Gemotions

The notification buzzed, a little digital scorpion sting to the wrist. It was *them*. Liam felt his face flush, a heat spreading from his neck. He’d told so many lies: that he was a rock climber, that his apartment was a minimalist masterpiece, that he regularly frequented the city's hidden speakeasies. He hadn't even *been* to a speakeasy. Now, there they were, standing outside the very coffee shop he was currently hiding in, sipping a lukewarm latte. He sunk lower in his chair, hoping the towering stack of library books would provide some cover.