Invite the Simp in.

<You could keep me company.>

Her white knight would come galloping to the rescue.

<Of course! I’ll be over right away.>

Mara thought he would probably have to change his underwear before he could leave the house. He never got as lucky as this.

<I’m really hungry. Could you pick me up Chick-fil-A on the way?>

Might as well at least get him to buy her dinner if she was going to have to put up with his company and greasy body on her furniture.

<Absoluetely! Anything else?>

<Some wine.>

Well, he did offer…

The intercom buzzer alerted Mara that Stephen had arrived. She didn’t bother talking to him and just pressed the button to give him access to the building. She’d gotten changed in the time it took him to pick up her food and visit a liquor store. She didn’t want someone like Stephen to see her unkempt and upset over a breakup. She’d changed into a long black singlet maxi dress. She didn’t want Stephen ogling her legs for some reason. He could stare at her cleavage all he wanted. The sight would probably be too much for him anyway.

Opening the door, Stephen grinned from ear to ear. The idiot. He was supposed to be coming over to help her get over her break-up, not celebrate the fact he’d been spoken to. It mollified Mara that he held up the Chick-fil-A bag and her bottle of wine at least. Leaning towards her, Stephen went to hug her. She’d have to hug him at least if she was going to get what she wanted. Still, she made sure to swerve her face away from him when she thought he was going to try and kiss her on the cheek. She got his steamy breath in her hair instead.

“How are you doing? Are you ok?” Stephen asked her in concern.

“I’m distraught! This will help though,” Mara said grabbing the wine from Stephen and letting him follow her into the house. Facing in the opposite direction she rolled her eyes. He’d bought white wine. She’d been drinking red wine already that evening. She’d have a headache the next day for switching but, oh well, it couldn’t be helped. There wasn’t anything else in the house.

Making her way to the coffee table and her empty glass, Mara poured her drink and sat down on the settee, making sure to casually place a cushion in between where she and Stephen sat.

“So what happened? Your status on Facebook looked bad,” Stephen began.

Stephen recently dropped a healthy amount of weight it seemed. He was no longer obese. Now just simply overweight. He’d also cleaned up the wretched neckbeard stubble that he’d kept. His clothes looked a little nicer too. Collared shirt, well picked out and nicely ironed.

“I think Hugh is cheating on me! We had a big fight and he walked out.”

“You broke up! How could someone do something like that to someone as beautiful as you?”

There it was. Right in the pride. Mara getting that sweet, sweet drip of dopamine.

“He’s having an affair with some girl at his work. I just know it.”

“Well, who is she? Have you tracked her down yet to find out?”

Mara had cyberstalked all of Hugh’s female friends a long time ago. She knew Elaine Bisby already. She hadn’t checked her Facebook that night just yet though. She’d been too busy spiralling after Hugh left.

“I think her name’s Elaine,” Mara pouted.

“Does she have a Facebook? Can we check her out?”

Mara liked the idea of playing internet detective with Stephen. Of course, she could find the girl’s profile just like that but it would be more fun having Stephen play along with her.

“I’ll get my laptop,” Mara said jumping up and dashing to her bedroom to retrieve it.