Lily smiled, always willing to make the most of any moment spent with the group. "That sounds good. I could definitely use some lunch." She gave Timmy a side glance, noticing the way he shifted his gaze, his nervousness a little more noticeable now.
Timmy, always trying to keep his cool, nodded quickly. "Yeah, lunch sounds great. I’m starving." He added a little too quickly, his usual calm demeanor faltering for just a second.
Samuel couldn’t help but smirk inwardly. He had been paying attention to Timmy’s behavior all morning, especially when Timmy had repeatedly asked him if he could have some free time in the afternoon. It wasn’t like Timmy to be this insistent on having time off, especially with the amount of work he had.
Samuel had his suspicions, but now, with Lily’s presence and the way the two of them were behaving around each other, it was clear enough to him.
"Oh, and Timmy," Samuel said, his voice light but teasing, "I noticed you’ve been asking for the afternoon off for a while now. I’m guessing you’ve got plans, huh?"
Timmy’s face flushed instantly, and he stumbled over his words. "W-Well, uh, yeah, I was hoping... I mean, just some free time, that’s all," he muttered, his gaze darting around, trying to avoid meeting Samuel’s knowing eyes.
Zinnia, who had been blissfully unaware of Timmy’s intentions, tilted her head, her curiosity piqued. "What’s this about the afternoon, Timmy?" she asked, her voice playful but with a hint of mischief. "Got a hot date or something?"
Timmy froze for a moment, his mind scrambling for a way to dodge the question without giving away too much. He cleared his throat and forced a smile. "No, nothing like that. Just... you know, some personal time."
Lily, who had been standing silently beside him, finally caught on to the playful banter and decided to tease him a little. "Well, Timmy does need some time to recharge, right?" She shot him a wink before turning to Samuel and Zinnia. "We’ll just leave him to it. Don’t worry, we won’t keep him too long."
Samuel’s smirk deepened. He could see through the act. "Hmm, I’m sure you won’t," he said, the implication of his words clear enough for everyone to catch. "But alright, go ahead and enjoy your afternoon, both of you. Zia and I will handle the photos."
Zinnia looked at Samuel, amusement dancing in her eyes. "You really are too obvious, Sam," she teased, nudging him lightly with her shoulder. "I think we all know what Timmy’s up to."
Timmy, now fully embarrassed, took a step back. "I, uh, should go to the car," he muttered, practically running off to the vehicle, trying to avoid further teasing.
Lily, seeing Timmy retreat in embarrassment, let out a small laugh. "Don’t worry, Timmy," she called after him. "I’ll make sure you get your afternoon off."
Samuel and Zinnia exchanged knowing glances as the group made their way to the cars. "So, looks like it’s a date for those two," Samuel said, his tone full of amusement.
"Seems like it," Zinnia agreed with a smile. "I don’t think Timmy’s very good at hiding his feelings."
Samuel leaned closer to Zinnia, his lips curling into a playful smirk. His voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. "He always teased me, you know. Always. But now, I finally get to tease him back. I never realized teasing could be this much fun."
Zinnia glanced at him, her eyes sparkling with amusement. A teasing smile spread across her lips as she replied, "You! Oh, I never expected this side of you, Sam." Her tone was light, but there was a warmth in her gaze that lingered on him for a moment longer than usual.
As Samuel chuckled softly, Zinnia’s mind drifted to the expressive, easy-going, and warm personality of Mr. Sunshine. She remembered how his carefree attitude always managed to put her at ease every time he supported her online, especially in handling her fan club—much like Samuel’s current playful mood. A part of her couldn’t help but draw comparisons.
Could it really be? Could Samuel and Mr. Sunshine be the same person? she thought, her brow furrowing slightly as the idea solidified in her mind. There’s just something about him now—the way he’s letting down his guard, the way his humor is shining through. It matches Mr. Sunshine so well. But... why would he hide that from me?
Her chest tightened slightly at the thought. If he had been honest with me from the start, things could have been so much better. We could have avoided so much confusion, so much hurt. But there’s no point dwelling on that now. What’s done is done.
She let out a soft sigh, brushing away the lingering doubts. I just hope he’ll be more honest with his feelings this time. That’s all I want. No more walls, no more secrets.
Samuel noticed the shift in her expression and tilted his head. "What are you thinking about, Zia?" he asked softly, his tone laced with curiosity.
Zinnia blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. She gave him a small smile, shaking her head. "Nothing important," she replied. "Just thinking about how unpredictable you can be sometimes."
He chuckled, his hand brushing against hers briefly as they reached the car. "Unpredictable? I’ll take that as a compliment."
As they continued walking toward the car, Samuel occasionally stole glances at Zinnia. He wondered what had caused her momentary introspection earlier, but he chose not to press her further.
Zinnia suddenly slowed her pace and stopped walking. Her gaze fell on Samuel, her expression hesitant yet resolute.
Samuel, noticing her change in demeanor, stopped as well. "Zia?" he asked softly, his brows furrowing with concern. "What is it?"
She took a deep breath, her hands fidgeting slightly at her sides. "Sam," she began, her voice quiet but steady, "can I ask you something?"
Samuel tilted his head, his curiosity piqued. "Of course," he said, stepping closer to her.
Zinnia hesitated for a moment, her eyes meeting his. There was a vulnerability in her gaze that made Samuel’s heart tighten. "Are you... Mr. Sunshine?"