Photo illustration: by The Cut; Photos: Getty Images

Remember that little song called “Coincidence”? Where does Sabrina Carpenter seem to hint that Shawn Mendes, the former actor, has left her with his ex, Camila Cabello? (To refresh your memory: “Your car drove from LA up to her thighs / Palm Springs looks nice, but who’s by your side?”) Well, it looks like Mendes is finally ready to settle down with the to deal with a rumored affair that has led to at least three dissident leads. During an appearance on SiriusXM How is life?the singer told podcast host John Mayer — without naming names — that he actually visited an ex while he was dating someone else.

The 26-year-old mentioned that he was “seeing someone” when he decided to “hang out with my ex.” In his version of things, Mendes told this “someone” (probably Carpenter) that he planned to visit his ex just a few days before he left. “Two days before I’m going to hang out with my ex, I say, ‘I’m going to hang out with my ex because I have unresolved feelings,'” he said. “Maybe instead of two days it could have been two weeks… I’m an impulsive person.”

Is this regret I hear? This sounds awfully similar to Shawmilla’s Coachella reunion in April, which Carpenter references in “Coincidence.” And while it doesn’t sound like Mendes is taking full responsibility for the alleged violation of “common sense,” as Carpenter called it, he still appears to be on his way to an apology. “The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that no one gets out of this life without getting hurt, and no one gets out of this life without hurting someone,” he added. That’s right, Shawn.

When Mayer asked Mendes if he was looking forward to another relationship, he replied, “Yeah, definitely… I think so,” before adding, “I think as long as we live, we’ll recover.” Okay, then. Mendes also “try[s]to have immense grace for yourself,” especially when it “feels like there’s no room to go wrong online.” But when asked if he would date another songwriter again, he admitted he wouldn’t let that stop him from falling in love.

“To me, it’s a no-brainer that the suffering that comes with listening to a song that maybe talks about you in a way that you don’t want to talk about isn’t nearly as beautiful when you go to “Falling in love with someone for the first time,” Mendes said. “But…it’s a strange feeling to feel like you’re being written about and maybe the whole picture isn’t being expressed.”

Well, this would have been a perfect opportunity to express the “big picture,” but I think vague reflections on suffering and pain will suffice for now.