CHAPTER 63

ARIENNE CALLOWAY

The hospital room smelled like antiseptic and regret.

I groaned as I shifted slightly on the bed, the dull pain in my ribs flaring up again. My ankle was still swollen, wrapped tightly, and my body felt like I had been hit by a truck.

Correction—hit, stomped on, and then run over again.

"You're awake," Michelle's voice came from the chair beside me. I turned my head slowly—because moving too fast wasn't an option—and saw her watching me with a mix of amusement and relief. "That was quite the entrance, Goddess."

I groaned again, this time for dramatic effect. "Please don't remind me."

She smirked. "Well, the doctor says you've got a fractured rib, which means no intense movement for a few weeks. Your ankle needs rest too, so congratulations, you're stuck here for four days."

Four days.

I flopped back against the pillows with an exaggerated sigh. "Great. Just what I needed."

Before Michelle could respond, the door swung open, and in stormed my disaster of a friend group.

"Ari!" Fay's voice practically echoed through the room.

I barely had time to register what was happening before she launched herself onto my bed—right onto my injured side.

"Holy sh—Fay, ribs, RIBS!"

Fay gasped, scrambling off me like she'd touched fire. "Shit, shit, sorry! I just—damn it, Ari, what the hell were you thinking?!"

Blair followed in next, shaking her head with a sigh. "I told you, Fay. She doesn't think. She just acts and deals with the consequences later."

I shot her a grin. "You love me for it, though."

She rolled her eyes but didn't deny it.

Behind them, Cole and Zayn entered—one looking mildly entertained, the other looking like he was one second away from strangling me.

Take a wild guess which was which.

"We're staying over," Fay suddenly announced, hands on her hips.

I blinked. "Huh?"

"You heard me." She pointed at the couch near my bed. "That's mine. Blair and I will rotate, and the guys can take shifts too. You're not spending four days in here alone."

Michelle chuckled from her seat. "Well, I don't mind. I was going to stay myself, but if you all want to take care of my daughter, I have no complaints."

Fay grinned. "See? Even your mom agrees."

I turned to Zayn, expecting some kind of snarky comment, but—nothing.

He didn't say a word.

Didn't react.

Didn't even look at me.

I narrowed my eyes slightly, tilting my head toward him. "What, no sarcastic remark? No 'you're an idiot' speech?"

Silence.

Zayn just dragged a chair from the corner of the room, sat down, and pulled out his phone like I wasn't even there.

Oh, he was mad.

I smirked. This could be fun.

"So," I started, voice teasing. "Are you giving me the silent treatment, Carter?"

He didn't even flinch.

Cole snorted. "He's been like this ever since we left the match. He's just—"

"Annoyed?" Blair guessed.

"Pissed," Fay corrected.

"Completely done with my shit?" I added, grinning.

Finally, finally, Zayn glanced at me—and damn.

The look he gave me? Chilling.

If looks could kill, I'd be six feet under.

"Good to know you find it funny," he muttered, going back to his phone.

I bit my lip to keep from laughing. Oh, he was definitely pissed.

"Aw, come on," I drawled, leaning slightly toward him. "Don't be mad."

Nothing.

Not even a twitch.

I sighed dramatically, flopping back onto my pillows. "This is so unfair. I risk my life for honor and glory, and this is the thanks I get?"

"More like you risked your life for stupidity," Zayn muttered.

I gasped, placing a hand over my heart. "How dare you?"

He didn't respond.

Fay and Blair, however, were clearly enjoying the show.

Cole, leaning against the wall, chuckled. "You do realize the more you ignore her, the worse she'll be, right?"

Zayn exhaled sharply, rubbing his temple like he was debating his life choices. "I need a drink."

I smirked. Oh, I was going to have fun with this.