I stood there in his absence, feeling the cool wind of him brushing past me. When I turned, he was facing the kitchen, his back to me, hands clasped on top of his head as his back muscles flexed with every haggard breath.

“Clay,” I tried, fear prickling my nerves.

He stood there silent for so long, I almost said his name again. But then finally, his hands fell to his side, and he pulled his shoulders back, holding his chin high as he turned to face me once more.

“It’s over, G.”

I frowned, confusion sparring with the anxiety niggling at my belly. “What’s over?”

His throat constricted. “Us.”

I laughed. It was automatic, even as I frowned and shook my head and felt tears burning behind my eyes. “What? Don’t be ridiculous. What are you talking about?”

When he didn’t answer, all laughter ceased.

“Clay, what are you saying right now? What are you… What…”

Everything I tried to ask was cut off by the absolute refusal of me to accept what he was saying. I shook my head, over and over, crossing my arms over myself as I stared at him and took in all the pain he was clearly feeling.

“It was all a game to me,” he said, his voice stoic and unmoved, eyes glossed over. “I’m sorry I used you, that I pretended like I wanted to be with you. I had to do what it took to get Maliyah back.”

A single tear fell over my cheek, so fast I couldn’t catch it with the swipe of my hand that came too late. “Get Maliyah back?” I echoed.

“She came over last night,” he said, and the coldness in his voice made me shiver like a tree in a storm. “We talked, and she wants to be together again. It’s what I want, too. I’m just sorry I pulled you into this.”

My face warped with betrayal and emotion, stomach turning so violently I doubled over a bit with the pain. But then I stood again, staring at him through my blurred vision.

And again, his façade slipped.

His bottom lip trembled so bad he wiped his hand over his face to cover it, and then he hung his hands on his hips and turned away from me again to hide the rest.

I narrowed my eyes in suspicion.

And then I charged.

“Bullshit,” I seethed, shoving him from behind. He stumbled forward before turning to face me just in time for me to push him again. “This is all bullshit and I know it. Why are you doing this? What the fuck is going on, Clay?”