"How is it without Imogen around?" I asked Nick as we walked towards our cars after work. It was now three days since Imogen had left for New York and Nick had been looking pretty down about it. I'd been trying to keep his spirits up to no prevail so far.
"I'm still wrapping my head around it. We haven't been apart for more than a night since we got married." He sighed, fumbling for his keys.
"It's only a month. He'll be back before you know it."
"I know. I just miss her, is all."
"I get it. As much as it sounds stupid, I missed Ben for the first couple months when we separated."
"It doesn't sound stupid. He was the love of your life. Of course, you missed him. Especially since it was such a sudden thing for you."
"Alright." I grinned at him. "We're still on for tomorrow, right?"
"Wouldn't miss it." I'd invited him over for dinner at my place the next night so he had something to do to take his mind off of Imogen for a bit. I'd also asked a few of our colleagues that we'd become friends with and organised for Nathaniel and Alexis to stay with Abby at Nick's house.
"Good. Now don't spend tonight moping. Get stuff done." I briefly hugged him goodbye before he hopped into his car, waving at me and pulling out into the road.
--------------------
"I miss her, Charlie." Nick moaned to me after our colleagues had left. It had been a good night but I think Nick had had a few too many drinks. He was flopped on the sofa in my living room and had been telling me how much he missed Imogen for the last hour.
"I know."
"She didn't call today."
"She's busy. You said yourself; today was a big one."
"But she always calls." Nick pouted and threw an arm over his eyes.
"I don't know what you want me to do, Nick."
"I wanna go home..." He mumbled.
"Alright. Get up then, I'll drive you."
"I can drive."
"The hell you can. I'm not letting you drive in that state." I took his keys from where he'd left them on the hallway table. "I've got to pick up Nate and Alexis anyway."
"Fine." He managed to stand up and stumble over to me, letting me lead him out to the car.
"Are you sure you're going to be okay to look after Abby tonight? Maybe I should take her for the night?" I asked him when we were on the road.
"Why?"
"You're drunk, Nick. And in the morning you'll be extremely hung over."
"No..."
"Yeah, you will." I sighed and glanced over at him. "You know what? We're staying with you. Alexis can sleep in Abby's room and Nathaniel can share the guest room with me."
"But..."
"No arguing," I told him firmly. He just sighed and flopped back into his seat. He was silent for the rest of the trip.
When we got to his house, I pulled into the driveway behind Imogen's car and hopped out quickly to help him into the house. He draped his arm over my shoulders and stumbled along beside me to the front door.
"Where are your keys?" I asked.
"Mm..." He thought for a moment before giggling. "In my jacket."
"Okay. Where's your jacket?"
