Brandon's POV
My alarm jolted me awake. I groaned inwardly as I rolled over to check the clock—8:45 a.m. I overslept. I guess my brain knew I needed the rest more than I did.
But the relief was short-lived.
The events of last night flooded in, almost immediately, pressing down on my chest. The image that haunted me most wasn't the chaos, the noise, or even the unanswered questions—it was Seth. Sitting beside Chloe's bed. Watching her sleep like he was a guardian of some sort.
I tried to push the thought away, but it stuck—tight in my throat like something I couldn't swallow.
I remembered the moment I left her room, shutting the door quietly behind me. I had leaned against the frame, exhaling the breath I didn't realize I'd been holding. My heart ached, but I couldn't explain why. I didn't even understand it myself.
