DESTINED SOULMATES

CHAPTER 007

ARIANA’S POV

I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the phone propped up against a pillow. The call connected, and Rylee’s familiar face filled the screen with a grin stretching from ear to ear on her face.

“Finally!” she squealed, folding her arms. “I’ve been waiting for your updates. How’s it going over there?”

I sighed, pulling my knees to my chest. “It’s…nice. The resort’s beautiful, but everything still feels so weird.”

She raised an eyebrow and tilted her head to the side a bit. “Hmm, how so?”

My shoulders rose and fell in a lazy shrug. “Zayn barely talks to me unless he has to. He’s always distant. Then his brother, Kaiser, showed up when we got here, and he’s like the complete opposite of Zayn. He's all jokes and flirty comments.”

I saw the way her eyes widened and her lips parted in a perfect O as she gasped. “Wait, you’re telling me there’s another hot guy in the picture? Ari, you’re living my dream.”

I shook my head and laughed. “Yeah, Kaiser’s trouble, trust me.”

Rylee leaned closer to the camera, her eyes glinting with mischief. “Girl, you’ve got a whole movie setup going on. Hot husband, private villa and now a flirty brother-in-law? Are you seriously complaining?”

“It’s not like that, Rylee,” I whispered. “This whole thing wasn’t my choice, remember?”

“I know, I know,” she said softly. “But still, look where you are. You could try to give it a chance, at least. And how about Zayn? What’s he like when he’s not being a grump?”

“Quiet. Intense. Complicated.”

“Complicated men are the best ones. Especially when they’re mysterious and sexy,” she smirked. “I would kill to be in your shoes right now.”

I rolled my eyes but smiled. “You’re impossible.”

“Just try to chill out, okay?” Rylee grinned. “You never know what could happen.”

“Meeh,” I muttered and shrugged.

“I’m gonna take that as a yes. Call me again soon, okay? I need updates!”

“I will,” I promised. “Bye, Rylee.”

“Bye, babe.”

The call ended and the screen shifted to my reflection on the black screen. I stared at it for a moment, my tired eyes meeting my own. Pushing myself off the bed, I let my bare feet sink into the cool, tiled floor as I made my way to the wide window a few feet away from my bed. The view never failed to take my breath away—a villa built on the ocean.

Crystal-clear waters shimmered under the fading glow of the setting sun. Wooden walkways connected the villa’s different sections, and they all led to a wide deck that seemed to hover just above the water.

The resort itself was a dream—a mix of modern luxury and nature’s unmatched beauty. White sand beaches curved along the coastline on the small island that led to where we stayed on the water. The villa’s private pool rippled gently below, reflecting the sky’s orange and yellow hues. Everything about this place felt so unreal.

Five days. It had been five days since we arrived.

Kaiser had been a handful, constantly showing up at odd hours, always with some mischievous grin or wild story. But, surprisingly, he made things a bit bearable. He kept me company, pulling me into conversations, helping out with cooking and some house chores and occasionally making me laugh when Zayn…well, when Zayn didn’t.

He was so distant, always lost in thought or glued to his phone. Even when we were cleaning up or doing some other thing together, it felt like we were worlds apart. I couldn’t help but wonder if he regretted this whole arrangement more than I did.

A soft sigh escaped me as I brushed away a stray strand of hair. Enough of this. If I was stuck here, I might as well make the most out of it.

Slipping into a light cardigan, I decided to step outside for a while. The breeze was much cooler now, carrying the scent of flowers and saltwater. I walked along the deck, the wooden planks warm beneath my feet. The sound of waves gently lapping against the house filled the air. I stopped at the edge, watching the sun dip lower into the horizon and I closed my eyes to let the moment wrap around me.

Just as I was losing myself in the serenity, loud laughter and the sound of heavy footsteps echoed from behind. I turned just in time to see Kaiser stumbling toward me, flanked by five or six other people.

“Kaiser?” I called out, my brow scrunching up as I took in his dishevelled appearance. His shirt was hung loosely off one shoulder and his hair—usually tied back in a ponytail—was let down in loose, messy waves.

“Arianaaaa!” he slurred, drawing out my name with a wide grin. “You’re missing out on all the fun! Come on, join us!”

Before I could respond, Zayn appeared behind him, looking very irritated. His gaze flickered to me for a moment, but he quickly looked away.

Kaiser plopped himself onto one of the lounge chairs, throwing his arms wide open with his silly grin still plastered on his face. “Alright, people! Who’s ready for a game of truth or dare?”

My eyes widened. ‘Truth or dare? No way.’

This was not how I had envisioned my evening and my heart was already pounding at Kaiser’s suggestion. I took a few steps back, ready to slip away and retreat to the safety of my room as everyone settled down. But before I could, Kaiser’s hand shot out of nowhere, grabbing my wrist and pulling me toward the circle.

“Not so fast,” he drawled with a cheeky grin plastered on his face as he plopped me down into the last available seat.

Right next to Zayn.

My heart slowly started to palpitate faster as my brain registered the proximity. He was too close—so close that the heat from his body hit me immediately. My body became stiff as I grew aware of every inch of space between us, or rather, the lack of it.

The game kicked off with the group laughing and ululating as naughty dares were given and embarrassing secrets were spilled. I tried to focus on anything other than the warmth radiating from Zayn or the way his intoxicating scent kept messing with my head.

The sharp angles of Zayn’s features caught my attention every time he turned his head. His jaw clenched when he wasn’t amused and I could see the tension in his shoulders each time someone chose between truth or dare.

Suddenly, Kaiser leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with mischief as he locked eyes with me. “Truth or dare, Ariana?”