“What?” I demand. This just causes her to erupt in laughter. “What?” I’m almost pleading now. She takes a minute to compose herself. “Why are you laughing at me?” I practically whine.

“Aw Spence, I’m not laughing at you. That was totally cute.”

“Cute? Shut up” I laugh feeling more than relieved. “But seriously Ash, we’re good right?”

“Always Spence…always.”

“Good.”

“So I see you’re still a raging alcoholic.” She grins as she nods to the beer in my hand and the empties strewn across the counter top. I tell her to shut up whilst laughing and smacking her arm with my rolled up magazine. It’s a pretty good feeling seeing her again.

“Seriously though, what’s with the mini session?”

“Well” I sigh dramatically “you see, today I ran in to the ex love of my life, she completely cut me down. I then ran into her big meathead boyfriend, really delightful encounter I tell you.” She’s laughing. She thinks I’m teasing. But I really don’t think that I am. In spite of this I continue somewhat theatrically “But none of this compared to coming home to find my living room has been taken over by the geek brigade, thus preventing me from watching my favourite  shows on TV.”

“Ex love of your life?” Of course that’s what she picks up on.

“Well I can hardly call her the love of my life, she’s kinda moved on. With a man of all things. And to say I was still in love with her, pining for her, well that’d be a little shameful.”

“Spence.” She looks at me like she feels sorry for me. I talk way too much when I’m drunk and I really don’t need her pity.

“I’m joking Ash. Don’t worry about it..”

“Spence you know how much I love. It was just…it was never the right time…for you, and I couldn’t just keep waiting. Not after you‘d pushed me away so many times.”

“I know” I sigh “I never expected you to.”

Ok way too much honesty going on.

As this thought crosses my mind I take another bottle for both Ashley and I from the fridge. I pop the caps and turn to offer her one. She has a wistful look on her face.