Zoe's POV
Brandon's words didn't just land; they settled. Heavy. Thicker than the air around us. For a moment, no one moved. No one spoke. It was as if time itself paused—just long enough for the weight of what he said to sink into all three of us. I could hear my own heartbeat, loud and uneven.
Seth shifted first. He climbed down from the wooden bench he had been sitting on, dusting his hands lightly against his jeans before slipping them into his pockets. He seemed awkward and careful, like he had suddenly realized he was standing in the middle of something he wasn't supposed to witness.
"Well…" he said, clearing his throat. "I think I should go. So you guys can—"
"Oh no," Brandon cut in quickly. His voice was calm, too calm. "I wouldn't want to be a bother."
My chest tightened. "I'll just go." He added.
