When hunger isn’t just for food, and every bite stirs something deeper

—-

“So what do you think?”

Alex’s voice dragged me from my food haze. He sat across from me, hands folded neatly on the table, his eyes focused, too focused on me. That always meant trouble.

I looked up at him mid-bite, my mouth still full of chicken sandwich, and raised a brow. “About what?”

He gestured to the spread of empty dishes in front of me. The battlefield.

“Everything you’ve eaten so far.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Everything I’ve eaten?” I asked slowly, swallowing, already sensing an ambush. “Are you judging me, Alex?” I gasped dramatically, waving...