Zoe's POV
The booth loomed before us, its atmosphere thick with an unseen tension before we even settled in.
It wasn't just occupied—it felt claimed, as if a silent declaration had been made. Brandon was wedged into the inner seat, his broad shoulders set in a rigid manner that I recognized as his defense mechanism, bracing himself for whatever might come. Beside him, Casey lounged with an air of belonging, one arm draped casually along the backrest, her body angled in proximity to his enough to draw an unmistakable line of intimacy. She wasn't actually touching him, but the unspoken suggestion hung in the air like a fog, heavy and undeniable.
