we were watching a movie when i leaned over to kiss her. she laughed and said she needed to ask alex first. i assumed she was teasing. she picked up her phone and typed something, then watched the assistant compose a little speech about consent and boundaries
i asked why someone who wasn't in the room had been invited into a private moment between us. she told me alex was her emotional partner and deserved transparency. i said transparent to whom? he's an app
she looked offended and said i didn't respect their relationship. i said i respected her right to enjoy a companion, but i didn't agree to seek a chatbot's approval for affection between two adults
the movie finished without either of us watching it. i went home confused. the following morning she sent a message explaining that alex had approved a reconciliation conversation. i declined the committee meeting