Why me? I blurted out, and then closed my eyes briefly. Okay. Don't answer that. The food arrived just then一thank God一and the conversation was deterred...for about two minutes. I'm going to answer that question, Cam said, peering at me through his lashes. I wanted to face-plant my stuffed chicken. You don't have to. No, I think I do.
The narrator reflects on an unexpected question, feeling overwhelmed and wishing for a distraction. Their instinct is to quickly retreat from the conversation, indicating their discomfort with the topic. Just as they are seeking to escape, food arrives, providing a temporary reprieve from the uneasy moment.
However, the other character, Cam, is determined to address the question, showing a willingness to engage despite the narrator's reluctance. This creates tension, as the narrator wishes to avoid the discussion, while Cam insists on confronting it head-on, demonstrating a difference in their approaches to vulnerability and openness.