The catchy melody of "Be OK" by Ingrid Michaelson occupies the steady crowd of customers inside the cafe. Among them are our Tommy and Max Covington, who are sitting at the table near the large window overlooking Main Street this winter morning.

​

"Congratulations again on passing your finals," Max compliments his youngest sibling sitting across from him. "I know it isn't easy with fatherhood and a job, but you did it."

Tommy dips his head.

"Thanks; who knew studying in the mailroom would pay off?"

He then takes a sip of coffee, trying to gain more energy, which Max notices.

"What?" Tommy asks.

"Nothing," Max replies. "It's just either you were up late partying, or you were occupied with a certain blonde?"

Tommy has a tense expression on his face.

"I hope you were partying... he can see him looking down. "Oh my god, don't tell me you're with Jordan?" Max says to his brother.

The youngest Covington sibling informs Max that he and Jordan have been sexually active for a while now.

"Don't judge me, okay, it's nothing but sex,"

Max shakes his head in disagreement.

"Tommy, you might see it that way, but I doubt Jordan does."

"Trust me, Jordan knows we aren't building towards anything serious."

Max takes a hearty sip of his coffee.

"Yeah, right, listen to your big brother, okay, feelings always get in the way of a friend-with-benefits deal, especially if the two of you already have a history, and on top of that, you have to put Jeremy's well-being above your needs."

"Speaking from experience?"

Max quickly reflects on his wife's own sexual past with Antoine.

"Something like that," he answers nonchalantly. "So, tell me something, would you be sleeping with her if Tanner was single?"

The weight of that question has Tommy grappling with how to exactly approach the proposition.

"I told her many times I wanted us to get back together, but she is with the good reverend."

Simultaneously, Jordan strolls into the cafe. She is about to head toward the line for her usual black iced tea when she sees the father of her son and his brother in deep conversation.

"But what if she wasn't?"

"I'm not sure, but if she forgave me enough that we could get back to where we were before. I wouldn't be with Jordan in any other way other than co-parenting our son."

Instead of Max responding, Tommy turns to see what or specifically whom he is staring at, and he sees Jordan.

"Who knew having sex with you still puts me in second place to Tanner?" Jordan lashes out.

Before Tommy can have his say, Jordan hurriedly moves out of the cafe to the sidewalk, where she stops herself and tries to catch her breath.

Back inside, Tommy leaps out of his chair to check on the young woman, leaving Max to drink his coffee, hoping the situation will work out for everyone concerned.