35

Elaine

I shut my eyes to drown out the hurt of his words. Shit. I was so thirsty for an answer, and now I'd got it. Well, this meant that I was right after all. He'd never come to accept me and Finn no matter what.

I didn't want to burden myself with the truth that his view on single moms would change a lot of things between us.

“Elaine?” an unsure voice asked behind me.

I whipped my head from Max to the tall, dark-haired perfection that was my ex boyfriend and did a double take. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

Of all places to show up.

“Alessandro?” I stuttered, trying so hard to keep myself firm and not throw up right here. My eyes flickered back to Max who was standing now, glancing between Alessandro and I with an unreasonable expression. An introduction wouldn't be so bad, I decided. “Um, hi Alessandro. This is, uh, Max Sturm. Max, this is Alessandro Valdez,” I murmured, my palms sweaty and itchy all of a sudden.

Alessandro extended a hand from his pocket and Max took it, still staring a