Gemotions

The notification pinged. "I'm outside!" it read. Chloe nearly choked on her lukewarm tea. This entire situation – the deception, the wasted hours, the fabricated persona – was deeply irritating. Her fingers, tapping impatiently on the counter, made a repetitive drumming sound.

She peered through the peephole. There he was, Daniel, her online gaming partner, leaning against her building's doorframe. A picture of casual insouciance. She took a slow, deliberate breath, then opened the door.

"Took you long enough," she said, her voice flat, the corners of her mouth just barely twitching downwards. He looked surprised, and that, at least, was a small satisfaction.