XAVIER'S POV

After I dropped Vanessa off, I didn’t say much. Just a short, casual goodbye and she smiled, waving as she stepped out of the car. No tension, no drama—just friendly. But even as I watched her go, I felt this strange weight pressing on my chest. Not because of her. Because of me. Because I couldn’t figure out what the hell was going on in my own head.

The drive back to my place was quiet. No music. No usual humming. Just the sound of my tires gliding against the road and ...