Michael blinks. Whatever he thought she was going to say, it wasn't that. He can't quite believe it. How the hell are he and Alex so messed up that it's even screwing up relationships with other people?

"Alex. You broke up with me so I'd get with Alex?"

He leans back, running his hand through his curls. Then he smiles, and shakes his head.

"He's been with Bass for longer than I've been here. They're solid. He loves me, I know that. He told me. I love him too, I probably always will. But we don't..."

He takes a breath.

"It never works. We push each other away. And here, he is happy, with another guy that he doesn't push away. They're long-term. He hasn't been waiting for me, Maria."

And Michael had long ago decided to stop waiting for him.