Brandon's POV
I lingered for a moment, my fingers gripping the steering wheel as if it were my only lifeline. The plaza lights glimmered like distant stars through the windshield, their soft glow illuminating the faces of passersby who moved like shadows—laughing, arguing, living their vibrant lives—while I remained encased in my solitude.
Zoe Hawkins.
Not Chloe.
Zoe.
The realization washed over me with a bittersweet ache, heavy and profound. She had been right there in front of me the entire time, breathing in the same space, sharing the same roof, her guarded eyes silently speaking volumes that I had only just begun to comprehend.
It had always been her.
A choked sound escaped my throat before I could contain it. Leaning forward, I pressed my forehead against the cool, unyielding surface of the steering wheel as emotions swirled within me like a turbulent storm.
"You idiot," I whispered into the stillness, a tremor creeping into my voice.
