“So, how was your day?” Spencer asked Ashley over dinner at their favorite Italian restaurant. Ashley had already gone through half a bottle of wine and had barely muttered replies as Spencer rambled on and on about her new summer school schedule.

“Fine,” Ashley replied quietly as she half-heartedly wrapped pasta around her oversized fork.

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“Um…ok,” Spencer responded, unsure if she should push the issue, “how was work?”

“Fine.”

Spencer tried to ignore the tension in the air and continued eating her eggplant parmesan, periodically glancing up to see if Ashley’s expression had changed. It hadn’t.

“Alright, I’m trying not to butt in here, but something is obviously wrong.”

“No, everything’s great.”

“You’re lying,” Spencer said bluntly, dropping her fork and crossing her arms.

Ashley sighed and took another big sip of her wine before speaking, “We have a new client.”

“Ok, ok…that was like five words. We’re making progress.”

“The company is top-notch. If we secure them as consistent clients, let’s just say that it would be a very, very good thing.”

“Sounds great! What’s the problem?”

“Mark and David decided that I would be the most equipped at the agency to handle it.”

“Even better…where’s the downside?”

“The guy I’d be working with is a sexist bastard. I’m sure the only reason they decided I’d be the most qualified is because I look better in a skirt than they do.”

“What’s the company?” Spencer asked, unaware of the ad-exec lingo, “like, what’s the product or whatever?”

“Peanuts.”

“Peanuts?” Spencer asked, unable to suppress a laugh.

“That’s right. Let me know if you can think of a good campaign for the second largest peanut producer in the country.”

“Wow, I’m sorry. But, look on the bright side. If everything goes according to plan, this could be really good for your career.”

“Yeah, if everything goes according to plan…but what if it doesn’t?”

“Then you still have me.”

For a reason that Ashley couldn’t quite understand, her bad mood had transformed on the way back to her loft. As she drove the familiar streets that led home, she would occasionally let her eyes wander off the road and onto the beautiful blonde pressed against the black leather of her passenger bucket seat. She was so lucky to have Spencer. Somehow she could always make the most stressful situations seem unimportant and her positive attitude was something Ashley could definitely afford to have rub off on her.