Gemotions

“Grandma says you used to talk to Bartholomew, too!” Lily announced, her voice filled with innocent glee. Ethan stiffened, nearly dropping the remote. He’d been trying to relax, to escape the day's stresses, but this… this was too much.

He’d always felt a certain possessiveness about Bartholomew. Now, he was being treated like some shared artifact, a piece of family history, and it didn't feel good. The familiar ache in his jaw grew. He quickly changed the channel.

“Yeah,” he mumbled, avoiding eye contact. “That was a long time ago.” He felt a sudden urge to get up and leave the room.