Janie.

It's Janie, asking when you'll be back. You hold up your index finger and apologize to Rick.

"I need text my sister back."

"The asshole?"

"Yep. She's watching my kids while I'm here. I'd say she owed me that much, wouldn't you?"

"This is all her fault," he says with a smirk.

"Exactly."

"It didn't turn out so bad, though, did it?"

"No," you say, smiling back at him now. "That's why I'm letting her stay for pizza."

"Well, keep an eye on your phone."

You raise it up, as if to tell him that it will not leave your person until she leaves your house, then you send the text.

"Soon?" it reads, "Maybe not so soon? I don't know! Just let me enjoy my me time. You can stay for pizza tonight."

"What are you doing?" she texts back.

"Enjoying my me time!"

"Fine."

You set your phone down on the table in front of you, letting Rick know that the task is finished. "So, you guys don't have sex at all?" you ask. "When was the last time you did?" He's listened to you air your grievances. It's only fair that you allow him to vent, too.

"I don't know, man. It's been months. I know that much. I've tried to talk to her about it, but that only made things worse. She seemed offended that I would suggest that I'm lacking for anything from her. Since she's the breadwinner of the family, I should just be happy, and thankful for everything she does provide me. That's the impression I got, anyway."

"You have a good job, though."

"Yeah, but Trish makes more money."

God, she sounds awful. Josh is your family's only source of income, and he's never held that over you, but could that be why you've never really expressed your needs to him? Have you remained silent so as not to appear ungrateful? Maybe you have, and Rick has you wondering if maybe you shouldn't have. He deserves to be heard, and so do you.

"I don't know," he continues. "Maybe she's just not into me anymore. I am getting old. I'm getting a belly, too. It's hard to find the motivation to stay in shape if you don't believe it'll make a difference."

"Yeah, I'm feeling a bit old myself these days," you tell him. "I suppose that's part of having so many kids. I've been a mom for over half my life now."

"You look great, though. You've barely aged a day since we worked together! Jack probably thinks you're my daughter, but I feel ten years younger for having seen you again. It feels like I've turned back clock to get to talk to you like this, in person. It's like I'm back at Sips, back when life was simpler."

The wine has run out, for good this time, but you're not ready to leave. "I'm feeling a little tipsy," you tell him. "Can we continue this conversation outside, until I'm good to drive?"

"Yeah, that's a good idea. We should probably give Jack his table back. There are benches outside, or we can sit in my car. I hope you don't mind if I smoke."

"Not at all," you assure him. Maybe you'll have one, too, if he offers.