Happily, she recalls her bestie was picking up food on the way home. Upon checking her phone she realizes she didn't respond to her last text about her order. But, based on the delicious aroma dominating her focus right now, there's got to be food there somewhere.
Quickly, she heads into the kitchen, making her way to the microwave. When she opens it; she sees her favorite, a sausage hoagie with sauce and a side of fries. With absolute glee she grins; thankful her friend got her something.
She grabs her food and smiles as she touches the container; it's still warm. After pouring herself a glass of Pepsi, she places her food on the coffee table, and makes a trip to the bathroom, before sitting down to enjoy her food.
About a half hour later content post meal; Abby makes her way to the upper level to discard her trash. When she reaches the top of the stairs, she hears the television and sees Olivia, mid chew. They smile at one another, and as Abby enters the kitchen she sarcastically says, "You're welcome heifer." Olivia grins as she swallows her last bite and responds, "Thanks Abs. You're a life saver. I'm sorry I didn't reply to your text. I was a bit busy"
Abby tosses her container in the trash and as she enters the living room. She sees her eating peacefully, finishing her meal. Olivia looks up; feeling eyes on her. Their eyes meet, and Olivia can tell something is brewing.
So she willingly opens Pandora's Box, as she finishes off her fries while asking, "What's on your mind Abs?" Since she is being welcomed to share her thoughts. She bluntly inquires, "What did he do this time?" As she swallows the last of her fries, closing the container, and taking a swig of soda. She wipes her mouth as she replies, "I don't want to talk about it in detail. Just know that I am dealing with it."
Irritated, she impatiently responds, "That's bullshit Liv. Why'd you ask what was on my mind if you weren't going to entertain me?" She hears her, and understands her point. But, she says, "I'm sorry Abs. I don't mean to be difficult. I just don't want to deal with him or anything regarding him right now."
Initially, she wants to rebuff her statement. But, then she realizes she's not wearing her ring. Despite her initial response; she says, "You took off your ring." She looks down at her hand, and then back at her friend as she replies, "Yeah. I did."
She then sees her demeanor shift from resigned to frustrated. And, she gets it. She doesn't know the details of what happened. But, she hasn't seen her without her ring since they got engaged last spring.
Instead of continuing to push her. She decides to let her friend off the hook, as she says, "When you're ready Liv. I'm here for you." She smiles at her in return as she replies, "I know Abs. Thanks. I'll tell you at some point. Just not right now." She nods as she replies, "Okay. Did you want to.."
Her sentence is interrupted by the sound of the door opening; they both look over and see their other roommate Melissa come in." Both yell, "Hey Mellie." She yells in return, "Hey ladies! Wait, I know I don't smell Mama Della's. There'd better be a plate for me somewhere." Abby and Olivia share a look and then Abby responds, "We had Mama Della's as our cheat meal this week. But you weren't supposed to be here. You and Fitz are going to dinner and the Laker game, right?"
She sighs as she has a seat in the chair across from Olivia and Abby, who are now sitting on the couch together, as she replies, "I wouldn't call it a date. It's just Fitz. Those courtside seats aren't going to fill themselves."
Olivia shakes her head at how purposely oblivious she is to his affections; and is rather annoyed with her taking advantage of him being a season ticket holder too. In protest to her tone, she replies, "Friends Mellie. He's been interested in you since you two were in grade school. I think it's safe to say it's a bit more than friendship at this point. Hell both of your parents' damn near had your marriage arranged."
Abby agreeably chimes in, as she says, "She's right Mel. Besides, I don't know anybody who eats paste for a friend." The ladies all chuckle thinking about the story of how Melissa got Fitz to eat paste when they were in kindergarten.
The laughter dies down and Melissa looks at her watch and says, "I guess I better get ready. He said tipoff is at 8." Abby replies, "Then you'd better get your hustle on lady. It's almost 6."
She gets up nonchalantly, as she teasingly says, "I guess. But, don't think I've forgotten about you two going to Mama Della's without me. Payback is coming."
Olivia counters as she replies, "This from someone who went to Diablo's a week ago and didn't bring either of us anything. Knowing we were both home." Abby's eyes widen as she responds, "That's right. I forgot about that."
Quickly Melissa scrambles out of the room as she yells, "I gotta get dressed." Both Abby and Olivia smack their lips as they laugh at her exit. And Olivia says, "I wish she'd stop playing with him." Abby nods as she replies, "I get where you're coming from. But he has just as much responsibility to see what's going on, as she does to do the right thing by not accepting his invitations."
Her response gives her cause to pause. Olivia now has to consider her point, it's a valid one. While she may not agree with Mellie's treatment of Fitz; he has to take some responsibility for allowing himself to be mistreated. Seeing her in thought, Abby asks, "You okay?" She shakes from her thoughts as she says, "Yeah, I'm fine. Are we going to catch up on Lucifer or what?" She smiles at her as she replies, "Sure thing!"
A half our later Olivia and Abby are engrossed in Lucifer on Netflix, but are interrupted by the doorbell. When Olivia pulls up the camera feed from her tablet, she sees a familiar face and she gets up, as she says, "Go tell Mellie Fitz is here, while I let him in."
Abby agrees to her request, as she opens the door and Fitz steps inside greeting her as she lets him in. As he passes by her, he smiles as he says, "What's up Liv?" She smiles in return as she teasingly replies, "Nothing much. What's up with that jersey?"
He nods, knowing she'd have a comment he replies, "Oh. That's right, you've got a problem with King James?" She rolls her eyes playfully as she responds, "You mean King lame, right? Because Kobe will always be the King in these Cali streets."
He respects her comeback, but says, "It's not blasphemous to the previous generation to celebrate the new; you know that right? I mean they're both Lakers you know." She understands his point, but says, "It's not the praise of the new that bothers me. As much as it's those who forget what the players of old contributed to the game. No way is LeBron better than Kobe. He has more rings, better ball handle, and he's the closest we've seen to MJ, the all-time great. He even has a better nick name. How can you pick King James over Black Mamba?"