Page 92 of A Solid Guide to Surviving a Situationship

I flinched.

I hadn’t even heard the door open.

I looked up quickly and saw Kyle standing there, with confusion and slight anger on his face.

“Why are you checking my phone?” he asked.

I froze for half a second.

Then I let out a scoff, shaking my head as I grabbed my shirt from the couch.

“I’m glad I fucking did.”

I didn’t look at him as I dressed up quickly, thinking that if I stopped for even a second, I might feel everything all at once.

Behind me, I heard him utter, “Fuck!”

Soft. Real. Like he had finally seen what I saw.

“James I—” His voice shifted. “Wait. Don’t go.”

I ignored him, reaching for my bag.

“It’s not what you think,” he said quickly. “Calvin—he’s just—he’s someone I’m seeing.”

I let out a hollow laugh at that, finally turning to look at him.

“Someone you’re seeing.”

The words tasted ridiculous. So I moved toward the door.

“James, wait—” He moved faster, stepping in front of me.

I stopped.

For a second, we just stood there.

And I could feel it now—everything I had been holding back, pressing up against my chest.

My eyes burned.

“You’re never going to change,” I said, my voice stiller than I expected, because I honestly wasn’t angry. I was just… tired.

That was what made it worse.

Kyle didn’t answer right away.

But when he looked up, I saw his eyes were wet.

“I know,” he said.

It wasn’t defensive.

It wasn’t dismissive.

It was certain.

“I… I think I’m broken,” he said, his voice cracking slightly. “I think this is the first time I’m saying this out loud.”