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Elaine.

For a long moment, none of us spoke. I grasped the edge of the bar for support, trying to figure out how to go about his questions while he sat back, his eyes fixed on me, intense.

Damn you, Alessandro.

“Elaine?” he breathed. “I'm waiting. We agreed not to keep secrets from each other,” his voice was raised slightly now. “Were you married once to Alessandro? Do you have a baby for him? Do you have a baby at all? Is that why you asked me about single moms — ”

“Oh, Goodness me, Max!” I exploded. The bar wasn't crowded yet, but the few people around turned to stare at us. Ugh. “What are you even saying? You heard him alright. We were almost married. Almost. Why read meanings into this sort of thing?”

He held my gaze. “I've never doubted you before. Talk to me. Who the hell is Finn?”

Shit. Here it was. Here was the chance to get this over with once and for all. To tell him the truth and unburden my heart. To be free from the pain of keeping things away from him. The only problem I