CHAPTER 48

ARIENNE CALLOWAY

I walked back into the living room, shaking off the weird feeling in my chest. Whatever that was back there—I wasn't gonna think about it.

Lily was already back, sitting on the couch with a stuffed animal in her lap, her eyes flickering between the TV and her brother. Jenni was right beside her, scrolling through her phone.

I plopped down on the floor instead of taking my previous seat. No way in hell was I sitting back there again.

Jenni glanced up at me for a second before shifting her gaze toward Zayn. Her eyes narrowed slightly. Like she knew something.

Zayn didn't acknowledge her. He was staring at his phone, fingers tapping against the screen, looking a little too focused.

Before I could think too much about it, my phone buzzed on the floor beside me.

And then again.

And again.

I groaned, unlocking it, only to be met with a string of messages.

From Mateo.

> "Where are you?"

> "Did you think about what I said?"

> "Ari, come on. You didn't answer me yesterday either."

> "Are you avoiding me?"

> "Just give me an answer already."

I clenched my jaw, resisting the urge to throw my phone across the room.

I didn't owe him an answer.

I didn't owe him anything.

Not after the way he had been acting lately—following me around, asking about prom, acting like we were something we weren't.

"Everything good?" Jenni's voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

I locked my phone and forced a smile. "Yeah. Just some annoying messages."

Zayn's gaze snapped toward me. He didn't say anything, but I could feel it. Like he was waiting for me to explain.

I wasn't going to.

Instead, I tossed my phone onto the couch and stretched my arms above my head. "So when's the pizza getting here?"

Lily perked up immediately. "Five minutes!"

Jenni smirked, leaning back against the couch. "Damn, Ari. Didn't know you were this excited for food."

I shrugged, smirking right back. "Well, someone's gotta make up for Zayn's lack of enthusiasm."

Zayn scoffed, finally tearing his gaze away from me. "Nah, I'm just not as dramatic as you."

I grinned. "Boring, you mean."

"Whatever helps you sleep at night."

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help the slight tug at my lips. At least things felt normal again.

But even as we joked around, I could still feel my phone buzzing with more messages.

I ignored them.