Do It All Again

I'm Still Learning How To Love

"Well, I should probably head home. It's just about breakfast time and Momma C is making her special pancakes. Can't miss em." Nini explained, as we started back towards my house.

"Oh, uh, could I join you? My dad's not so great at cooking, as you know. So, I've been just going out to eat for the most part." I replied, messing with my hair.

"Sure. My moms love you, so I doubt they'd mind." She answered, shrugging. We made it back to my house and I peeked in to see if my dad was up. He wasn't, so I left a note on the counter and got in Nini's car.

"Here's to the ones that we got, cheers to the wish you were here but you're not..." Nini sang along to the radio with her beautiful voice,  as she drove us to her house.

"Cause the drinks bring back all the memories of everything we've been  through..." I sang along with her. 

"Did I tell you I love you?" Nini asked, as the song came to an end.

"Yes, love." I said, squeezing her free hand.

"Well, it's true." She replied, smiling like a toddler.

"You're literally the cutest." I said, shaking my head.

"Nope. That title's already taken." She corrected me, switching radio stations.

"Don't even think of saying me." I replied, looking at her like she was crazy. She shrugged and started singing along to the radio again.

         "Hey, Momma D." Nini greeted her mom, as we stepped inside her house. "I hope you don't mind Ricky joining us."

"Of course not. He's always welcome." She replied, smiling and closing the door behind us. "I'll set up another plate."

"I cannot wait to eat these pancakes. They are definitely on the list of things I've missed being in Denver." Nini said, taking a seat at the table.  

"Understandable. They're, literally, the best pancakes ever." I responded, sitting down next to her.

"Oh. You're just being nice." Momma C said, bringing out the pancakes. 

"Am not. I'm being one hundred percent.  These pancakes are the bomb." I stated, digging right into the deliciousness. 

"Mmmm. I really did miss these." Nini said, eating her pancakes. 

"More than me?" I asked, tilting my head.

"More than you." She answered, laughing as I dramatically put my hand over my heart.

"My heart has been smashed to pieces..."

"It's okay. You've got these pancakes to help you get through this heartbreaking time in your life." 

"They're adorable." I heard Momma C whisper Momma D. I smiled a bit and got back to eating the delicious pancakes.

            "So, I was thinking we should see if any of the gang wants to meet up somewhere to catch up."

"Yeah. They've definitely missed you. Not as much as me, but they've missed you." I agreed, getting out my phone. I shot the group chat a quick text and sat with Nini on the couch to wait. Almost as soon as I sent the text, I got a bunch of messages back.

"Looks like we're heading to an escape room, then?" I asked, looking through the messages. 

"Really? That sounds like fun!" She responded. Nodding, I let the group chat know Nini and I were in.

"So, I'll just text my dad, let him know I'll be out for a bit longer." I said, pulling up my dad and I's messages. 

"Mhm. I'm gonna go grab my purse, real quick." Nini replied, going up the staircase. I nodded and finished typing the text to my dad. 

"You two heading out?" Momma C asked, coming into the living room.

"Uh, yeah. We're gonna do an escape room with the rest of the theatre gang." I told her, as my phone beeped. 

"That sounds fun...You know, Ricky, we're really happy you're back in Nini's life. I can see how happy Nini has been since you guys worked things out." She explained, smiling. I almost smiled back, until I saw the text I got from my dad. 

"Uh, actually, my dad needs me back home. Let Nini know I'm so sorry and that she should still go without me." I stammered, my brain scattering. 

"Oh, is everything okay?" She questioned, tilting her head. 

"Yeah. Yeah. Everything's...fine." I lied, grabbing my jacket and heading out the door. 

"Wait, Ricky, do you..." She started to say, but I was long gone.