CHAPTER 56

ZAYN CARTER

Ari was being way too quiet.

For someone who usually ran her mouth like she got paid for it, the silence was... unnatural. And suspicious.

I leaned back into the couch, stretching my legs out as I kept an eye on her. She was pretending to scroll through her phone, but she wasn't actually reading anything. That much was obvious.

Nicole and Jenni were sitting beside us, chatting about something I wasn't paying attention to. I was too busy watching her.

She shifted slightly, chewing on her lip like she was debating something. Then, out of nowhere—

"You want tickets to the Goddess match?"

The hell?

I blinked, caught off guard. "Huh?"

She finally looked up at me, tilting her head. "The Goddess match," she repeated like I was the dumb one here. "Do you want tickets or not?"

My mind stalled for a second. Because—why the fuck would she offer me tickets to that?

I narrowed my eyes, studying her.

"You have tickets?"

Ari shrugged, playing it cool. "I know people."

Bullshit.

But I didn't call her out on it. Not yet.

Nicole and Jenni both turned their attention toward us now, interested in the conversation.

"Oh, you mean that famous martial artist?" Nicole said, nodding. "She's very skilled. You're a fan, Zayn?"

I barely heard her. My gaze was locked onto Ari, who was suddenly very focused on adjusting the blanket over her legs.

Huh.

Interesting.

"Yeah," I finally said, my voice slower. "I'd take the tickets."

Ari gave me a quick nod. "Cool. I'll send them to you later."

That was it. No teasing, no unnecessary commentary.

Weird.

But before I could push it further, Jenni suddenly smirked, glancing between us. "You two are getting along so well lately," she mused. "It's cute."

Nicole hummed in agreement. "I noticed that too."

Ari groaned, throwing her head back against the couch dramatically. "Oh my god, stop."

I rolled my eyes, but a smirk tugged at my lips.

This girl was hiding something.

And I'd figure out exactly what it was.