Lucy waited until he returned with the drinks. She thanked him and her boots came off. As soon as she took a small sip and moved to the sofa, the puppy followed with the stick dragged along. Standing at the door and drinking wasn’t ideal to her, comfort was, and getting off of her feet.

“I think what makes me uncomfortable is that I can’t say it back.” Yet. “I don’t really know how. And it’s not exactly fair to you.”

She went quiet and looked down to watch the puppy, reaching to scratch behind his ear and along his neck. “Ashley was... Yeah, publicly she was not impressed, but we carried on privately and it turned out good. I think once some folks got the bigger picture, revenge wasn’t the number one thing in their minds. And...” Lucy paused to take another sip—liquid courage? “I explained that things were kind of extra complicated because we ah... we were sleeping together.” Though now, not so much. At least not since New Year’s.

Yeah their relationship status was complicated and they were discussing dates, but what did that make them? Were they slapping down labels? She wouldn’t, unless he was? Lucy was just assuming they were complicated and still friends, well on her end anyway.