Gemotions

The coffee shop was a blur. Liam twisted the straw in his iced latte, the ice cubes rattling a staccato rhythm against the plastic. He’d been trying to arrange a date with Chloe, using his friend's phone to avoid his girlfriend’s prying eyes. “Dinner tonight? I know a great spot,” he’d typed. Then, a quick glance at the screen revealed the truth. He'd sent it to his girlfriend, Sarah.

His throat constricted. He had to think of something, anything. He pretended to have an intense interest in the latte.

He imagined her reaction. The icy look, the barrage of questions. He felt a twitch in his eye. Maybe he could play it off as a prank, a joke. But would she buy it? The thought made him feel sick.