Brandon's POV
I sat in the truck with my hands gripping the steering wheel tighter than necessary.
The engine was off.
The sky was blue. It was a quiet evening.
But my mind—
My mind wouldn't shut up. My heart thudded faster than usual.
"Are you sure about this?"
Pete's voice cut through the silence beside me.
I didn't answer immediately.
My eyes stayed fixed on the hotel across the street—the towering structure glowing under the night lights like it held secrets behind every window. Secrets I was about to walk into.
"You want the truth?" I finally said.
Pete shifted slightly in his seat. "Sure."
I exhaled slowly.
"I'm not." The words sat heavy in the air between us.
"But it's something I have to do."
My fingers tapped against the steering wheel restlessly, betraying the tension I was trying to hide.
Casey.
Everything about her lately felt wrong—too polished, too perfect, too… intentional. And I didn't trust it.
