightly against my chest, my breathing uneven. I sniffled, wiping my face with the back of my hand.

Why the hell did her absence hurt this much?

A sob escaped me. I immediately covered my mouth. And before I knew it, I was crying.

I buried my face into the jersey, gripping it so tightly my fingers hurt.

"Valie," I whispered through a broken breath. 

I missed her.

Shit. I fucking missed her.

I missed the way she would crawl into my bed and steal half the blanket. I missed her voice. Her laugh. I missed the way she'd say my name whenever she wanted my attention. The way she snuggled into me every night, making sure I held her closer to myself. 

I missed my Valie. And she wasn't even mine anymore.

A soft sound came from the door. I didn't notice it opening.

"Zayne?" My mom's voice drifted in.

I slowly lifted my head. She stood in the doorway, and the moment her eyes landed on my face, her expression softened. 

She had probably heard the argument between Quinn and me and came to know what was wrong.

She just stared at my helpless form sitting on the floor. Then she walked inside and closed the door behind her.

She approached me, each step slow and careful.

I quickly wiped my cheeks, suddenly embarrassed to be seen like this. But she didn't say anything about the tears. She sat on the edge of my bed and reached down, gently taking my face in her hands. 

"What is it?"

I stared at her, my throat tightening.

At first I didn't want to say anything, but I ended up talking anyway.

"I broke up with Valeria," I said with a sob.

Her eyes softened even more. "Oh, Zayne."

I looked away, another tear slipping down my cheek.

"Why?"

I shook my head. "I... I had to." 

She was quiet for a while.

"It's okay," she whispered. "Come here."

I shifted closer, resting my head against her thigh. Then her fingers moved through my hair, gently stroking it the way she used to when I was younger.

I closed my eyes and relaxed into her calm touch.

I'd missed her hands in my hair. The quiet comfort of simply having her there when I didn't have the strength to explain what was wrong.

I leaned into her touch.

Her fingers continued moving slowly through my hair. And just like that, the tears started again.

"I love her," I whispered. "I love her so much."

"Then why...?"

"It's not even worth it. The reason for breaking up with her is not worth it."

She kept stroking my hair while I relaxed against her thigh.

"I don't know if I did the right thing, Mom."

She looked down at me. "It's gonna be fine."

I swallowed hard. "But what if I've lost her forever?"

Her fingers gently brushed my hair away from my forehead. 

"Don't be too sure," she said softly. 

My eyes burned again. I squeezed them shut, hoping to fall asleep and push everything aside.