Anthony Tells Amber: ‘I’m Done with Shayla—For Good This Time!

 Anthony Tells Amber: ‘I’m Done with Shayla—For Good This Time!

Amber paced the living room, her nails tapping against her coffee mug as she watched Anthony lean back on the couch, phone in hand, eyes darting between unread texts and the ceiling.

“So that’s it?” Amber finally snapped, setting the mug down with a thud. “You ghost Shayla and think it’s over?”

Anthony glanced up, eyes dark but calm. “I’m done with her, Amber. For good this time.”

Amber scoffed, folding her arms. “Oh, so now you’re done? After all the crying, all the late-night calls, and you running every time she snaps her fingers—now you’re done?”

Anthony rubbed his temples, the memory of Shayla’s last voicemail still fresh in his mind. “You don’t get it. She wants me in her mess. Every. Single. Time. She knows exactly what to say, exactly how to make me feel guilty, and then—”

“She reels you back in,” Amber finished, rolling her eyes. “You’re predictable, Anthony.”

“I’m not predictable,” he shot back, voice rising, “I’m loyal! I stayed for Kai. I stayed because she said she was trying to get better. But you know what she did last week? She pulled up to my job, yelling about how I ‘owe’ her a family just because we share a kid.”

Amber’s eyes softened for a second before hardening again. “And you still answered the phone when she called last night.”

“Because I wanted to tell her it’s done,” Anthony sighed. “She wants to argue about nothing. I can’t live like that.”

Amber stepped closer, lowering her voice. “So you’re done with her drama, but what about the rest? You still care about her, don’t you?”

Anthony’s jaw tightened. “I care about her as Kai’s mom. But that’s it.”

Amber tilted her head, studying him, searching for cracks in his resolve. “Anthony, she’s going to come back. She’s going to show up crying, saying she misses you, talking about ‘family’ and how you’re the only one who ever understood her.”

Anthony’s eyes flickered, but he stayed silent.

Amber smirked. “See? You’re already thinking about it.”

“No, I’m not,” Anthony snapped, standing up. “You think I’m stupid?”

Amber shook her head slowly. “No. I think you’re addicted to the chaos. It makes you feel needed. It makes you feel like the hero.”

Anthony glared at her, then softened. “I’m not a hero, Amber. I’m tired. I’m tired of her yelling. I’m tired of her throwing the past in my face. I’m tired of pretending it’s going to work.”

Amber’s expression shifted, her shoulders dropping. “So what now? You think Shayla’s going to just leave you alone?”

Anthony shrugged, looking down at his phone again. “She will have to. I blocked her number.”

Amber’s eyes widened. “You blocked Shayla? For real?”

Anthony nodded, slipping the phone into his pocket. “For real. I’ll only deal with her through Kai’s email and pick-up schedule. I’m done, Amber.”

Amber sat down on the couch, almost speechless. “Wow. You actually did it.”

Anthony’s face was unreadable. “I had to. She’s toxic for me, and I’m toxic for her.”

They sat in silence for a moment, the air thick with the weight of his decision.

Amber cleared her throat. “You know she’s going to pull something. She’ll try to get in your head again.”

Anthony exhaled. “She can try, but I’m done.”

“Like really done?” Amber raised an eyebrow.

Anthony met her gaze, steady. “For good this time.”

Amber studied him, waiting for him to crack, waiting for the guilt to creep in. But he didn’t flinch.

“She told me once that you’d never leave her,” Amber whispered, almost to herself.

Anthony looked away, his voice low. “She doesn’t get to control me anymore.”

Amber leaned back, crossing her legs. “So what now? You just…move on?”

“I’m going to be the best dad I can be for Kai,” Anthony said. “And I’m going to get my peace back.”

Amber raised an eyebrow, smirking. “Your peace back? You think peace exists in this mess?”

Anthony chuckled dryly. “It has to.”

Amber was quiet for a moment, then leaned forward. “You know what? I’m proud of you.”

Anthony blinked, surprised. “You are?”

“Yeah,” Amber nodded. “You finally grew a spine.”

He cracked a small smile. “Thanks.”

“But,” Amber’s eyes glinted, “don’t think for a second that she won’t try to break that spine the moment she sees you happy.”

Anthony sighed, rubbing his face. “I know.”

Amber softened, her voice gentle. “Just remember why you’re done, Anthony. Remember every argument, every guilt trip, every time she made you feel like you were never enough.”

Anthony nodded slowly, replaying the countless nights he sat in his car outside her apartment, waiting for her to stop yelling, the countless text arguments that ended in nothing, and the empty promises of change.

“I will,” he said.

Amber stood, patting his shoulder. “Good. Because the moment you forget, she’ll be right back in your bed, and you’ll be right back in her drama.”

Anthony nodded again, swallowing hard. “I won’t forget.”

Amber smiled, genuinely this time. “Then let’s get some fresh air. You look like you need it.”

Anthony chuckled, grabbing his keys. “Yeah. I do.”

As they stepped outside, the air felt lighter. The late summer breeze brushed against Anthony’s face, and for the first time in months, he felt like he could breathe.

Amber looked at him as they walked down the sidewalk. “You know, you deserve better than what she gave you.”

Anthony didn’t respond immediately. He let the words sink in, letting the guilt slip off his shoulders.

“Yeah,” he finally said, “I know.”

Amber grinned. “Good. Because if you ever even think about going back—”

“I won’t,” Anthony interrupted, laughing.

Amber raised an eyebrow playfully. “You better not. Or I’ll knock some sense into you.”

They both laughed, the tension of the past months finally lifting.

Anthony glanced up at the sky, feeling the weight of Shayla’s hold on him loosen, finally allowing himself to believe that peace was possible.

This time, he meant it.

He was done.

For good.