Who pays the bill later today

You know the feeling. The bill arrives, and everyone’s eyes dart around the table. It’s not about the money, not really. It’s that weird, silent pause where no one wants to be the one to decide.

The quiet scramble

Someone reaches for their wallet, but it’s a slow, half-hearted gesture. Another person says they have cash, maybe. It’s a little dance we all know the steps to, but no one wants to lead.I’ve stood in front of the fridge three times tonight, looking for nothing. It’s the same energy. Just looking for a clear answer that isn’t there.

Letting the moment pass

You can feel the group’s collective brain working overtime. Calculating, remembering who paid last time, wondering if it’s fair. It’s exhausting.Sometimes you just need the thinking to stop. The decision itself doesn’t matter as much as the relief of it being made. You can almost feel the table relax when someone finally just picks it up.

Or, you could spin

There’s a strange peace in handing it over to chance. It’s not your fault, it’s not theirs. It’s just the way the wheel landed.

The relief is real

The conversation picks back up. The awkwardness evaporates. You’re just friends at a table again, not a committee.