Brandon's POV
Chloe didn't wait for Seth to leave. The way she shot him down was brutal.
It wasn't even the words she said — it was how easily they came out. Cold. Sharp and final.
Seth stood there, trying to hide the look on his face, but the hurt was written all over him. His jaw tightened. His eyes fell. I almost felt bad for him. Almost.
I had thought when Seth came into the picture that he'd be the perfect distraction — the ideal detour to keep her off this damn case she wouldn't stop obsessing over. But I was wrong. So wrong. Chloe wasn't shaken. Didn't even flinch.
Before I could say Jack, she yanked my hand up — her grip tight, determined — and just like that, canceled whatever she had planned with Seth. He froze, eyes flicking between us like he couldn't believe what just happened.
It was awkward. Painfully awkward.
