I crossed my arms over my stomach instinctively, feeling a flush creep up my neck to my cheeks because his criticism burned but also stirred something low and unwelcome in my core, a heat that I tried to ignore by shifting my weight from one foot to the other on the cold tile floor.

  “I am really sorry, okay, punish me however you want, ground me for as long as it takes, take away my phone or make me stay home every night, just please do not make this a huge thing by telling Alex because he would never understand and it would break us up for good,” I begged...