Thirty and Single.

Chapter 14.

The whole week, Colton gave me the silent treatment.

I tried to brush it off, tried to pretend it didn't matter but it did. God, it did. He didn't just ignore me. He erased me. Like I didn't exist. Every time he passed by my desk without a glance, every time he laughed with someone else but went cold when I entered the room, it stung.

And Corey? He wasn't any better. He only said a handful of words to me the entire week, usually a stiff "morning" or a quick nod. And that was it. The silence from both of them was like a fog choking the air around me.

That morning, I reached my breaking point.

My stomach was twisting in agony, those brutal cramps had started last night, announcing the arrival of my period like an unwanted guest. I was exhausted, irritable, and emotionally raw. The cherry on top? Seeing Colton at the office pretending like I wasn't even breathing.

"Genesis, are you alright?" Brooklyn asked, her voice soft and cautious.

"I am not fine!" I snapped without thinking, my voice sharper than I intended.

She stepped back slightly, wide-eyed. "Geez, okay! I only wanted to check on you."

I exhaled sharply and rubbed my temple. "Sorry. I didn't mean to yell."

She raised her hands. "It's okay. I know it's... that time. You look like hell."

"Thanks," I muttered.

"Honestly? You should go home. You can't work like this."

She was right. I wasn't just uncomfortable, I was unravelling. I couldn't think straight, and every time I saw Colton or Corey, my heart wrenched and my body screamed for peace.

I dragged myself into Quinn's office and mumbled something about not feeling well. She barely looked up before saying, "Go. Get some rest."

On my way out of the building, the universe decided to test me again. I bumped, literally, into Colton near the elevator.

He looked genuinely surprised to see me.

"Green, are you alright?" he asked, voice gentle for the first time in days.

"I'm fine," I snapped, the venom in my voice surprising even me.

He looked like he wanted to say more, maybe stop me, maybe explain but I didn't give him the chance. I walked away, shoulders tense, throat tight. I stormed into my car and drove straight home. The moment I stepped through my door, I collapsed into bed, buried my face into my pillow, and cried.

I didn't even know why.

Was it the hormones? The pain? Or was I just exhausted from pretending I didn't care?

Eventually, sleep found me.

When I woke up, it was evening. The house was quiet. I shuffled into the living room and flopped onto the couch. I pulled up Netflix and started watching Ginny & Georgia. I needed distraction. Something light. Something that wasn't my life.

But in the middle of the second episode, there was a knock at the door.

I groaned and forced myself to stand, dragging my feet to the door. I pulled it open, expecting maybe a package. But it was him.

Colton.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, more coldly than I meant to. Why was I always so defensive around him?

He rubbed the back of his neck. "I went to your office. Brooklyn told me you weren't feeling well. So... I came to check on you."

That simple sentence undid me. My heart stuttered. No one—no one—had ever done that before. Not like this.