Ivan pressed the doorbell and stepped back. He held the bouquet of flowers. He was thankful to be placing them in someone's hands, instead of at the base of a tombstone. If Shelley would take them.
He heard a voice and could see Shelley's figure approach, through the tiny door window. "Shelley," he said.
The door opened. Just a little. "Yes?" Shelley said.
"I'm sorry."
"Fine," Shelley said, then began to close the door.
"Other than my papa," Ivan said, "you're the most important person in my life."
Shelley hesitated.
"I'm not real good with words, you know that. I was an asshole, and I'll apologize for a week, or a month, or a year straight, if you'll forgive me."
Shelley then opened the door and stood, arms crossed. She shivered but said nothing. Ivan held out the flowers, which she took but did not embrace.
"I was outta my mind. McClellan, Wrestling, Hannen—"
"It's cold out," Shelley interrupted.
"I'm trying to tell ya."
"No excuses, Ivan," she said.
"Everything coming at me—," he started, then stopped. "No ... No more excuses."
"I probably shouldn't tell you this," Shelley said. Her eyes welled. "But I've been sick, really sick, the past few days, wondering how you could've done that to me. I wanted to do something nice for the team because you're part of that team and I'm proud of you. And you go and destroy it. Who are you to do something like that?" She shook her head. "No one's ever made me feel this horrible. Flowers aren't gonna make it better, Ivan." She handed him the bouquet.
Ivan gently nudged the flowers back. "Please..."
"I've always been there for you," she said.
"I know," Ivan said. "More than I have for you."
"This one hurt."
"In a million years, I never meant to hurt you. Especially you. You're family to me. Even more because you know me better than anyone in the world. You mean more than the state championship or Western Arizona or anything."
He let out a long breath, then said, with as much conviction as he had in his heart, "There's nothing else I can do but promise you that for as long as I live, it'll never happen again."
Then Ivan wished her good night and walked home.