They could hang out.

Mara considered it. She didn’t want to hang out with Kevin but at the same time, she didn’t want to be by herself. Seeing an old face might be what she needed right now. Rather than just leaving Kevin on seen like she would have any other time, Mara ended up messaging him back.

<Ok. Give me half an hour to get ready.>

<Cool cool. On my way> came the super-fast response.

It was happening now then.

Mara got up from where she’d been sitting by the coffee table and went to the bedroom to get dressed. She wasn’t going to bother looking good for Kevin. It wasn’t that sort of occasion. Instead, Mara when to her closet and picked out some warm things to put on. She changed into some old grey sweatpants of hers as well as a big oversize hoodie of Hugh’s. She would make sure to hide that before he collected his things and moved out. The last was some comfortable woollen Ugg boots that came up just past her ankles but were guaranteed to keep her feet warm. Stopping by the bathroom, Mara didn’t bother putting any make-up on. She wasn’t looking sexy for Kevin. Just some eye cream to hide the shadows and bags under her eyes and then only the slightest amount of foundation, corrector and a concealer. Mara would be caught dead before she left the house looking like a sea witch! Finding a hair tie in the vanity drawer, Mara put her long and wavey chestnut hair into a messy bum and then went to find what was left of her wine as she waited for Kevin. Her half an hour was now more like five minutes until he got there.

Drinking and waiting, Mara heard the vibration of her phone which would mean Kevin was outside waiting for her. He would never message or ring her that he was there. Just send a call and drop it, expecting her to come running.

Parked nose into Mara’s driveway, Kevin drove a sleek black European sedan. It was an impressive car if Mara was being honest with herself. Opening up the door handle, Mara got inside. It was warm, Kevin sitting with one hand on the wheel, the other the automatic gear stick, looking at her with a grin.

“Hey. How’s it going?” Kevin asked Mara as she sat down in the leather seats.

Hummpf. Mara didn’t bother answering.

Kevin wasn’t phased by the non-verbal response. “Don’t I get a hug after so long?”

Mara rolled her eyes but still closed the gap to lean into Kevin and hugged him. His arms wrapped her tight, pressing her body to his as his palms rubbed the small of her back. She’d expected him to grab her arse but was pleasantly surprised he didn’t.

“Good to see you,” Kevin said into her ear through their tight, long embrace.

“You too. Thank you for getting me.”

“No problem,” Kevin said letting go of her at last. “So where to?”