In his right hand is a beautiful bouquet of what seem to be wildflowers that are bunched together with a burlap sash. His left hand is holding three plastic bags filled with groceries. Then I notice what he’s wearing. I bust out laughing, taking in the novelty apron tied over his shorts and T-shirt, depicting the muscular body of a Roman gladiator, bare-chested and wearing only a canvas loincloth and a sword. Ryan remains where he is, standing across the room with a shy smile.

“Big plans tonight?” I ask.

“What would give you that idea?”

“You just have a lot going on over there.”

“Truth be told, I was planning on romancing a girl I used to know.”

My insides flip in the best way possible. “That sounds like fun.”

“It might be. She kicked me to the curb the last time we dated, though, so we’ll see what happens this time around.”

“Were you maybe a bit of an ass the last time you dated?”

“You know, I can’t really recall but I think I might have been.”

“And how about now?” I ask.

“I’m probably still an ass but hopefully I’m a little more tolerable.”

Wanting to show him just how tolerable I do find him, I move to stand directly in his path, less than a foot away. I don’t put up the slightest fight against my urge to place my hands on his chest, going up on my tiptoes and kissing him. He responds right away, slowly at first but then dropping everything to the floor. His hands find their way to the small of my back, pulling me close but still not close enough. Not nearly close enough. That’s all the encouragement I need. I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him again and again.

We eventually break apart, out of breath and smirking as we look down at the mess we’ve made. Flowers and food are everywhere. I don’t have time to fully assess the damage before Ryan tugs me forward, drawing my eyes up to his.

“Are you nervous?” he asks.

I pause and think about it. “I don’t think so,” I answer. “Are you?”

“Honestly, I am. This still doesn’t feel real.”

I nod, knowing exactly what he means, barely believing I can look at him and touch him and talk to him like I am right now. Like this is how it’s always been. Like we never stopped.

“When we broke up,” he says, “I used you as motivation to succeed. I thought if we ever saw each other again, I would show you how great I was and you would regret not wanting to be with me. I did everything I could to push you out of my life but really I was keeping you in the center of it—and I was this bitter ex-boyfriend planet just orbiting around you all the time.”