"Look, I wanted to! It's just..." Hayden shoved his hands into his pockets and kicked at the grass, looking down. "I was embarrassed." He shrugged. "I got so caught up in pretending to be Haylie so I wouldn't have to confess that I was an asshole to someone that before I knew it, I had good friends and they all believed I was a girl. I couldn't say it then!"
He looked up at her, imploring. "I swear, I wanted to tell you. I just know your reaction would be... something like this." He waved an elbow at her tense stance and distrustful gaze.