“Hey, Nate.”

“Hey, Abby,” Nathan greeted his best friend in return.

He’d been waiting for Abigail to arrive at the diner for the last ten minutes or so. Not that he noticed the time. He’d been too engrossed in his thoughts since the previous evening.

“You look like shit.”

“Wow. Thanks. I can always count on you to make me feel better about myself.”

“You’re welcome.”

“It’s not a compli -- never mind.”

“Why do you look like shit?”

“Do you have to repeat it?”

“No, but I love saying it. You almost never look like ... well, like shit.”

“Okay, enough already. I get it.”

“Are you sure? I can say it one more ...”

“Not unless you want to lose my friendship.”

“Drama.”

“I’m exhausted.”

“Too much sex?”

“I wish.” He replied in frustration. “Jason and I have been arguing on and off since Christmas. We even quarreled on New Year’s Day.”

“What? Why?”

“A combination of things, I guess.”

“Wedding planning?”

“That’s one part of it. We’re both burned out. By the time we get to bed, we’re both too exhausted to have sex.”

“Blue balls then.”

“Ugh, I don’t want to hear those words coming out of your mouth ever again. You’re the closest to a sister that I have. It’s just so ... wrong.”

“Oh, don’t be a prude. Anyway, the solution is easy.”

“That is?”

“Just have sex.”

He sighed and closed his eyes.

“Easier said than done.”

“No, it’s not.”

“Yes, it is. We had another argument last night.”

“So? Just kiss and make up already.”

“I ... I might have said some things that really hurt his feelings.”

“All couples argue, Nate. What did you say? It can’t be that bad.”

“I called him an insecure, possessive jerk,” he whispered painfully. “Among other things.”

“Ouch. Okay, that must really hit home. Deeply, too.”

“I ... Yeah, I shouldn’t have, but he said something first.”

“Nate ...”

“He called me a dramatic, whiny, and flirty son of a bitch. Among other things, of course.”

“Of course, and I know that you were just trying to hurt him as much as he hurt you, but that didn’t solve anything.”

“I know that now, but last night ...”

“In a moment of anger, I know. Lucas and I have gone through such arguments as well.”

“What do I do?”

“Do you still love him?”

“That’s a stupid question.”

“No, it’s not.”

“Yes, it is. I fucking love him still.”

“Then swallow your goddamn pride and apologize.”

“Why should I apologize first? He started it.”

“Does it matter?”

He stared at his best friend for a few seconds before shaking his head.

“No, it doesn’t. I’ll have to apologize. I can’t lose him.”

“You won’t.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“I bet you all the money in the world that Jason is definitely hurting just as badly as you are right now.”

“Yeah.”

“Come on. Let’s eat first. You’ll feel better afterwards.”

“I doubt it.”

“You will. Then, you wait until the end of the day before going home to apologize to your fiancé.”

“Okay. Thanks, Abby.”

“You’re welcome.”