Gemotions

Sarah clutched her coffee cup, the ceramic warming her trembling hands. Rain lashed against the window of the cafe, mirroring the storm brewing inside her. She needed Liam. Always. A tiny voice, a whisper of self-doubt, told her to just call him. He’d know what to do. The ache in her chest, a familiar knot of anxiety, tightened.

Her gaze drifted to the door as it swung open, letting in a woman with fiery red hair. The woman’s eyes met hers, a flicker of recognition passing between them. Then, the redhead smiled, and that smile was meant for *him*.

“Liam will be here any minute,” the woman said, her voice laced with a breathless anticipation that felt like a punch to the gut. The world tilted.

“You’re…you’re dating Liam too?” Sarah managed, the words catching in her throat. The coffee suddenly tasted like ash.