Zain POV
The atmosphere in the room tightens, shifting from playful noise to something quieter, heavier. There’s a silence that settles over us, not empty, not uncertain, but full of intent. The kind of quiet that hums through your skin and tells you something is about to happen, something real.
Scarlet is still holding my gaze, unblinking and steady, her usual grin softened into something else. She’s not joking. Not provoking. Not looking for a laugh. That nod wasn’t a dare. It was permission.
I expected her to hesitate, but she didn't.
Liam doesn’t say a word, but I can feel the way his posture changes beside me. He sits a little straighter, alert, waiting. He’s seen this version of me before, and he knows what comes next. He’s not nervous or unsure, he’s just watching, the same way
