20

BRANDON

Why the fuck is she still out at this hour?

I emptied a bottle of whiskey, but I still feel nothing. The alcohol won’t affect me. I frown at my wristwatch to check the time, and it’s already past two o’clock in the morning.

What else can I do? Is this the life Alayna’s hoping for? Going out, dancing in a club with someone else? Is this the price of everything I can’t do for her? Has she already chosen this path? I almost died by fighting against myself. Is everything I fought for the past month for nothing?

A knock on the door interrupts my thoughts. I open it immediately, hoping to see Alayna.

“Brandon?” It’s Oliver, but he’s alone. He steps inside and closes the door.

“Where is Alayna? Is she in her room?”

He doesn’t answer right away. “She’s with Cassius,” he breathes. “I’m sorry, Brandon. I had a small misunderstanding with my girlfriend.”

I frown hard. “When did you get a girlfriend?” I start to ask, but that isn’t important. “She’s still there? Why did you leave her with