CHAPTER 76: WE CAN SHARE

Callum’s POV

"Hailee, stop!" I yelled again, chasing after her through the hallway and out into the open court. But she didn’t stop, not until she reached the edge of the basketball court. She slowed, then came to a halt, her breathing uneven, her arms folded tight across her chest like she was holding herself together. I caught up to her and stood beside her, my heart pounding—not from the run, but from the look in her eyes.

They were glassy with tears. And damn, it hurt me to see her like that.

"Hailee..." I said quietly, trying to keep my voice calm. "What’s going on?"

I knew the answer.

But I needed to hear her say it.

I needed her to be honest—with me, with herself.

She didn’t say anything at first. Just stood there with her back half-turned to me, her fists trembling slightly at her sides.

Then, slowly, she walked to the edge of the grass and sank down onto it, wiping at her cheeks.

I followed, sitting beside her with a patient silence.

And finally... she spoke.

"I’m confused," she whispered.

My chest tightened.

"How?" I asked gently, though I already knew. "Talk to me, Hailee."

She sniffled. "I have feelings for three men, Callum. Three. And I don’t understand how that’s even possible."

I stayed still.

It hurt. Of course it did.

But I wasn’t surprised.

We all felt it. This pull toward her.

And maybe... maybe she did too.

She looked at me, her expression full of shame and pain. "I feel like I’m going insane. Like I’m being split in three directions. I don’t know how to stop it. I don’t want to hurt anyone but..."

"You’re hurting yourself instead," I finished for her.

She gave a tiny nod, a tear slipping down her cheek.

I reached for her hand. Not to hold it, not to pull her in, but just to comfort her.

"There’s no need to drive yourself crazy, Hailee," I said softly. "Then don’t hide. Don’t pretend anymore."

She looked at me, confused. "What do you mean?"

"I mean..." I paused, took a breath, and said it. "Tell us. Tell the three of us exactly how you feel. What you feel. No pretending, no sugarcoating."

Her brows drew together, but she didn’t speak.

I continued, "And maybe—just maybe—if we all know where we stand, we can figure this out together. Even if that means all three of us... dating you."

Her eyes widened slightly.

"You can’t be serious."

"I am," I said, meeting her gaze. "It doesn’t have to be some toxic competition. If this is what fate gave us, then let’s face it head-on. No more sneaking around. No more hiding."

She blinked fast, her lips parting.

"I’m okay with it," I added quietly, my voice shaking just a bit. "Even if it hurts sometimes. I just want you to be okay. To be honest. I can share you if that will make you happy. I’ll do it."

I reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair from her face. "But you can’t keep running from the others. You need to talk to Nathan. And Dane too. Explain things to them and I believe if they love you just as I do, they will be willing to share."

She nodded slowly, overwhelmed.

I pulled her into my arms and she relaxed on me while I gently stroked her hair.

It hurt. God, it hurt like hell.

But this was better than the alternative.

Because if she had to choose—if it came down to one name for her to pick—I was almost certain it wouldn’t be mine.

Not with the way she looked at Nathan.

Not with the way her eyes softened every time she was near him... like he was the one person in the world who made her feel safe, even when he was the one breaking her.

Maybe I had an edge over Dane. Maybe.

But with Nathan...?

I didn’t think I stood a chance.

So yeah, this?

Sharing her love—even if it meant watching her fall deeper for someone else—was better than losing her completely.

I could live with pain.

But not with losing her. My fingers threaded gently through her hair as I held her, pressing a soft kiss to the crown of her head.

"I love you so much, Hailee," I murmured against her hair. "And just being with you, in whatever way you’ll let me... that’s enough for me."

She didn’t say anything back.

She didn’t have to.

I knew she was scared. I knew she didn’t want to break anyone’s heart, least of all mine.

But love was messy. And right now, we were already neck-deep in it.

We sat there for a few minutes more.

And then, like the world had to keep spinning whether we were ready or not... the bell rang.

She pulled back slowly, her eyes red but calmer now.

I offered her my hand. "Come on. Let’s go."

She nodded and took it.

When we got to the classroom, we slipped inside just as the teacher was setting up her slides. Heads turned briefly, but no one said anything. Not after everything that happened in the dining hall earlier. The energy in the room had shifted, and everyone felt it.

Hailee quietly made her way to her seat. I slid into mine behind her, where I could still see her clearly.

And I did.

I saw everything.

The way her fingers trembled slightly as she opened her notebook.

The way her eyes kept drifting behind her.

To Nathan.

He was seated in his usual spot, earphones in, pretending to be absorbed in whatever was on his screen. But his jaw was tight. His posture was tense. He wasn’t as unbothered as he wanted the world to think.

And Hailee... she couldn’t stop looking at him.

I leaned forward slightly, just enough for her to hear me without anyone else noticing.

"You can talk to him after school," I whispered.

She turned her head toward me, her eyes wide, like she hadn’t realized I’d been watching.

Her lips parted, hesitating. Then she nodded slowly.

"Okay," she mouthed back.

I gave her a small, encouraging nod and leaned back in my chair, trying to focus on the lesson.

But truthfully?

I was already bracing for whatever came next.

Class dragged on like time itself was resisting us. The teacher spoke, the slides clicked forward, but none of it stuck. I watched Hailee more than I paid attention. Every so often, her eyes would flicker in Nathan’s direction, and each time, he never once looked back. She was trying. I could tell.

By the time the bell rang, she gathered her books a little slower than usual, then stood up and hovered awkwardly by her desk. Her eyes locked on Nathan as he stood too, slipping his laptop into his bag without a word or a glance in her direction.

She took one careful step toward him.

But He walked faster.

Down the aisle. Out the door. Gone.

She stopped midway and looked like the air had been knocked out of her. Her shoulders dropped, her mouth parted slightly like she was trying to think of what to say, but he was already gone.

I sighed, stood up, and gently touched her arm.

"Let me try," I said quietly.

She didn’t say anything. Just nodded, barely.

I walked quickly out of the classroom, past the hallway and down to the lot.

Sure enough, Nathan was already getting into his car. He was halfway in when I called out.

"Nathan!"

He paused but didn’t turn.

"She wants to talk to you," I said, catching up to him. "Just talk. Don’t walk away this time."

He didn’t move for a moment, then looked at me over his shoulder.

"I’m not interested," he said flatly.

I stepped closer. "Come on, man. Stop being difficult. You know she’s confused. She’s trying."

He cut me off. "She wasn’t confused when she kissed you in front of everyone."

I frowned, then said calmly, "That’s exactly why you need to hear her out."

He didn’t even respond. Just got into the car, slammed the door shut, and started the engine.

Right before his car rolled past me, I took a few quick steps toward the window, hoping he’d at least roll it down.

He did. But barely.

His expression was blank, unreadable, like I was just another nuisance.

"She wants to talk to you, Nathan," I said, trying to keep my voice calm. "She’s not okay. Just give her five minutes."

He scoffed quietly. "I’m not interested."

"You don’t have to be an ass about it," I snapped. "Stop being difficult."

Nathan’s eyes finally met mine—cold, hard.

"You can have her, Callum," he said flatly. "You won."

Then he rolled the window up and drove off without another word.

I stepped back as he pulled away without a second glance.

I stood there watching Nathan’s car disappear down the lot, a bitter taste rising in the back of my throat. The way he brushed it all off like nothing, like she didn’t matter—that pissed me off.

I let out a frustrated sigh, turned around, and saw Hailee.

She was standing a few feet away, her arms wrapped around her books, her eyes locked on mine. She must’ve followed me out, maybe hoping something would change. Maybe hoping he’d turn around.

But he didn’t.

And she knew it.

Still, she gave me the smallest smile. Fragile. Forced.

"Don’t worry," she said softly, stepping closer. "I’ll talk to him tonight. After the game."

I studied her face—how tired she looked, how heavy everything sat on her shoulders.

"You sure?" I asked quietly.

She nodded. "I have to."

Then, before I could say anything else, she turned and walked away.