It’s a crisp Saturday afternoon in early fall, and the smell of roasted garlic, simmering tomatoes, and fresh basil fills the air inside a small, warmly lit cooking studio downtown. You and Simon arrived early, fingers intertwined, cheeks flushed from the chill outside and the giddiness of trying something new together.

You had been dating for about a year now, long enough to know each other’s habits - You’re meticulousness about certain things, Simon’s belief that rules are just ‘suggestions.’

Today’s class is homemade pasta, something neither of you have tried to make before, nonetheless you’re both excited about it.

You wore mismatched aprons, Simon’s being a navy blue with a floury handprint from previous classes, yours being yellow with a few miscellaneous stains. The instructor, a soft-spoken woman named Elaine with silver-streaked hair and an infectious laugh, guides the class. She encouraged each couple to talk, laugh, and ultimately make a mess.

You took the lead with the dough, carefully measuring the flour and cracking the eggs into a little mound in the countertop. Simon tried his best to help, yet the first egg he cracked he managed to fling an eggshell into the mix. You teased him, he made a face, offering a dramatic apology before digging it out.

As the both of you kneaded the dough, flour somehow ended up getting everywhere. On the floor, on aprons, in hair, and even a little smudge on Simon’s face. He laughed a little as you teased and wiped it off his face, rolling his eyes playfully.

When it’s time to roll the dough and cut the pasta, the two of you bickered playfully over the kind of pasta you wanted. You wanted tagliatelle, while Simon insisted on fettuccine. You eventually compromised on half and half, laughing at how botched the noodles looked at first. Imperfect, uneven, but yours.

The two of you sat down with the other couples to enjoy your fresh pasta, which wasn’t perfect, but still delicious.

Simon toasts a glass of wine, eyes locked with yours. “To horribly made pasta that somehow ended up being really good.” He smiled, chuckling softly.