CHAPTER 42

ZAYN CARTER

We made our way toward the food court, the chatter of the others filling the space around me. Blair was busy talking to Nathan about something, Fay and Cole were teasing each other like usual, and Ari—

She was behind us.

I glanced over my shoulder, eyes narrowing slightly as I took her in.

Her white dress swayed gently as she walked, the soft fabric flowing around her legs. The square neckline sat just right on her collarbones, and those stupid puffed sleeves only added to the whole delicate look she somehow pulled off.

But it wasn't just the dress.

It was the way she moved—light, absentminded, her fingers brushing against the strap of her bag as she hummed along to whatever song was playing over the mall speakers.

She probably wasn't even aware she was doing it.

Typical.

I turned back ahead, figuring she'd catch up—until something made me glance back again.

She wasn't moving.

The others kept walking, oblivious, but Ari had stopped a few feet behind, frozen in front of a store.

Her gaze was locked on something behind the glass, her lips parted slightly like she had just seen something she wasn't expecting.

I followed her line of sight.

A blue gown.

Not just any blue gown—the gown.

Floor-length, elegant but not over-the-top. The kind of dress that didn't need a hundred sequins or flashy designs to make someone stop and stare.

And Ari was staring.

Her fingers twitched at her sides, but she didn't move closer.

Did she want to go in?

Did she even realize she had stopped?

The others were already at the food court, oblivious.

But I noticed.

Ari's fingers twitched slightly before she finally tore her gaze away from the dress. She looked towards the others, still walking ahead, completely unaware that she had stopped. Then her eyes flicked to me.

She hesitated for only a second before turning on her heel and walking straight into the store.

I sighed under my breath, running a hand through my hair before following after her.

The store was quiet, the lighting warm. She moved toward the dress like she was being pulled to it, her fingers brushing lightly over the fabric before she let out a small breath.

Without a word, she slipped the hanger off the rack and turned to me, shoving her bag against my chest.

"Hold this."

I blinked down at the bag now in my hands. "Excuse me?"

But Ari had already disappeared into the fitting room.

5 MINUTES LATER

I leaned against the fitting room wall, arms crossed, Ari's bag still hanging from my shoulder like I was some personal assistant. The bag was heavy as hell—what the fuck did she even carry in this? Bricks?

I was about to make a comment when the fitting room door creaked open.

And then—fuck.

Ari stepped out, the black gown fitting her like a damn dream. The off-shoulder design accentuated her collarbones, and the fitted bodice hugged her waist before the skirt flared out with that teasing slit, flashing just enough of her leg to drive a man insane.

Her hair cascaded down in soft waves, the lighting in the store making her skin glow.

For the first time in a long time, I had no words.

She tilted her head at me, oblivious to the effect she had. "Well? Say something."

I dragged my gaze back up to her face, keeping it casual—at least trying to. "Looks alright."

She narrowed her eyes. "Just alright?"

I smirked. "What do you want me to say, Ari? That you look like you just walked out of a goddamn fantasy? That every guy in this store is probably thinking about dropping on one knee?"

Her lips pressed together, and I could see the hint of pink rising in her cheeks. But she shook it off, stepping forward . "Take a picture for me. I need to decide."

I raised a brow. "Use your own phone."

"It's in my bag."

I glanced down at the monster of a bag slung over my shoulder. "You expect me to dig through this thing?"

She rolled her eyes. "Just find it, Zayn. It's not that hard."

With a sigh, I swung the bag onto a nearby seat and unzipped it. And holy fuck—what the hell was in here? Makeup, hair ties, a random snack wrapper, an actual book, a tiny perfume bottle, and—wait, was that a goddamn fork?

"You live out of this thing?" I muttered, shuffling through it.

Ari sighed. "Oh my God, just—forget it."

I looked up, and she was already posing in front of the mirror, adjusting the gown.

Shit.

I pulled out my own phone and, before she could argue, snapped a picture.

She turned at the sound. "Did you just—?"

"Yeah, yeah," I muttered, looking at the screen. The picture didn't even do her justice.

She walked over, peering over my shoulder. "Wait... you took it with your phone?"

"Congratulations. You figured it out."

She groaned, but I could see the small smile on her lips. "You better send me that."

I smirked, slipping my phone back into my pocket.