When I get to the grocery store, I grab a cart and fill it with rotisserie chickens. I slog through the aisles tortured by the cheesy radio classics playing through muffled speakers.

I head over to the meat counter and say a smiley good morning to the woman behind it. I’m extra friendly to camouflage the subtle nag of embarrassment I’m experiencing ordering this much cow.

I’m waiting for steaks when my phone vibrates in my jacket pocket.

Message from Mia. Morning, sunshine! Sorry I left without saying goodbye. Had fun tho

There’re the little ellipses. She’s typing something else.

Sorry about the whole Ian thing. Promise I’m not interested in him at all!!

My grip tightens and I watch as her message is distorted by broken glass. Next thing I know my phone is in pieces. Pieces too small to hold. They fall through my fingers onto the floor.

I didn’t just crack the screen this time. I crushed it. Brand-new phone obliterated.

“Oops,” I say, attempting to discreetly kick my mess under the meat display case.

I receive the steaks and then proceed to order a rack of pork ribs. Just really working my way through the animal kingdom.

“Thanks!” I tell the woman, who, in addition to meat, is serving me some serious side-eye. I give her an affable wave before sliding away.

I turn a corner and my cart collides with someone else’s.

With Matty’s.

“Rory,” he says. He doesn’t appear too chuffed to see me. At least we’re on the same page.

“Matthias.”

We stare at each other, neither of us really knowing what to say.

“How’s your shoulder?” I ask. He’s not wearing the sling anymore.

“Okay,” he says.

More silence.

Finally, he throws his hands up. “Do you have a problem?”

“Yes. In fact, I have quite a long list of problems. And you’re on it! Right at the top. Congratulations.”

“I don’t understand why you’re mad at me,” he says.

I try to push my cart past his, but he won’t let me.

“Will you just talk to me for a sec?”

“I have somewhere to be,” I say, nudging his cart again.

“Where?”

“You got me,” I say flatly.

“Rory, please. I’m really trying here.”

“How gallant.”

“Look, I’m not perfect.”

I clench my fists. “You don’t say.”

He’s the reason why I came back here. Whatever he did that prompted Scarlett to kick him out, it set off this whole chain of events.

I could destroy him. I want to. I want accountability. For once, some goddamn accountability. But where would that leave me? What would it solve? I can’t repair damage by causing more damage. I can’t do anything.

“I’m not perfect but I didn’t do anything wrong here. This is on Scarlett. I don’t know what’s going on with you two, but I really wish you would talk to each other. I don’t need you pissed at me.”