Liam was halfway through his meticulously crafted pasta when the text arrived: "Can't make it tonight, got a family emergency. So sorry!" He reread the message, a knot forming in his stomach. This was the third time in as many weeks that Maya had cancelled on him. He felt… off. He checked his phone again, scrolling through their texts. He noticed a photo she sent earlier, a picture of a sunset with the caption "Date night with my favorite person!" He knew her favorite restaurant was Italian, but the sunset looked like it was taken on the beach and in the background he thought he saw a man’s silhouette.
He decided to go for a walk, the cool night air doing little to soothe his rising anxiety. He ended up at a bar, the familiar hum of conversation and clinking glasses a poor substitute for Maya's company. He ordered a drink, his hands clammy. Then he saw her. Across the room, she was laughing, her face lit by the glow of the overhead lights. She was with a man. He recognized the man. It was David, a colleague of Maya's. David winked at her.
Liam’s chest constricted. He felt the blood drain from his face. He quickly finished his drink and left, the image of their faces searing itself into his memory.