The night had ended, and as expected, Xavier had decided that the limo would still drop her off. The city lights flickered past the window as they drove through the quiet streets, the hum of the engine the only sound that broke the stillness. Zara shifted uncomfortably in her seat, the silence between them heavy. She glanced at Xavier, who was staring out the window, his expression as unreadable as ever.
Trying to make small talk, Zara cleared her throat. "So… big night, huh?" she said, her voice light, trying to break the ice.
Xavier didn't even look at her. He just nodded slightly, the corners of his mouth barely twitching. "I suppose."
The awkwardness was suffocating. Zara hated silence, especially when the person sitting beside her was as cold as the winter night outside. She sighed internally, realizing that small talk was futile with Xavier. Well, if he wasn't going to talk, I'd entertain myself, she thought, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.
Reaching for her phone, she plugged it into the limo's sound system and started scrolling through her playlist. Without missing a beat, she hit play.
The first song blasted through the speakers: "Hiss" by Megan Thee Stallion. Zara nodded her head to the beat, a grin forming as she rapped along, every word flowing effortlessly from her lips. She leaned back into the plush seat, fully immersed in the rhythm, her hands moving as she spit the lyrics with confidence.
The next track was "Gimme a Light" by Ice Spice, and she jumped right into it, continuing her performance. This was her kind of music, loud, unapologetic, and full of energy. The smooth bassline of "Did It First" by Ice Spice and Central Cee took over the car next, and Zara was still in the groove, rapping every single word with precision, completely ignoring Xavier, who hadn't so much as blinked.
The final track that blasted through the speakers was "Thot Shit" by Megan Thee Stallion, and that's when Xavier finally snapped.
"Is this really what you call music?" he asked, his voice sharp as he reached over to pause the track. He was visibly shocked, his eyebrows furrowed in disbelief as he stared at Zara.
She looked at him with a wide grin, not even a hint of embarrassment. "If this isn't music," she said, her tone teasing yet confident, "then you clearly don't know what music is."
Xavier glanced at her, his gaze scanning her face. There was no mistaking the genuine surprise in his eyes as he processed the fact that not only was Zara enjoying the music, but she had been singing every word, perfectly on beat, without missing a single lyric. She's serious, he thought, completely taken aback by the enthusiasm and boldness she was showing.
Zara crossed her arms, leaning back in the seat with an almost defiant smirk. "What? You don't like it?" she teased. "Too much for you, Mr. Ice Cold?"
Xavier's expression remained stoic, but Zara could see the smallest flicker of something—maybe amusement, maybe just confusion. He didn't respond right away, instead focusing on the road ahead, as if to process this strange moment. Finally, he spoke.
"It's just… unexpected. Not exactly what I'd expect from someone like you."
Zara raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by his comment. "Someone like me? And what does that mean exactly?"
He shrugged, his eyes still fixed ahead. "You don't strike me as the type to vibe to this kind of music."
"Well, looks can be deceiving," Zara shot back with a smirk, clearly pleased with herself for rattling him a bit. "Guess you'll just have to get used to it."
The limo ride continued, now with an underlying tension that was laced with amusement. Zara leaned back, letting her mind drift as she listened to the faint hum of the engine and the soft murmur of the city outside. She glanced at Xavier, who remained in his quiet, brooding state, but she couldn't help but notice that he wasn't as cold as he usually was—just a little bit warmer. Maybe it was the music, or maybe it was her, but Zara couldn't help but wonder what exactly he was thinking.
The rest of the ride passed in a comfortable silence, Zara still occasionally tapping her fingers to the beat that was still stuck in her head. She didn't mind. Tonight, she was leaving a mark on Xavier Steele, whether he liked it or not.