A deglazed experience

He had forgotten the butter so he decided to baste the chicken thighs in olive oil. It wouldn't taste as good, he knew. But it would have to do. His girlfriend was waiting in the other room. Well, she was absorbed in her video game. But that was okay, he told himself. It's not like he needed her hovering over everything he did. Though it would feel kinda nice. He chuckled slightly out loud. His girlfriend heard it. 

"What's funny, James?" she asked. 

She had this cute smile, and James lightened up at having her attention. 

"Oh just thinking about you," he said. 

"Oh yeah?" she said and twirled some hair in her finger. "Wait, but then why did you laugh?"

"I was thinking about how you told Jenny to go fuck herself for only reaching out about religious bullshit."

Ashley laughed and the last laugh lasted a while, so James knew it was real. Even better. 

"Yeah, that shit was so annoying. Come see my Hades 2 build," said Ashley. 

"Yes mayum," said James, leaning on the corner of the kitchen entrance with his arms folded. He thought about how this was how his dad used to stand when he watched their movies, and he adjusted to having his arms by his side while leaning. But then he thought, So what if some of my mannerisms are similar to my dad's. That doesn't mean I've adopted his way of life. So James folded his arms again, proud of his nuanced integrity. 

Ashley's Hades 2 build wasn't what James would've chosen. She went for the heavy axe and melee build, where James preferred ranged weapons and speed. But that was so Ashley, he reflected. She was a bulldozer. And James liked to keep his distance from things. 

BUT NOT TOO MUCH DISTANCE HOLY SHIT HOW WAS THE CHICKEN.

He nearly jumped and went back to the skillet. Not much had changed. Only about a minute and a half had gone by. He waited until his heartrate calmed down. He shut his eyes. He counted to ten but only made it to eight. But that was okay. He didn't need to manage his anxiety perfectly. 

He didn't need to manage his girlfriend's time either. If she wanted to play her games instead of chatting with him, she could. 

He deglazed the pan with Pinot Grigio and added mushrooms: their favorite.