CASSANDRA'S POV:
The early morning air was crisp and cool against my skin, tinged with the fresh scent of dew and salt from the nearby sea. The sky wore a soft, hesitant hue, as though the sun hadn't fully made up its mind to rise. It was just past seven. Dylan and I stood quietly outside the house, our fingers gently laced together. His hand was warm, grounding. But mine… mine was hesitant.
Dylan turned to Nala, his voice calm, almost too gentle. “Nala, we’ll leave you here. As you already know, we’ll have a date and…”
I didn’t say a word. My eyes drifted to our intertwined hands, and I stared as if they belonged to someone else. I couldn’t decide if I felt comfort… or confusion.
Before Dylan could finish, I heard Nala cut in.
“Yeah, I already know,” she said quickly, her tone light
