AI WHISPERS
Can they see the way my hips are swaying slightly to accommodate the buzz?
I reach the frozen foods. The chill from the open cases seeps through my thin cardigan.
"Stop here," Echo says. "Look at the ice cream."
I stand in front of the Ben & Jerry’s.
"Higher," he whispers.
The vibration jumps up a notch.
"Oh, god," I gasp, leaning forward on the cart, pretending to study the nutrition label on a pint of Phish Food.
My thighs clench instinctively. The buzz is sharper now, demanding attention. It’s not just a hum; it’s a distinct pulse. Thump-thump-thump.