I typed one final message before putting my phone away. ‘I miss you. I love you.’

Time trudged forward, and as March moved into April, I found myself talking to Hailey more and more. She was just the one person I didn’t have to hide anything from. I could be open, honest, and uncomplicated with her. It was freeing. I even started tolerating her badgering me about Gavin better.

“Okay…you know what time it is, right?” she said.

A small laugh escaped me. “Yes. This is the part of the conversation where you tell me I’m being a stubborn idiot, and I should just talk to Gavin, right?”

She giggled in my ear. “Ding, ding. You nailed it.”

I sighed. “And you already know what I’m going to say.”

Now she sighed, then she lowered her voice, mimicking me. “I’ll never speak to that man, stop bringing it up, Hailey.”

I laughed. “Ding, ding. You also nailed it. We’re getting good at this.”

She laughed, then her voice grew more serious. “Hey…I know this is going to cause problems, but…Riley really wants to meet you.”

A weariness settled over me. “I want to meet him too; I just don’t see how. Would Gavin let him visit me with you? At a concert?” I added, cringing. They couldn’t show up at home without me explaining who they were to Kiera, and that…wasn’t something I was ready to do. “Or maybe you could visit me in L.A.? I’ll be there for a while after the tour ends…”

I could practically hear Hailey shaking her head. “He’s too young, Kellan. Dad would never let Riley go somewhere without him. Not even if he was with me. I’m sorry.”

I hung my head; I’d already accepted the limitations of my relationship with Riley. “It’s okay. He won’t be young forever. I’ll just…catch up with him when he’s older.” She sighed again, and I knew what she was thinking: Just talk to Gavin already, and then you wouldn’t have to avoid your little brother. Not wanting to get into it, I said, “Tell him hi for me though, okay? And Hails—”

She cut me off. “I know. Make sure he’s alone. I will, I promise.”

“Thank you. I know you don’t entirely understand, but I appreciate it.”

She exhaled in a huff. “That’s what sisters are for, right?”

I couldn’t help my grin. “Yep.”

We said goodbye, and I put my phone back in my pocket, feeling lighter and a little brighter. Matt and Evan stepped off the bus then, joining me in the brilliant Texas sunshine. They both had elated looks on their faces. “What’s up?” I asked, walking over to them.

Matt beamed at me. “Rachel and Jenny are coming for a visit. They’re going to spend a whole week with us.”