Chapter 9 – Not Your Problem
839 Words
The station smelled like stale air and impatience.
Nia sat on the metal bench, elbows resting on her knees, her hands loosely clasped together. The room was quiet, except for the occasional murmur of voices and the distant ringing of phones.
Her head hurt.
Not just from the alcohol.
From everything.
She didn’t look up when the door opened.
Didn’t need to.
“Seriously?”
Marcus’s voice.
Sharp. Controlled. Angry.
Ryan didn’t speak.
But his presence was there.
Heavy.
Nia leaned back slightly, exhaling through her nose. “Took you long enough.”
“That’s what you’re going with?” Marcus snapped. “Not sorry? Not I messed up?”
Nia finally looked at him.
Her expression was calm.
Too calm.
“I didn’t call you for a lecture.”
Ryan stepped forward slightly, his gaze fixed on her. “You didn’t call us at all.”
A pause.
“…They did,” Nia said.
Silence.
Marcus let out a short, disbelieving laugh, running a hand through his hair. “Unbelievable.”
The officer approached, paperwork in hand. “She’s good to go.”
Ryan handled it.
Quiet. Efficient. No wasted words.
Nia stood, rolling her shoulders slightly as if nothing had happened.
As if she hadn’t just been arrested.
“Let’s go,” Marcus said flatly.
The drive back was silent.
Tense.
Nia sat in the backseat, her head resting lightly against the window, watching the city pass by in blurred streaks of light.
Marcus kept his eyes on the road.
Ryan kept his eyes on her.
No one spoke.
Until—
“What were you thinking?”
Marcus again.
He couldn’t hold it in.
Nia didn’t answer immediately.
Then—
“I wasn’t.”
“That’s the problem,” he shot back. “You weren’t thinking.”
She let out a quiet breath.
“Can we not do this right now?”
“No, we’re doing it now,” Marcus said, his voice tightening. “You could’ve killed someone, Nia.”
That made her eyes shift slightly.
Just for a second.
“I didn’t,” she said.
“That’s not the point.”
Silence again.
Heavier this time.
Ryan finally spoke, his tone lower, steadier.
“You’re spiraling.”
Nia’s jaw tightened.
“I’m not.”
“You are,” he said simply.
She didn’t respond.
Didn’t argue.
But the tension in her posture said enough.
The car pulled into the driveway.
The moment it stopped, Nia opened the door and stepped out without waiting.
Inside, the house was just as quiet as always.
Marcus shut the door behind them harder than necessary. “We’re not done talking about this.”
Nia didn’t stop walking.
“Then keep talking.”
She headed straight for the cabinet.
Ryan’s gaze sharpened slightly. “Nia—”
Too late.
The bottle was already in her hand.
Vodka.
She grabbed a glass.
Didn’t bother with anything else.
“Seriously?” Marcus said, disbelief clear in his voice. “That’s your move right now?”
Nia poured the drink.
Full.
“Relax,” she said, her tone flat. “It’s not a big deal.”
She took a sip.
Longer than necessary.
Marcus stepped forward. “You just got out of a police station.”
“And now I’m home,” she replied.
Ryan moved closer too, his voice quieter—but firmer.
“This isn’t helping you.”
Nia let out a small, humorless laugh.
“Neither are you.”
That landed.
Silence filled the space again.
Sharp.
Marcus shook his head. “We’re trying to help you.”
“I didn’t ask for help.”
“You clearly need it.”
Nia’s expression hardened instantly.
“I said it’s not your problem.”
Her voice was colder now.
Final.
Ryan studied her carefully.
“You think pushing everyone away fixes it?”
“I think I don’t need people telling me what to do,” she snapped.
Another sip.
Her grip on the glass tightened slightly.
Marcus exhaled sharply, frustration building. “You’re not even listening to yourself.”
“And you’re not listening to me,” she shot back.
Silence.
Then—
“Leave it alone.”
That was it.
The line.
Ryan held her gaze for a moment longer.
Like he was trying to decide whether to push further.
Then he stepped back.
Marcus didn’t look satisfied.
Not even close.
But even he knew—
There was no getting through to her right now.
“Fine,” he muttered. “But this isn’t over.”
Nia didn’t respond.
She just took another drink.
The burn hit harder this time.
But she didn’t flinch.
Didn’t stop.
Because the truth was—
She didn’t want to hear them.
Didn’t want to think.
Didn’t want to feel anything that wasn’t… quiet.
Even if it only lasted for a moment.
Across the room, Ryan watched her.
Silent.
Unconvinced.
Because he knew—
This wasn’t control.
This was the beginning of something worse.
And Nia?
She was already too deep to see it.
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