Gemotions

The world seemed to tilt on its axis as Chloe watched Mark end the call and quickly put his phone in his pocket. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic drumbeat against the sudden quiet. He’d been unusually quiet all evening, distant, withdrawn.

She walked towards him, forcing a smile that felt brittle. “Who was that?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper. Her stomach churned.

He turned, startled, then schooled his features into an expression of casual indifference. “Just a colleague, babe,” he said, his eyes avoiding hers. A colleague? The way he had said that word, like it was a carefully constructed lie. She felt like she'd tripped and was struggling to catch herself before she fell.