I see it out of the corner of my eye as the man moves his fork toward his mouth. He's talking to the woman and he looks like the same pompous asshole I've been watching for the last hour. Truly. The he moves the fork and a piece of pasta falls off. It hits his lip and smears cheese down his perfect, clefted chin. He tries to act cool, but for a split second, like a flash of light, I see what he's hiding.

Curt looks up with his chin still on the table. He's watching me watch them. "You saw it, didn't you?" he breathes.

I shake my head. "No, I didn't see anything really...." I squint.

the woman puts a small amount of egg on her fork, then lifts it tentatively. She's trying to act beautiful, in control. She moves her body sideways, then opens her mouth....

"See?" curt asks drowsy. "You see it?"

I stare, fascinated. Maybe, after all, I do.

Curt nods in answer to the question I haven't asked.

"Finally," he says. "Do you get it now?"

I nod very slowly. The woman takes another bite, and I don't think about her legs anymore. I just watch for the flash. I don't think I will, but I see it again. One minute she looks confident , perfect, the next I see something else. I cringe.

I try watching the man instead, but that's worse. I realize for the first time that he's trying really hard.

Author: K.L. Going