What the half-step ahead is really saying

“You and your partner are at a hardware store together on a Saturday afternoon — not a fun errand, just a necessary one. While you were waiting in the checkout line, you mentioned offhand that you'd rather skip the dinner with their college friends tonight and just stay in. They said 'fine' in that very specific way that means nothing is fine, paid for the stuff, and have been walking half a step ahead of you through the parking lot ever since. You're still ten minutes from home.”