Gemotions

The aroma of cardamom and ginger clung to the air, thicker than usual. Liam stood in the doorway, arms crossed. "So, this is what you've been up to," he drawled, his voice a low rumble. His girlfriend, Chloe, jumped, nearly dropping the steaming pot of chai. "Liam! You scared me." Her smile seemed forced, a brittle thing. He didn't move from the entrance. He remained planted. "What's that then?" he asked, gesturing toward the simmering pot. Chloe stammered, "Oh, it's just some... tea."

Liam let out a breathy laugh, the sound brittle. "Tea? In the middle of the afternoon? And why are all these Bengali cookbooks open?" He stepped further into the kitchen, crowding her space. Chloe mumbled something in a language he'd never heard before. He raised an eyebrow. "What was that? Try it again, but this time, in English." Her cheeks flushed, and she looked away. He felt a strange sort of satisfaction bloom in his chest, a feeling he couldn't quite name.