Shut Out

Hazel complained, "I was asleep."

"Sorry for waking you." Clayton apologized.

Even so, she never did feel any sincerity from any of his apologies—as if he said it just for the sake of saying it.

"Is there a problem?"

"Just wanted to tell you that I'm back."

"Got it," Hazel said coolly, adding when she noticed his exhausted appearance, "You could've texted me. You didn't have to come all the way he