When I finished eating, I leaned back in my chair and exhaled, feeling the pleasant weight of fullness in my stomach. I tried to hide it, of course — the satisfaction, the way the food had actually comforted me. I wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction of knowing I enjoyed it.
Zed looked at me from across the table, his usual calm expression unwavering. “Did you like the food?” he asked, his tone casual, almost teasing, but I could see that slight glint in his eyes.
I cleared my throat, straightened my back, and put on my best confident look — the one I used to wear in meetings, events, and interviews back in my world. “Not bad,” I said flatly, crossing my arms.
He raised an eyebrow and let out a short, quiet chuckle — the kind that sounded half amused and half mocking. “I don’t thin
