For him, Alex realized. Maria had broken up with Guerin because of him. Alex knew he should say the words. It wasn't like she didn't already know that he was with someone else. But as much as he wanted her to be happy, as much as he wasn't angry at her for Guerin, he couldn't bring himself to give her the go-ahead. Even if she'd listen to him.

Instead, he put his cup on the table and took hers gently from her fingers and put it down, too. And then he touched her shoulder gently and opened his arms.

"Hey, come here."

He did feel guilty. For a future he might never live that had caused them to break up in the first place. For a present where he had this awkward relationship that was hurting both of the people he loved but was making it impossible for him to give his best friend peace of mind. Not that it was really his fault. He'd tried not loving Guerin. Had even thought he'd managed it. Right up until the point that they'd found each other again.