"Everything is wrong, Zayn… unless this bouquet you just received is from a man… not a woman…"
I froze. My breath caught in my throat, the words sticking before I could even shape a reply. My mind went blank for a moment, my heart pounding in my chest so loud it almost drowned everything else. I blinked at him, buying myself time, pretending I hadn't heard it right. But Nicki's eyes stayed locked on me, sharp, like he already knew the answer and was just waiting for me to slip.
I forced a small chuckle, trying to ease the tension, but it came out shaky. "Nicki… what are you even talking about?"
Still, I couldn't meet his gaze right away. That pause, that hesitation… already gave him more than I wanted to.
Nicki smiled knowingly, his voice calm but laced with provocation. "Your birthday is coming up anyway. There's no way you won't invite your partner. We'll see then why you keep hiding her."
