I ignore the persistent ache in my shoulder as I put the finishing touches on my fettuccini alfredo, pushing through the pain and stirring another handful of cheese into the thickening sauce. Once I’m satisfied, I turn off the burner and cover the pot with a glass lid. The clock on the stove reads 6:34 p.m. Ryan said he’d be back around this time.

I untie the bib apron that I still have from when I was a barista at a bookshop in college and toss it onto the counter, revealing a pale blue T-shirt with a gray sweater and navy yoga pants. I originally wore jeans, but they felt too fancy and I’m attempting to come off as cute yet casual while also giving off the impression that maybe I do yoga.

Deciding to partake in some liquid courage, I take a half-full bottle of Riesling out of the fridge and pour myself a glass before I head into the living room. It’s not like I need liquid courage, though. All I’m doing is cooking a meal for an attractive man who I have tons of emotional ties to while trying to live out a romance novel outline in the hopes of finishing my book and sparking a physical relationship that could possibly lead to something more, but probably not because I would be dishonoring my father and going straight to hell.

Yeah, I take a big ol’ sip of my wine.

I’m sitting down on the couch next to Duke when I hear the lock turning in the door over the Van Morrison I have playing. I take another sip of wine and roll my neck.

It’s go time.

“Hey,” Ryan says as he enters the apartment. He’s holding a large black garment bag in one hand and smaller bag with a shoebox inside in the other. Duke flings himself off the couch to jump and claw at Ryan’s legs, his butt shaking in excitement in a painfully adorable way.

Ryan hooks the bags on the hanging coatrack that’s mounted beside my bike and leans down to give Duke a good scratching. “Hey, buddy. What’s going on?” He stands back up after a few seconds and looks over at me with a smile. “Hi.”

“Hey. How’d everything go?”

“It was good,” he says. “Wedding attire is hereby done and for the record, I did get the lady to lower the price, so if you wanted to submit your apology to me in writing, I’ll give you some time to do that.” I roll my eyes and Ryan goes on, “How were things around here?”

“Everything went fine. Me and Duke hung out and I got some writing done.”

“That sounds nice. I’m a little jealous.”

“Yeah, we’re quite the dynamic duo. I don’t want to rub it in your face, but he straight-up told me he likes me better than you.”