In her apartment with her boyfriend.

Alison sighed and rolled her chair back from her desk. It had been a long day but she finally managed to meet a couple of missed deadlines from the week before. She heard the front door close and called out a greeting.

"Hey, babe." Her boyfriend Jeff walked in and kissed her on the forehead. "How was your day?"

"Exhausting." She recounted the events to Jeff as they went into the kitchen. Opening a beer, he reminded her that his friends were coming over that evening.

"Right, I almost forgot! The place is still kind of a mess-"

"No problem." he interrupted her. "They don't care about that, they'll be fine." As he turned back to her he smiled mischieviously. "Do you mind if they mess with you a little?"

She shrugged. This had long been a component of their relationship. Alison knew on some level that he was taking advantage of her condition but that same condition ensured that she couldn't really register it. She had confirmed with people she trusted that he never really took it too far. Other than the imperceptible slights and offenses, Jeff was really good to her.

"Of course not, honey." She was acutely aware that he didn't need to ask. They could do whatever they want to her and she would have no idea that anything was amiss. "Thanks for checking."

He smiled and threw his beer in her face. Ugh, what a mess! She grabbed a dishtowel off the counter and started to wipe her face. Jeff, meanwhile, was wearing that goofy grin she knew so well.

"You did something, didn't you?" He was laughing by now. "Did you insult me or something?"

"Man, that never gets old. You can't think of anything I've done since you got home that should upset you?"

She thought about it. "You came in, you got a beer, you told me your friends would be coming over and probably messing around with me, and you threw your beer on me. Is there something I'm missing?"

He laughed again. "Nope, I think that covers it. You are such a dipshit."

She tossed the towel in sink and lifted her shirt. "Fair enough. I should go change and shower before your friends get here."