When Love is a Question Mark
Chapter 87: Closer

Chapter 87: Closer

They ate in comfortable silence, the sound of their forks against the plates filling the space between them. The air felt lighter, and Zinnia didn’t feel the need to fill the quiet with forced small talk.

As she finished her steak, she glanced over at Samuel. He was still eating, but there was a small, content smile on his lips, as if he was savoring more than just the food. She wondered what he was thinking, what had changed in him to make him reach out like this. She wanted to ask, but she was afraid of breaking the fragile peace they had found tonight.

Instead, she said, "I haven’t had steak like this in ages. It reminds me of those fancy dinners we used to have."

Samuel looked up, his eyes meeting hers. "I’m glad," he said simply. "I wanted it to feel special."

Zinnia’s heart fluttered, and she looked down at her plate, feeling suddenly shy. "You succeeded," she murmured, and for a moment, there was nothing but the quiet hum of the kitchen around them.

After they finished eating, Samuel started to clear the table, but Zinnia stopped him. "Let me help," she said, standing up and taking the plates from his hands. "You cooked. It’s only fair."

He hesitated, as if he wanted to argue, but then he nodded and stepped aside to let her. They moved around each other in the kitchen, washing dishes and putting away leftovers, and it felt strangely natural. There was no awkwardness, no need to force conversation. It was as if they had done this a hundred times before, even though they hadn’t.

When they were done, Samuel leaned against the counter, drying his hands. "So, was dinner okay?" he asked, his voice light but with a touch of uncertainty.

Zinnia looked at him, and there was warmth in her eyes that hadn’t been there before. "It was more than okay," she said. "It was really good. And... it was nice to come home to this. To you."

Samuel’s breath caught, and for a moment, he didn’t know what to say. He had wanted to hear those words, but actually hearing them was something else entirely. "I’m glad," he managed, his voice a little rough. "I’m really glad, Zia."

Zinnia felt her cheeks warm, and she quickly turned away, pretending to fuss with a dish towel. "Well, don’t get used to it," she said, trying to keep her tone light. "I might start expecting gourmet meals every night."

Samuel laughed, and the sound was warm and genuine, echoing softly through the kitchen. "I’ll do my best," he said, and there was a promise in his voice, one that made Zinnia’s heart skip a beat.

They stood there for a moment, both unsure of what to do next. It felt like something had shifted between them, something fragile but real, and neither of them wanted to ruin it. Finally, Zinnia broke the silence. "I should get ready for bed," she said softly. "It’s been a long day."

Samuel nodded, but he didn’t move. "Yeah, me too," he said, though he seemed reluctant to end the evening.

Zinnia hesitated, then, before she could lose her nerve, she stepped forward and gave him a quick, gentle hug. It was brief, barely more than a touch, but it was enough to make Samuel’s eyes widen in surprise. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "For everything."

Samuel’s arms came up slowly, as if he was afraid she might pull away, but when she didn’t, he held her a little tighter, his heart pounding in his chest. "You don’t have to thank me, Zia," he said softly. "I’m just glad you’re here."

They stood like that for a moment, and then Zinnia pulled back, her cheeks flushed. "Goodnight, Sam," she said, her smile a little shy but bright.

"Goodnight, Zia," he replied, his voice low and warm.

Zinnia turned and made her way upstairs, her heart still fluttering. She couldn’t quite believe how the night had turned out, but she didn’t want to overthink it. For now, she just wanted to enjoy the moment, to let herself be happy.

Samuel watched her go, his heart full in a way he hadn’t felt in a long time. He had spent so long pushing her away, convinced that he didn’t deserve her, that he had almost forgotten what it felt like to be close to her. But tonight, for the first time in forever, he allowed himself to hope.

As he turned off the kitchen light and headed to his own room, it felt like he was walking on clouds. He was happy, his heart light, knowing that his Zia was finally getting closer to him.

The following morning, Zinnia stirred, blinking as she woke up, feeling an unusual sense of peace. It took her a moment to remember why, and then the memory of last night came rushing back—dinner with Samuel, his warm laughter, the unexpected hug. A small, shy smile spread across her lips.

She got out of bed, stretching and yawning, then headed to the bathroom to get ready. As she brushed her hair, she found herself humming a soft tune, something she had been doing unknowingly for a while now. It felt nice, this lightness in her chest, and she wasn’t ready to let it go just yet.

Downstairs, Samuel was already up. He was in the kitchen again, this time making breakfast. The smell of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, and he had a skillet going, frying up eggs and bacon. He was focused, but there was a small, content smile on his lips. Every now and then, he’d glance at the doorway, as if expecting Zinnia to appear.

When she finally did, still in her pajamas with her hair gently tousled, she looked effortlessly natural, like she belonged there. The sight made his heart skip a beat, and he couldn’t help but smile wider, savoring the quiet comfort of the moment.

"Morning," he greeted, his voice soft but cheerful. "I hope you slept well."