Annie's P.O.V
I yanked my phone from my jacket pocket with shaky fingers, my screen slick with sweat, my breathing heaving and unsteady. I didn’t even hesitate—my thumb hovered over Bryan’s name, and I hit send.
Annie: Hey, are you home?
He replied almost instantly.
Bryan: Yeah. You okay?
Annie: No. Can I come over?
There was a short pause. My heart pounded as I waited.
Bryan: Yeah. Sending you the address now.
Seconds later, it popped up. I didn’t even think. I started walking. No destination had felt right until now. Not home. Not Gabby’s. Just… him.
---
The neighborhood he lived in was quiet, nestled between rows of sleepy houses with trimmed hedges and basketball hoops that looked untouched. When I got to the door, I barely registered the nervous flutter in my chest before I knocked.
Bryan opened it almost immediately.
He looked surprised—but not in the uncomfortable, awkward way. More like he was relieved I’d actually come.
"Hey," he said, voice soft. "Come in."
I walked in, bar
