“No…no, it’s not that it’s just I didn’t even know you knew who she was? Or even her name?”

“Oh, well over the years even though we didn’t——-, “she says stopping mid-sentence catching herself, “Forget I even mentioned her okay.”

“I didn’t mean to change the mood it just surprised me that’s all.”

“Al can I be honest with you?”

“Yes of course.”

“Considering how things ended between us I never imagined in a million years you would be sitting across from me engaged in a friendly conversation.”

“Me either.”

“But now that we are I can’t help but to feel like we’re walking on eggshells so to speak in discussing what happened between us and our current sufficient others.”

“You’re right.”

“You don’t think that it’s strange that we have yet to talk about them hell even mention them at all?”

“I know for me I haven’t mentioned Lara out of respect for how we left things between us many years ago, “she says taking a bite out of corn dog, “What about you why haven’t you mentioned Tasha?”

“Because?”

“Because what?”

“I don’t know.”

“Because I am an ex?”

“Part of it but because other than you she’s the only other person I’ve truly loved, “she says taking a sip of her lemonade.

“Are you happy?”

“There is no such thing as a perfect relationship.”

“That’s not what I ask you.”

“Are you and Lara happy?” She ask hoping to shift the conversation away from her personal relationship to hers.

“At this very moment………no.” Her response caused Alice to stare at her.

“Dane, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to over step really I——-.”

“Were friends right?”

“Right.”

“Then no more walking on eggshells or playing it safe because were afraid of saying something that will offend the other. Since the gala we have spent a lot of time hanging out re-learning each other but when it comes to the relationship part of our lives both past and present we like avoid talking about it.”

“You’re right, I know I have I just didn’t know what to say or how to say it.”

“Al, I know things between us did not end well as a result we went 10 years without speaking, “she says before taking another bite of her corndog, “There was never no closure and we both just sort of moved on with our lives but despite everything we were best friends first and I be a fool to think things can possibly go back to how they were but if we can be somewhat close like we used to be then I’m content with that.”