Chapter 19 Zane With A Silent G Zane. Chloe's ex, Zane, with a silent G. His hair was messier than usual, like he'd been running his hands through it. His green t-shirt clung to his frame, his jeans low and relaxed. His brow piercing and lip piercing glimmered in the million lights inside the mall. He still wore that careless grin that always felt like a dare. Like he knew you knew something he didn't want you to know, but he's not bothered because no one else is going to know. Yeah… cocky. God, I'm losing my mind, aren't I? “Savannah,” he said, like he’d been expecting me. My heart thudded. What the hell was he doing here? “Zane?” I asked carefully. “Shopping for stilettos now?” He smirked. “Nah. Just came to check out some… old habits.”His gaze flicked toward the boutique where Chloe was giggling with Dean again, pointing at a teddy bear in a police costume. My stomach dropped. They weren’t here coincidentally. “You two came together?” I asked. He gave a vague shrug. “She needed a ride. I happened to be in the area.” My vertigo always chooses the worst moments. The ground tilted beneath my feet and I instantly needed something to lean on. Of course. Chloe wouldn’t stay missing for long—not with her ex conveniently showing up like that. I bit back a sigh and nodded, pretending not to care. “Let me guess, you’re the getaway driver too?” he added with a smirk. “Unfortunately,” I muttered. He looked me up and down, his tongue slowly wetting his lip. “See you around, Sav.” By the time we left the store, Dean was carrying half the boutique in his hands and Chloe was clinging to his arm like a smug, spoiled cat. “I’m starving,” she purred, sliding into the backseat. “Let’s order sushi on the way home.” “Why don't we order at home?” He suggested. She pouted. “But I want it now, Dean.” “Okay. Anything for you, baby.” He said immediately. Dean didn’t even glance at me. He climbed in beside her, and immediately, they were wrapped around each other. Legs tangled. Her head on his chest. His hand stroked her thigh. Chloe tilted her face up to him and whispered something I didn’t want to hear. He chuckled low and brushed her hair back like it was the most natural thing in the world. Then they kissed. Soft. Then deep. Then hungrily. So hungrily I could hear the sound of teeth and the wet sound of tongues wrestling. Chloe giggled loudly. “Dean, stop. My sister’s here.” I tightened my grip on the steering wheel. Get a grip, Savannah. They were in the backseat. This wasn’t a limo. This wasn’t a music video. I was five seconds away from slamming the brakes just to break their damn rhythm.But I didn’t. I just kept driving like the good little designated driver. Like the ex-girlfriend who was supposed to be okay. Like the sister who was supposed to smile and nod and say "I’m happy for you two." Chloe’s moan was muffled by Dean’s mouth. His hand slid under her blouse, squeezing. I stared straight ahead and clenched my teeth so hard my molars ached. Every laugh, every whispered endearment stabbed like a million needles under my skin. They were in love, and I was in the front seat with heartbreak. I wanted to scream. I wanted to stop the car and tell Chloe the truth. That I'd loved Dean first. That maybe, I still did. Deep down. But I didn’t. Because even if I did, what would it change? Nothing at all. Chloe's engagement ring caught my attention as she clamped her hand down on Dean's which was making its way up her denim mini skirt. Her mouth hung open and her head thrown back as his hand found what it was looking for. Her legs widened a bit instinctively. I kept on gripping the slippery steering wheel, trying not to flinch with every giggle, every moan. Dean used to hold me like that. He used to touch me like that. I blinked hard, my chest tight, but I didn’t say a word. Just drove. My silence screamed louder than anything I could’ve said. I turned the radio on, increased the volume to drown out the softcore going on in the backseat. But it didn't make any difference. Not when Chloe gripped my headrest in ecstasy. Not when her underwear was hanging at her ankles. And that was when my heart finally cracked. I turned the radio off and sped up as if the gates of hell were after me. It felt like an elephant was standing on my chest and I couldn't breathe. It fucking hurt. When we reached home, Chloe stumbled out of the car, giggling as Dean carried her toward the porch. I stood by the car, my fingers curled around the doorframe, nails digging in, watching them with hollow eyes as they disappeared inside, limbs tangled and laughing like love-drunk teenagers. I didn’t wait. Once they disappeared inside, I walked slowly toward the front door, my fingers trembling as I gripped the handle, hoping to make my way to my safe space. Roman. He was waiting for me inside. I stepped in and the door clicked shut behind me. I climbed the stairs two at a time and shoved our room door open. He was sitting on the edge of the bed, eyes shadowed, posture tense—but when he saw me, his expression softened. He was watching me with a calm intensity that shattered my last restraint. I didn’t say a word. I didn't need to. I just ran to him. Straight into the arms that I knew would catch me. And for the first time all day, I let myself break. I cried. The sobs came in waves. Ugly, cathartic, unfiltered. The kind that cracked ribs and split hearts. I cried until my shoulders shook and my chest heaved and the pain clawed its way out. Roman didn’t speak. He just held me the whole time. I've never thought of myself as fragile. But he held me like I was allowed to be. Just for tonight. He held me like he knew. He held me like I was made of glass. He held me like he would never, ever let go.