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THE RUNDOWN<\/strong><\/p>\n Shortly after Chase Stokes hinted on Instagram yesterday<\/a> that he and Kelsea Ballerini had broken up again (writing that he was blocked), a source close to the former couple confirmed to Us Weekly<\/a> <\/em>that they really did call it quits again \u201cthis past week.\u201d<\/p>\n It had been \u201cso rocky and toxic,\u201d the source claimed. \u201cIt was too much for Kelsea.\u201d The insider noted that \u201cjealousy definitely got in the way,\u201d and that Ballerini \u201chad a lot of trust issues\u201d with her ex. (She alluded to this herself in her Mount Pleasant <\/em>track \u201cEmerald City.\u201d<\/a>)<\/p>\n Ballerini still cares for Stokes, the insider added, but they went into their reconciliation with \u201ca lot of expectations,\u201d and that, plus their busy schedules, ultimately led to the relationship\u2019s end. <\/p>\n There could be a future for the pair\u2014but not now. \u201cChase really did try to make it work and [he] loves her,\u201d the source said. But \u201c[they] aren\u2019t talking right now.\u201d The insider said there\u2019s always \u201ca chance they could get back together, [but for now, they are] taking space.\u201d<\/p>\n Ballerini has not addressed the split publicly. In his two Instagram Stories yesterday<\/a>, Stokes alluded to it, writing, \u201cDon\u2019t believe the media [who recently reported<\/a> on his and Ballerini\u2019s alleged reconciliation]. I\u2019m blocked, I did nothing wrong. Sorry \u2764\ufe0f I tried.\u201d<\/p>\n In a second post, he wrote, \u201cI\u2019m sorry for those who believed in us. It is what it is. Onwards and upwards.\u201d<\/p>\n When Ballerini and Stokes first broke up in September, a source close to the couple told People<\/a><\/em>, \u201cThey\u2019re two adults who gave it their all and tried to do everything they could to make it work, but ultimately couldn\u2019t. It happens.\u201d<\/p>\n\n
\n![\"chase](\"https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/img-8145-png-691f75567f0b0.png?crop=1.00xw:0.828xh;0,0.0519xh&resize=980:*\" "\\"Chase")
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