Strings and Schemes

Chapter 33

He cocks his head. "What is?"

I hesitate before meeting his gaze. "I have to bring a date."

Something flickers in his expression—surprise, amusement, maybe even something smug. "You mean me."

I chew on my lip. "Yes, you."

A slow grin spreads across his face. "So, let me get this straight... Your parents, who have never approved of a single decision you've made, are now expecting you to show up to their house, on their terms, with me?"

"Yes."

"And we just went public?"

"Correct."

"And they're going to hate this?"

"Absolutely."

His grin turns positively wicked. "Brilliant."

I groan, burying my face in my hands. "I knew you'd love this."

Zayn chuckles, reaching for my wrists and gently prying my hands away from my face. "Of course, I love it. It's the best possible way to let them know I'm not going anywhere."

Something about the way he says it makes my chest tighten.

I swallow hard. "It's going to be... a lot."

His thumb strokes over my wrist. "I can handle a lot, Jaan."

I search his face, trying to find any hesitation, any sign that he's second-guessing what this means. But there's none. Just quiet confidence.

"Okay," I murmur. "You're really in for it, though."

Zayn smirks. "Oh, I'm counting on it."

I barely get through the front door of Louis' flat before he's shoving a drink into my hand and pulling me toward the couch.

"Alright, spill," he demands, sitting cross-legged in front of me, brows arched. "How bad is this dinner actually going to be?"

I groan, sinking into the cushions. "Let's see: formal invite, very specific wording about Zayn's attendance, and the strong likelihood that my father will speak in riddles to make himself seem more powerful than he actually is. So, in summary? A disaster waiting to happen."

Louis sips his drink, considering. "On a scale from 'mildly uncomfortable' to 'I might fake my own death to escape,' where are we at?"

I sigh dramatically. "Teetering somewhere between 'public execution' and 'sell my soul to avoid it entirely.'"

"Lovely," Louis grins. "So, what's the game plan? What's your angle?"

I stare at him blankly.

"Come on, luv." He waves a hand. "We both know these events are a chess game, not a dinner. You need to play it."

I shake my head. "I don't want to play. I just want to show up, introduce Zayn, and leave without causing an international incident."

Louis scoffs. "And that right there is why you'd make a terrible diplomat."

I roll my eyes, "some people think I'd be a great diplomat, actually."

He rolls his eyes, "Yeah, and those people have shit for brains. They don't see how begrudgingly you do all of this."

I raise my eyebrows, "Even Liam?"

He nods, "Liam is blinded by the crush he had on you when we were kids and how good you are at commanding a room. Anyways, even if you would be good at it, and even if you're trained for it all - you'd hate it and that's what would make you terrible at it."