When Love is a Question Mark
Chapter 99: Late lunch

Chapter 99: Late lunch

Zinnia quickly glanced at her watch, her eyes widening as she saw the time. It was already past 2 p.m., and her stomach rumbled, reminding her of the lunch she’d forgotten. She grabbed her phone, scrolling through her missed messages, and there it was—a text from Samuel.

"Zia, still up for lunch?" he’d sent over an hour ago.

A pang of guilt hit her. Samuel had been making an effort to spend more time together lately, and she’d completely lost track of time. Quickly, she typed back, "I’m so sorry! Rehearsal ran late. Are you still around?"

She didn’t have to wait long for a response. Her phone buzzed almost immediately. "No worries. I’m at a café nearby. Come join me if you’re free."

Zinnia’s lips curled into a small smile. Samuel was surprisingly patient, even after all the times she’d unintentionally left him hanging. She grabbed her bag and made her way out of the rehearsal room, saying a quick goodbye to the rest of the team.

The sun was bright as she stepped outside, and she could feel the warmth on her skin. She hurried down the street to the café Samuel mentioned, a small, cozy place with an outdoor seating area surrounded by potted plants.

When she finally reached the café, she spotted him instantly. Samuel was sitting by the window, casually scrolling through his phone, a half-empty glass of water in front of him. His usual sharp suit was replaced with a more relaxed look—a dark sweater and jeans—but he still managed to look effortlessly put together. As she approached, he glanced up, and a small smile crossed his lips.

"Sam," she said, sliding into the seat across from him, slightly out of breath. "Sorry I’m late. The rehearsal ran longer than I thought."

Samuel shrugged, but there was a softness in his eyes. "It’s okay. I know how passionate you get about your projects. Did it go well?"

Zinnia nodded, unable to hide her grin. "It was intense. Ryan and Julian nailed the confrontation scene. I was so caught up in it, I forgot about everything else."

"Even food," Samuel teased, raising an eyebrow.

Zinnia laughed, feeling a bit more at ease. "Yes, even food. But I’m here now, and I’m starving. What about you? Have you been waiting long?"

"Not too long. I ordered some appetizers, figuring you’d need something as soon as you got here," he said, pushing a small plate of bread and dip toward her. "I didn’t think you’d be this late, though."

Zinnia picked up a piece of bread, her stomach growling at the sight. "I know. I really should’ve kept track of time better." She paused, meeting his gaze. "Thanks for waiting."

Samuel gave a slight nod, his smile fading into a more serious expression. "It’s not a big deal. I wanted to see you."

She could feel the unspoken words hanging in the air, and for a moment, she didn’t know how to respond.

"So," she said, changing the subject. "What’s been going on with you? How’s work?" She wanted to ask about the emergency he had to deal with last night, but realized it might be confidential company matters, so she decided to let Samuel bring it up if he wanted to.

Samuel leaned back in his chair, considering her question. "Busy, as always. The usual meetings, reports, and trying to keep everything running smoothly. But it’s nothing compared to the chaos you deal with." He chuckled, but there was a hint of weariness in his tone.

"So, how was the rehearsal?" Samuel asked, leaning back in his chair. "You guys sounded pretty intense from what you were describing earlier."

"It was great, actually," she said, her eyes lighting up. "Everyone was so in sync. Ryan and Julian really brought their A-game. I think it’s going to be a powerful scene."

"Good to hear," Samuel said, nodding. "I know how much this project means to you."

Zinnia hesitated for a moment, her thoughts drifting. "Yeah... It’s been a while since I’ve felt this kind of passion for something. It’s like everything is finally clicking into place."

Samuel watched her quietly, and there was a softness in his gaze she hadn’t seen often. "I’m glad," he said. "You deserve that."

The waitress arrived with their drinks, placing two iced teas on the table. Zinnia took a sip, feeling the cool liquid soothe her dry throat. "And how about you?" she asked, glancing at Samuel.

Samuel’s expression shifted, and he seemed to choose his words carefully. "Busy, as always. But I’ve been thinking a lot about how to make more time for things outside of work."

Zinnia raised an eyebrow. "Like what?"

"Like this," he said, gesturing between them. "Spending time together. I want to do that more."

There was a sincerity in his voice that caught her off guard, and for a moment, she wasn’t sure how to respond. "Samuel..."

He smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. "I know things have been... complicated. But I don’t want to give up on us."

Zinnia felt a familiar ache in her chest, the one that always came when she thought about how complicated their relationship had become. She’d been so focused on her own turmoil—the resurfacing of old feelings and the chaos of her career—that she hadn’t given much thought to what Samuel might be going through.

"I’m sorry," she said quietly, meeting his gaze. "But it’s hard, you know? Sometimes I don’t know where we stand."

Samuel nodded slowly, his eyes darkening. "I get that. And I’m sorry if I’ve made things harder. I just... I need you to know that I’m here. And I’m not going anywhere."

There was a moment of silence as they both let his words sink in. Zinnia felt something shift between them, something that made her feel lighter, even if just a little bit.

"Thanks, Samuel," she said, managing a small smile. "I needed to hear that."

They continued to talk as they waited for their food, the conversation shifting to lighter topics—stories from the rehearsal, jokes about their favorite shows. When their lunch finally arrived, Zinnia dove in with enthusiasm, and Samuel chuckled, watching her enjoy her meal.

"You really were hungry, huh?" he teased.

"Starving," she said between bites. "This is the best thing I’ve eaten all day."

"I’ll make sure to feed you more often, then," he said, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled.

Zinnia couldn’t help but laugh, and for a moment, it felt like everything was normal. Like they weren’t two people trying to navigate a complicated mess of emotions and expectations. They were just two people enjoying lunch together.

As they finished their meal, Samuel’s phone buzzed on the table. He glanced at the screen, his expression shifting slightly, but he quickly turned it over, muting the notification. Zinnia noticed but didn’t ask. She was too afraid of what the answer might be.

Instead, she focused on the warmth of the moment, on the way Samuel’s smile made her feel a little less lost. For now, that was enough.