15-05-2021-052358It-Ends-with-Us

“That place we went to that one time with your mom,” he says.
“Bib’s? I made reservations for six o’clock.”
My heart feels like it slinks down my chest. My mother says, “Oh,
good choice.”
“Yeah. If you like stale bread. Bye, Mom.” I hang up and look at
Ryle. “I don’t want to go back there. I didn’t like it. Let’s try
something new.”
I fail to tell him why I really don’t want to go back there. But how
do you tell your brand-new boyfriend that you’re trying to avoid your
first love?
Ryle pushes off the wall. “You’ll be fine,” he says. “Allysa’s excited
to eat there, I told her all about it.”
Maybe I’ll get lucky and Atlas won’t be working.
“Speaking of food,” Ryle says. “I’m starving.”
The casserole!
“Oh shit!” I say, laughing.
Ryle rushes to the kitchen and I stand up and follow him in there. I
walk in just as he pulls the oven door open and waves away the smoke.
Ruined.
I get dizzy all of a sudden from standing up too fast after having
three glasses of wine. I grab the counter beside him to steady myself,
just as he reaches in to pull the burnt casserole out.
“Ryle! You need a.. .”
“Shit!” he yells.
“Pot holder.”
The casserole falls from his hand and lands on the floor, shattering
everywhere. I lift up my feet to avoid broken glass and mushroom
chicken splatter. I start laughing as soon as I realize he didn’t even
think to use a pot holder.
Must be the wine. This is some seriously strong wine.
He slams the oven shut and moves to the faucet, shoving his hand
under the cold water, muttering curse words. I’m trying to suppress
my laughter, but the wine and the ridiculousness of the last few
seconds are making it hard. I look at the floor—at the mess we’re
about to have to clean up—and the laughter bursts from me. I’m still
laughing as I lean over to get a look at Ryle’s hand. I hope he didn’t
hurt it too bad.