Brandon's POV
The moment I stepped into the bakery that day, I felt like an old van with a brand-new engine—alive, recharged, unstoppable. The room wasn't crowded. Soft, yellow-tinted lights gave it a mellow glow. Tables and chairs were set at neat angles, filled with people chatting in pairs and trios—some side by side, others face to face, each caught in their own little world.
And me? I was about to meet the coolest girl in school. My heart was practically doing backflips. I'd asked her out a few days before, and she had actually said yes. I could still hear her voice in my head: "I thought you were never going to ask. It's about time." My whole face had turned red—I swear, I felt like a god cruising on a throne of pride. But more than the words, it was the way she looked at me that stuck.
Cassey's smile? Dangerous. That perfectly sculpted nose? Pure art.
She was already there when I arrived, and I wasn't about to be late. First impressions matter. Keeping a girl like Cassey waiting on our first date? Yeah, no thanks.
Emotions stirred like a storm inside me. Hands buried in my jacket pockets, I walked down the hall, scanning the room for her. Just as I was zoning in, a burst of laughter distracted me—a redhead laughing across from a man in a sleek suit. His back was to me, but she seemed completely taken by whatever he was saying. I found myself wondering: Would I ever make Cassey laugh like that?
I snapped back to my mission and spotted her at the far end, just past the red-haired woman. I picked up the pace like a dog racing for a bone.
Why all the way at the edge? I wondered. Is she trying not to be seen with me? OAKLAND BAKERY was right across from our school—half the student body came here.
"Hell nah!" she said with a grin. "I just wanted everyone to get a good look at me. I'm dressed too fine for this outfit to go unnoticed." She ran her fingers through her hair, pride gleaming in her eyes.
I didn't know what to say, so I held a poker face—or tried to. Did she really pick that spot just for attention? I forced a smile to cut through the weird tension and pulled out the chair across from her.
I sat, not quite comfortable. The pressure was real. I didn't want to mess things up, especially since I'd already caught on that she loved the spotlight. My mind raced for a good convo starter but came up dry, so I went with the obvious.
"We should order," I said, gesturing toward her. "What would you like?"
I already knew what I was getting. Ever since I tasted their hamburger, I was hooked.
She asked for cookies and hot chocolate. Then came the awkward silence again. Our conversations were a string of half-starts, but even through the weirdness, I was grateful for the moment.
Later, we walked out holding hands—a win in my book. But just as we stepped outside, the moment shattered.
Parked near the corner of the building was my dad's car. I'd know that plate number anywhere. At first, I thought I was imagining things. But there he was—with her—the red-haired woman. What?! My stomach flipped.
He was the one making her laugh earlier. Questions hit me like a truck. Was it a business meeting? Didn't look like it—they were holding hands. And then he opened the car door for her.
Is Dad cheating?
Does Mom know?
What the hell is going on?
Disgust boiled inside me. I tried to keep cool for Cassey's sake, but inside, I was wrecked. A cheating dad? Not the vibe I wanted on a first date.
That moment has haunted me ever since. The image of my dad, smiling with another woman, burned itself into my brain. Home became a silent stage of lies—Mom's innocent gaze, my clueless siblings, and Dad acting like the perfect husband. He deserved an Oscar.
My grip tightened on the steering wheel of my truck. Rage simmered beneath my skin. What happens when Mom finds out? Divorce? The word alone sent chills down my spine.
I turned toward the school terrace, the engine rattling beneath me—an old sound I'd grown numb to. Birds chirped in the trees, students buzzed all around. I parked and climbed out, spotting Cassey and her usual entourage gathered around her pink car.
She saw me and strutted over with a grin. "Hey, boo," she purred. Then, her eyes sparkled with curiosity. "So… where's the red-haired girl?"
What? Why was she so eager to meet her? Chloe wasn't even here yet, and already my girlfriend was acting territorial.
I leaned back against my truck and asked, "Who exactly were you looking forward to seeing—me or her?"
Cassey stepped closer, placed her hands on my shoulders, and kissed me. "Of course, I came to see my man," she said with a smirk.
She knew how to get to me. I held her waist, ready to kiss her again, but the sound of my brother's car rolling in snapped us out of it.
Cassey's expression shifted. Her eyes locked onto the car like a hawk. "That must be her," she muttered, then frowned. "What is that outfit? Boots? Seriously?" She scoffed. "I was worried for nothing."
That rubbed me the wrong way, and she could tell. I knew she was trying to protect her territory, but did she really need to act like that? She reached for my arm as I turned away.
"You're going in without me?" she asked.
Adjusting my bag, I replied, "If I didn't know better, I'd say you're jealous."
She opened her mouth to speak, but stopped. The silence was louder than anything she could have said. I was already too deep in my feelings to care.
So, I just walked away.