Bribery. It worked every time. He knew her way too well sometimes and occasionally, it worked to his advantage. Maureen liked pretty things, attention, and chocolate. He had one of the three, two if giving her attention at the moment counted for anything at all. Maybe that was the problem. Maybe she wasn't getting enough attention in this place. Maybe he'd pushed her aside too much. And without Joanne around...
It made sense. It made so much sense. He'd never been able to get her to settle down. But Joanne had. As much as the pair of them fought, she was the only one Mark knew who could get Maureen to shut up when she was on a rant. She was the only one who knew the button to push when Maureen was acting out of line. And sure, it made him a little jealous. But it had also been the most adult thing he'd done to that moment, letting the woman he loved go without a fight to someone who she genuinely needed.
And now that person wasn't there. Was that the problem? Maybe.
"Water's good," he agreed, watching her move around the room. He didn't say a word about the mess. For one thing, it really wasn't that terrible. For another, he lived in a giant bachelor pad. Living with Roger was a hell of a lot different than when he'd lived with Maureen and Benny and Collins. Benny was a neat freak and would have killed them all if they'd left the place looking the way Mark and Roger's apartment did just then.
Plopping on to the couch at her side, Mark gave her a smile. A much more genuine one than he had on arrival. Because, even knowing how pitiful she looked, he was actually happy to see her. Especially since she was sober. "For such an independent woman, you sure can be bought with chocolate easily, can't you?" His tone was teasing, and he could almost pretend that it was like the old days, back when they'd first started hanging out.