Gemotions

The notification. *Mr. Henderson followed you.* Chloe stared, her thumb hovering over the profile picture. It was him, all right. The tweed jacket, the slightly rumpled hair, the way his eyes always crinkled at the corners when he smiled. Her heart hammered against her ribs.

She immediately opened her profile, scrolling frantically through the curated posts. The beach trip from last summer? The blurry photo of her holding a questionable-looking cocktail? Oh god. She let out a small, involuntary noise, like a trapped bird.

Her phone slipped from her grasp and landed face down on her bed. She couldn’t breathe properly. Why would he do this? What did he think? She pictured his face, his calm demeanor, and felt a wave of cold wash over her.