"No, you're right, of course," he tells her, running a hand awkwardly through his hair and shaking his head a bit. "I especially don't want to still have to deal with this by the time hunting season comes around."

He winces at the mention of Cecilia's name, knowing he has to confess to her sooner or later. "She's been in town longer than I have," he says. "And I may have been avoiding her partly because of it."