Evan studied me a moment, then nodded. He tried to hide it, but I saw the sympathy on his face. Yes, I know. It’s a little sad that we have to physically proclaim our monogamy. But trust me, it’s something we need to do. Something I need to do. Evan didn’t say anything else as I bought the pair of rings, and I was grateful for it.

Thinking about Kiera and Christmas and being with her family made me start thinking about mine. Not Gavin. Fuck him. But Hailey…maybe I was being too hard on her. Maybe I was overreacting. Maybe I should give her another chance. That was the whole point of Christmas, right? Forgiveness, family, acceptance? Building bonds, building memories…maybe I could still have that with her. I still wanted it with her.

When Evan and I got back to the buses, I pulled out my phone and nodded for him to go inside without me. He grabbed my bags for me, considerate as always, then disappeared into the bus. Curious as to what Hailey had been saying to me while I’d been ignoring her, I—very carefully—checked my messages. Scrolling through her list of texts made my chest burn, like someone was sizzling me with acid.

‘I’m so sorry, please call me.’ ‘I know I screwed up, I’m sorry.’ ‘Please talk to me.’ ‘I don’t know how to fix this, I’m sorry.’ ‘Please don’t shut me out.’

All of those made my eyes water, made my stomach fill with pain, but it was the last one she sent me, the one I’d ignored last night, that finally broke something inside me. ‘It’s clear you don’t want to talk to me. I won’t bother you again. I’m so sorry I hurt you.’

Before I was even conscious of doing it, I was calling her number. She picked up instantly. “Kellan, I’m so sorry.”

Hearing her voice soothed the agony in my stomach. “No, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have…I should have talked to you, yelled at you, vented at you…something. I shouldn’t have just ignored you. I just…couldn’t deal. You shouldn’t have given him my number. Why would you do that?”

Her voice hitched with pain. “I’m sorry. He cornered me once he realized what I’d done. He wasn’t going to let it go…And he was so…I caved, I’m sorry.” She paused to let out a long sigh. “I guess a part of me was hoping you weren’t really being serious about never wanting to talk to him. I was hoping it would bring you two together, but you’ve been ignoring him too, so I guess…I guess I was wrong.”