Zayn Malik's Long Lost Sister (Unedited)

39. Setting You Free

I had changed quickly, readying myself for a nice dinner at someones house who is still somewhat a stranger to me. My chess pattered jeans and black woman muscle shirt was always my favorite combination. I had let my hair down and straightened out the ends, my hair thin enough that it effortlessly flowed back when I walked. My locket nestled in place just below the valley of my breasts.

Making it to Wolverhampton had set me in a funk- somewhere between excited for a new place and worried for what a night at the Payne's could turn out to be.

Arriving at the impressive red bricked home that Liam parked in front of, a chill stirred over my skin and sent goosebumps up my arms but I couldn't quite put a finger on why I felt this way.

Karen entered into the house, getting started on more dinner dishes that would take the longest to cook. Liam waved at us from the front door and Zayn gave a soft smile of assurance before holding up a finger.

Zayn was quiet for most of the drive, only speaking through the phone to Patricia to give her directions. When it was now confirmed she was less than twenty minutes behind us, we walked up two front steps and Zayn opened the door without knocking, allowing me to go inside first.

I reached for the knob and closed it before heading inside.

"What are you doing?" Zayn asks.

"Why haven't you spoken to me on the way here?" I question, crossing my arms over my chest when a wind whipped around and brought dew drops to fall from leaves of a tree off to the side of Liam's parents house. "Did I do something, or is it because we're here with Liam?"

"He was acting so strange. I've seen him that way before, when he was with Danielle." Zayn explained.

"It was like he was trying too hard to make it look as if he wasn't trying at all. He likes you more than I'm comfortable with. I don't know, it's a protective brother instinct, I guess. A sixth sense, almost."

"I know how much you don't want me to be interested in Liam, so I won't even consider it. Anymore."

"Oh, you're so cute," Zayn sighed, shuffling his hand through my hair to mess it up before slinging an arm around my shoulder and opening the door, walking in with me under his arm. "Thank you for allowing me to sleep better at night."

"Of course," I say, patting his flat stomach before pulling away. I ran my fingers through my hair, trying to untangle the mess he created while we entered the kitchen. "And don't mess up my hair when we're out. It tangles easily."

"I noticed. Just like mums." Zayn sent a wink my way and before I could respond, he guided me toward the counter stools just in front of the counter where Karen was mixing objects in a bowl.

Liam stood by the sink with his long sleeves rolled up as he washed something clean, a man talking softly close to him.

"Geoff," Karen called to the man as she met my eyes with a warm smile. "This is Zayn's sister that Liam was telling us about last night. Marley."

The man- Geoff- placed his green bottle of beer down and walked over, wiping his hands on my pants before reaching one out toward me.

"Hello, Marley. It's nice to finally meet you. I'm sure the Malik's are happy you're here." Geoff says. I take his hand in mine and offer a polite smile.

"Not all of them were very happy to know of my existence." I say honestly, laying my bag on the counter. Zayn chuckled.

"More surprised than anything." My brother finished.

"I bet," Geoff laughed lightly. "I'm sure being a Malik is very interesting."

"I'm a Richards." I say, my gaze falling to the counter top. I see Zayn's eyes land on me while he took in a deep breath. "I'm not a Malik."