She was watching me.

I was eating a strawberry. That was it. Nothing else. But she didn’t blink.

So I took the whole tub out. Set it beside me like I was doing it for me. But really? I wanted her to stare.

She did.

So I took the whipped cream out too. Popped the lid. Swirled it on top like I wasn’t shaking.

She still didn’t move.

I dipped the strawberry. Brought it to my lips. Ate it slow.

Slower than I meant to.

She stayed frozen. Except her fingers twitched once — just once — when the cream hit my bottom lip.

And then I knew. She wasn’t watching. She was willing me.

To take one more. To lick it this time. To drop the act and call her bluff.

I didn’t.

But I was so tempted.