ElaineWe walked into an open elevator at the end of the lobby, and rode up to the first floor. The ride was silent, safe for Max subtly biting my earlobe and tickling my side. I stifled my giggle as I tried to nudge him off, but he caught my elbow, caressing it. When the elevator stopped and we stepped out into a huge, swanky kitchen, he wrapped his arms around my waist, kissing the back of my neck, while Samson watched us through his peripheral vision, smiling to himself.In the kitchen, there was a tall, beautiful blonde girl donning on a long chef cap, looming over the gas cooker. She turned when she heard the sound of our footsteps, and smiled broadly at Max. I took in her scary baby bump and faded looks, trying not to gag. I didn't remember looking this hideous when I was pregnant for Finn.She waddles towards us slowly, and Max pulled her in for a hug, careful not to press her stomach. “Hey, sweetheart. So nice to have you here.”“Thanks, Jessy,” he released her and turned to m

ElaineThe days passed by in a whirlwind and before I knew it, it was Friday already. Max was still in the dark about Finn. Each second that passed, it got even harder to pick up my phone, call and tell him. At this point I was really scared about his reaction. I'd spent almost every night at his place, and whenever he came over to mine, Finn was in school or hanging out with Cora. I kinda hoped that he'd catch on, with the small footwear by the entrance doorway or the little, children books littered on the Lucite table in the living room, but so far he was oblivious to the details, and I had no idea how to break it to him.Yesterday, Jessy invited me over to their place again, and I was surprised at how differently Bruce and his assistant treated me. No searching. They just pulled open the gates and admitted me into the house. Turned out that Jessy wanted me to wear a cool dress of hers and save my money. Ryan was playing with the kids when I arrived, but was delighted to see me as w

“And there you are, all glammed up!" Jessy cooed excitedly as she helped me apply some cherry-scented lip gloss. She drew back to let me stand and take a full look at myself in her vanity mirror and I gasped, tongue-tied.The gold-colored, short, sequinned dress she'd lent me stuck to my body like a second skin, the sharp slit at the side exposing my shiny, porcelain thighs. My hair was rolled up into a curt bun, and a glittering tiara was balanced on my head with studded diamonds. Jessy had also given me her personal crystal bangles and expensive necklace. I felt like a midnight queen. The gown was strapless, and my makeup was completely top-notch. I was buzzing with nerves and happiness. I'd never looked so... glorious and to think it'd taken the whole day for me to get ready. I hadn't caught a glimpse of Max since the day started, and I knew he missed me as well.I turned to her with tears streaming down my eyes. I didn't care if it would ruin my makeup or not. “I can't even — ”Sh

Max The party began winding down a little past midnight. Jessy and Samson had already retired upstairs to tuck the kids in, while Ryan and Elaine gossiped in low tones as they shuffled their feet on the dance floor. Everyone was exhausted but happy, and while I observed things from my position beside the bar counter, I realized that for the first time in years I was enjoying this, and it was all thanks to the lovely woman whispering in my best friend's ear at the moment. “Well, this is sickening,” Manny snorted, no doubt following my gaze to the dance floor. “I haven't seen you look so smitten over a woman before. And it's...quite odd.” I turned to him with a glare. “Shut up.” He nudged my side. “Can't blame you, man. She's lovely.” I shrugged. “Tell me something I don't know.” We both lapsed into silence once again, watching her. “It must be a weird feeling for you, right? I mean, falling in love with someone wholeheartedly for the first time.” “Yeah,” I nodded without looking

ElaineIt was a little past five when I left the house with Finn for some fun time at an amusement park nearby. Cora was flunked with work, and needed the space. I needed to clear my head off my wandering thoughts about Max. He still hadn't called, and I wasn't expecting that he'd listened to my voicemail as well. Right now, I was trying to see the bright side of things and spend time with my little man.I'd also called up Jessy to narrate what had transpired between Max and I, as well as promise to have the dress she borrowed me washed, ironed and returned tomorrow. She was sympathetic, and offered to help talk to Max but I declined. I needed him to truly forgive and come for me this time, and not because he felt pressured to do so.“Careful, sweetheart,” I called out to Finn as he raced around with little, gangly kids his age. The evening breeze soothed my skin and helped me process my thoughts more clearly. Plus, I felt a certain kind of peace I'd never experienced before, even tho