CHAPTER 27

ZAYN CARTER

What the actual fuck just happened?

One second, I was sitting there, enjoying Ari's suffering as her mom forced her to go change. The next? She was climbing over me like I was a damn jungle gym.

And she had the nerve to whisper in my ear like that?

Nah.

I sat there, shocked as fuck, barely registering anything around me. My brain was stuck on the feeling of her soft thigh brushing against mine, the way her dress had ridden up, the way she smelled—a mix of whatever perfume she used and just... her.

I clenched my jaw. Fuck.

A movement caught my eye, and I looked up just in time to see Jenni smirking at me.

Not just any smirk.

That annoying older sister I'm gonna tease you for the rest of your life kind of smirk.

She raised her eyebrows, clearly holding back a laugh because our parents were right there. If they weren't? She'd be running her mouth so fast.

I glared at her. Don't.

She widened her eyes all innocently, but I knew she was already storing this moment to use against me later.

Lily, thankfully, wasn't paying attention. She was curled up next to me, practically using my side as a pillow, already drifting off to sleep.

Which was great because if she had seen what happened, she would've asked a million questions, and I was not ready for that.

I exhaled slowly, trying to get my thoughts under control when Ari finally returned.

And I swear to fucking God—

She was wearing my shirt.

She didn't know, obviously.

But there it was—my oversized, dark grey tee that was way too big for her, practically swallowing her frame. The joggers she wore made her look too different from the girl who left the car earlier.

No more short dress. No more teasing. Just an innocent little Ari in my damn clothes.

I gritted my teeth.

How the hell did she even get that shirt?

She walked up to the car, barely sparing me a glance, and then—of course—stopped right in front of me.

She raised an eyebrow. "You moving, or should I just climb over you again?"

I stiffened.

Jenni choked on a laugh.

This fucking girl.

I met her eyes, my voice low. "Try it and see what happens."

Her lips twitched, like she lived for pissing me off.

But then, probably deciding it wasn't worth the risk, she huffed and stepped to the side, waiting for me to move.

I didn't say a word as I finally shifted, letting her pass.

The moment she sat down, I turned to the window, forcing myself to ignore her presence, ignore the fact that she was wearing my fucking shirt, and definitely ignore the fact that I was thinking about her way more than I should be.