The next day, which was the day after Christmas, was an adjustment after a weekend and holiday off, but the vet clinic and the army base were still buzzing with excitement after the leftover holiday high.

Bill was excitedly looking forward to seeing Mia again that evening. It was astounding to him that they were back together again. He hadn't expected Mia to ever want anything to do with him for as long as he lived, let alone agree to start seeing him again as his girlfriend. He couldn't let himself think it over for too long in case he may jinx it somehow.

Mia told Bill she didn't care where they went out later that evening when they spoke on the phone during their lunch breaks. He tried suggesting Chez Pierre again, but she shut him down.

"No way. Way too expensive."

"Nothing is too expensive for me if I'm spending it on you."

"Come on, you don't have to try to impress me anymore."

"I have a lot of making up to do," Bill reasoned.

"Stop!" she laughed. "For real, nothing fancy. Something low-key."

"Alright, I have an idea."

She, too, was excitedly looking forward to their time together. She had wondered before how damaged things between them would be, but the reminder that Bill had broken up with her and ignored her for a month was coming up less and less often in her mind. As much as the whole ordeal completely blindsided her, she still felt that he really wouldn't do it again, that he really was changing himself to be sure it wouldn't.

Later that day he picked her up at her house. He made sure to hug her this time. It was wonderful to spend time with her again, on better terms than the Christmas party and with less time constraints than in his garage on Christmas.

"You look nice," he told her, "I mean, you always do, but, um…"

Mia laughed.

"Thank you. You look especially handsome tonight."

She looked at him happily, with eager and sparkling eyes. Bill was feeling nervous, almost like how he was when they were first dating. It was something like a first date all over again. He hoped he didn't mess up tonight, and cause Mia to wonder why she was giving him a second chance.

He took her to Sugarfoot's, which they had gone to together in the past so he knew she liked it there. It was bare-bones in terms of decoration, but had a rustic, quaint air to it. Wood panelling ran along the walls and sawdust powdered the floor. It was fairly busy that evening; rowdy yet upbeat conversations occasionally drowned out the classic country music playing from speakers in the room's corners.

"I need...hmm...fried chicken," Mia said as she looked over the menu.

"I think I'm getting ribs."

"I can't eat ribs anymore now that I've had yours. All other ribs are ruined forever."

Bill smiled. The one thing he had complete confidence in were his smoked ribs and his barbecue sauce.

"So, catch me up. What's been going on for the past month?" Mia asked.

Oh, nothing...just drinking myself to sleep every night and wondering if I should finally end it all.

"Well, you know about my barbecue sauce business. And the therapist I saw. Um, other than that...you know. Not much."

"Still, even that sounds pretty busy."

"How about you? Any news?"

Mia sipped thoughtfully from her glass of water. "Hmm...oh! Jackie is having a boy!"

"Really? That's great!"

"It's so exciting. And Leah finds out hers next week I think. But she can tell it's a boy she said, something to do with the baby's energy or whatever."

"Well, I'd believe it. That baby's energy is insane."

Mia laughed, a twinkling laugh, authentic and natural. He always felt impressive when he made her so amused like that.

He watched her, as he had a million times before, poring over every aspect of her face, every curve and line. It felt like he was dreaming again, being so close to her once more, and she was happy to be there with him, he was even making her laugh.

"You're so beautiful," he said suddenly, not exactly intending to say it out loud.

"Thank you," she smiled, "Why are you so complimentary tonight?"

"I don't know. I just want you to know how I feel about you. I wondered if I didn't tell you enough before…"

"You did. You always did." She smiled at him tenderly. "But I wonder If I didn't tell you enough, either."

"No, of course you did."

"You just didn't believe me?"

"Well, I don't know… It's hard for me to see what you see. But then I remember you have no reason to lie. Especially now when you chose to give me another chance. You have every reason to tell me how stupid and terrible I am, but you don't."

"Yeah, because you're not! I always mean it when I tell you how sweet, and funny… and attractive you are." She reached across the table and touched his forearm while giving him a playful look. His heart began to quicken its pace, but the moment was broken when their server returned with their dinner.

Everything was delicious. It was comfort food at its finest. They finished their plates, then continued to sit and talk together, in no hurry to leave. Bill knew Mia would probably want to head home soon to get settled in and ready to sleep for work tomorrow. He missed when she would stay the night at his house and he didn't have to say goodbye to her. What he would give to hold her all night once more…

She was telling him about her day at work, and about the litter of shepherd mix puppies that were coming in regularly that she also saw today. They sounded cute, and the thought of buying a puppy for Mia floated lazily in the back of his mind.

"Well look who it is!" a fake friendly voice called as it approached their table.

Bill had hardly turned his head before his stomach dropped. In a tight red dress and teased blonde hair was Lenore, smiling with a sinister cruelty.

Mia's expression was fixed, her posture rigid. Bill merely stared at Lenore, unable to process a meaningful response. How was it she kept popping up when he absolutely least expected it?

"Funny how we keep running into each other, isn't it, Billy?" she smirked, her eyes gleaming with amusement.

"What are-" Bill cleared his throat nervously, "What are you doing here?"

"Oh, I'm just here with my boyfriend," she giggled, pointing aimlessly to a booth across the room. Before Bill could respond, she cut in, "Are you going to introduce me to your little friend?"

"You know who I am," Mia growled, "And don't patronize me, bitch."

Mia hadn't planned on saying that out loud, and she only realized she did when Bill looked at her with surprise.

Lenore chuckled. "How nice to finally meet Bill's current little obsession. You've got your claws sunken into him good; he threw me out on the street for you."

"Lucky me."

"Lucky… Is that what you're calling it? How about 'stupid?'"

Mia shook her head. "You're the stupid one. You had such a wonderful man yet you treated him like garbage. I hope someday you realize what a horrible person you are."

"If I'm so horrible then why does Bill keep crawling back to me?"

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but Bill is with me now. You're old news."

"It's only a matter of time," Lenore sneered. "Soon Bill will learn his lesson, and I won't be around to say I told him so."

She smirked triumphantly. She really thought she had come out on top.

Mia had hated Lenore ever since Bill first spoke about her, about how heartless and wicked she had been to him. Lenore coming between her and Bill had only made Mia's hatred of her intensify. And now Lenore had the nerve to come over and harass them, merely for her own sick entertainment? There was no way Mia could let her walk away like that.

Mia flung the glass of water on the table into Lenore's smug face.

Lenore gasped. She was completely drenched. Her once voluminous hair now hung in damp tendrils, her mascara was beginning to run down her cheeks, and the front of her dress was soaked.

"You-" she sputtered.

"Fuck off, Lenore. We never want to see you again."

Lenore was at a loss for words, and instead clenched her fists and stomped her foot as she seethed. Mia smirked and waved goodbye as Lenore turned on her heel and left.

It was then Mia noticed everybody else in the restaurant staring at them.

"So...ready to go?" she asked Bill sheepishly.

Bill left extra payment on the table to make up for the water that would have to be mopped. Mia made sure to coil herself around Bill's arm as they left, knowing Lenore was watching them.

"I can't believe you did that," Bill said in awe as they got into the car.

"Me either..." She was beginning to feel embarrassed now.

"That was amazing. You're amazing."

Mia smiled. "It was nothing. What I wanted to do was punch her in the head."

Bill laughed. "Thank you for standing up for me."

"You know I've got your back."

They didn't talk too much as they drove back to Mia's house. Bill wondered if the atmosphere in the car really was stiff or if he was imagining things. The question was answered not long after, however, once Mia spoke into the quiet air.

"So… how are you feeling after seeing her again?"

"Fine. I mean, I don't feel anything. I don't want to see her again."

"Right, but, when you saw her at Spumoni's that's what got you thinking I would leave you. Are you going to be thinking that way again now?"

"No. Even before I saw her there I was still considering you might leave me someday. She just kind of...affirmed it. But I don't really feel that way now. You're giving me another chance. If you ever wanted to leave me before, you wouldn't have done that."

Mia reached over and slid her hand into his.

"Nope… I'm afraid you're stuck with me."

Bill smiled. He was alright with that.