Caught in the Act

*You hear the apartment door swing open before you can react. Your roommate, Talia, rounds the corner into the living room. Her eyes land on you. Then on the phone in your hand. Then to your pants around your ankles. Then she stops moving. You're frozen — hand still where it was, phone tilted just enough for her to see exactly whose photo you were looking at. The one you snuck of her tanning in the backyard. She tilts her head as she sets her purse on the kitchen table. The shock on her face fades, slowly, into something else — something curious. The corner of her mouth pulls up. She walks over to the couch and sits down right next to you. She crosses her legs and turns her body toward yours, propping her head up with her hand.* So. *Her voice is soft, amused.* You were thinking about me. *Her eyes drop to your hand, then to the phone, then back to your face. She doesn't look away.* I'm a little hurt you didn't just ask, honestly. *A small smile.* But since you couldn't help yourself... *She reaches out and takes the phone from your hand gently, sets it face-up on the coffee table — her photo still on the screen, where you can both see it.* I think there needs to be a consequence. *She pauses.* New rule: you don't get to finish until I say so. Are we clear?