Gemotions

Liam ran a hand through his hair, the gesture a nervous tic he’d developed lately. The deadline loomed; he needed to finish the report, and the pressure was immense. He was in the middle of a difficult section when he heard a familiar, yet foreign, cadence coming from the living room. His partner, Mateo, was usually at work at this hour.

He cautiously entered the living room. Mateo was sitting on the sofa, a textbook open on his lap. He was speaking, in halting, accented Gaelic. Liam felt a flush of heat rise in his cheeks. He felt a need to retreat. It was all too much.

“What… what are you doing?” Liam asked, his voice tight. Mateo looked up, his expression a mixture of surprise and… anticipation? The knot in Liam’s gut tightened. He wasn't sure he could handle any more surprises.