We could throw a party...

 Stu really wasn't in the mood to chat, but Odin showed up at the bake shop as it was about to close on a cloudy afternoon. He was looking chipper and it left Stu full of envy. You know, as in that was the way true romance was supposed to be. Evidently, Stu didn't know how to get that sort of thing.

He swept the floor, thinking he just might shit himself. God knows, he couldn't let on about Mia. But as a result, he felt faint as if he might pass out. Yes, he'd been through something. He just couldn't quite explain it. 

Odin was at the dreads of his coffee and finished up a day-old muffin or two.

"What is it, old boy?" Odin suddenly came to his best mate's rescue before he laid out on the floor.

"It's nothing," Stu promised.

"Isn't it now?" Odin got him seated and reached for a bottle of water. 

"You look like shit, man." Odin went on to tell him. Stu only closed his eyes for a bit, trying to get that look out of Odin's face. No..no..it was Mia. Damn, if he just couldn't forget it. 

Stu cleared his throat as if it might be a tell-all. But he didn't. He wouldn't. He would keep mum. He would just go on with the sweeping. The cleaning.

"Shouldn't we get out of here," Odin told him it was closing time.

"Really?"

"Yes, it's time for a drink." Odin nodded. 

"Is it?" Stu looked at him blankly.

"How about banger and beans?" Odin sounded as if a quick supper might be needed.

"At the pub?" Honestly, Stu didn't want to go. Next thing, Odin would know everything. As it was, Stu had an empty stomach. He didn't know if banger and beans would do him any good.

"Come on, bloke," Odin washed out his cup and saucer in the sink. "We need a boy's night out." 

Before Stu knew it, Odin was prodding him along with his hands on the side of his shoulders. Stu went ahead and shut off the lights and locked up with a sigh.

"Shelly must have really did you-"

"It was spectacular!" Odin beamed. "What's up with you and Mia?" Odin finally walked at his side. It was hard for Stu to keep up.

"What would be up with us?" Stu finally managed. God, if this youngster wasn't bragging, or was he just trying to pull it out of Stu about what happened?

"Well, you aren't seeing that blonde lass again, right?" Odin looked at him practically lopsided.

"What? Are you going on about?" Stu looked at his best mate a bit peeved.

"See, she's already forgotten." Odin shrugged with an impish smile as they strolled into the cool evening.

 It wasn't long until they went down to the basement steps to the pub. It was a man cave of sorts. It smelled of all farts and ancient old timers sticking to their seats at the bar. Of course, there was room for Odin and Stu. 

Odin ordered a larger one for each. Yes, good times with a bowl of nuts and pretzels. 

"You've been so glum ever since you've got back from the states, man." Odin told him.

"At this rate, maybe you should be chummy with that Brad," Stu didn't want to go down his gloomy road of unsuccessfulness. 

"Brad?" Odin asked with a foamy mustache on his upper lip. "Who in the hell is that?"

"You know, Shelly's old roomie, what's her face!" Stu scowled a bit livid. Suddenly, it was as if a crowd rolled in and he couldn't even hear himself think. Stu eyed the large alcoholic beverage. Really, he didn't want to, but what the hell? He took a polite sip.

"Oh, Kate and Brad," Odin nodded. "They might as well be on the tely, you know. They're too good for us." Odin told him.

"Of course, they are. They even know how to fall  in love properly." Stu took a peanut in its shell and cracked it open.

"What in the hell is that supposed to mean?" Odin looked over at him.

"Nothing." He popped the roasted nut in his mouth.