If someone asked me to explain what awkward tension feels like, I’d just point to our dining room the next morning.
Every chair felt too loud, every clink of cutlery felt dramatic and every time I lifted my eyes, Ryan was already staring.
Mrs. Caldwell kept smiling like she was hosting a cooking show. My mom hummed while passing eggs like the world was normal. And I sat there, pretending I wasn’t replaying last night’s conversation every thirty seconds.
Ryan didn’t even touch his food, he just watched me. I hissed under my breath, “Stop staring.”
He whispered back, “Stop pretending you don’t feel it.”
My cheeks heated instantly. “Not here.”
“Then stop looking so……”
“So what?” I challenged.
He clenched his jaw. “Never mind.”
Mom glanced at us. “Are you two fighting again?”
“No,” w
