Ice shot through my spine as I looked up at her face. Was she keeping things from me too? What would she possibly hide from me? That…friend she went to lunch with? “Tell me what?”

She started stammering for words, then her eyes started watering. Oh my God…was she cheating on me? Had she found someone else? A comforting presence to hold her while I was gone? I wanted to scream at her for an answer, but I also didn’t want to overreact. I had to give her the benefit of the doubt. I had to trust her, even if she didn’t trust me.

“Um, well…”

Someone banged on the bus door, then I heard Evan yell, “Kell? You and Kiera in there?”

I wanted to curse his timing…I wanted to thank him for his timing. Because I really wasn’t sure if I wanted to know what Kiera was keeping from me. By the guilt on her face, I already knew it was bad. But not knowing…How would I ever get that look in her eyes out of my mind now? Was this the beginning of the end for us? Just another tense, vocal, excruciating breakup on a bus that seemed to be teeming with pain? Not us. That can’t be our future. I have to be misreading her. I just have to be.

Sighing, I leaned over and shouted, “Yeah, we’re in here.”

I heard Evan enter the bus, then step up to the curtain blocking the sleeping area. I could feel his hesitation as he waited on the other side of the thick material. He awkwardly cleared his throat. “You, uh…dressed?”

The question eased some of my heartache, and a knot loosened as I laughed. “Yeah…what’s up?”

Like he didn’t believe me, he stayed on the other side of the curtain. “We’re on in ten, so, you know, we should get ready.”

Surprised, I sat up on my elbows. “Already? Damn…” I stood from the cubby as I heard Evan leaving. Looking back at Kiera, I grimaced. “I’m sorry…it’s our turn.”

She nodded, a trace amount of relief on her face. “I know.”

I tentatively held out my hand for her. There was still so much uncertainty between us, I really wasn’t sure if she’d accept it. She exhaled slowly, like she was fortifying herself. Then she stood up…and clenched my fingers tight. I’d never been so grateful for anything in my life. I kissed her hand, right over her ring. I’m not cheating, and I have to believe that you’re not either. Because I can’t face a reality where that’s not true.