The afternoon sun dipped lower, casting a golden glow through the towering glass windows of the mall. Zara strolled beside Xavier, her arms free while he carried an impressive stack of shopping bags. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, the faintest smile tugging at her lips.
"You know," she began, her tone casual, "I could have hired someone to carry all this, but you volunteered so… thank you."
Xavier arched a brow, glancing down at her. "Volunteered? I don't remember saying anything about that."
"You didn't need to," she quipped, playfully nudging his arm with her elbow. "Your actions speak louder than words."
For a brief moment, he smiled—an actual smile, not his usual smirk. It caught Zara off guard, her breath hitching as she realized how rare it was to see him so unguarded.
"Don't get used to it," he teased, his voice softer than usual.
As they reached the fountain in the center of the mall, Zara paused, tilting her head toward the soft trickle of water. "Let's sit for a bit," she said, not giving him a choice as she pulled him toward the bench.
Xavier set the bags down with a dramatic sigh, shaking his head. "You're relentless."
"And yet, here you are," she countered, her lips curling into a grin.
He leaned back, stretching his arms along the back of the bench. "You love saying that, don't you?"
"Because it's true." Zara turned to him, meeting his gaze directly for the first time that day. There was a playful light in her eyes, but something else lingered there too—curiosity, maybe even a flicker of warmth.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The noise of the mall faded into the background, leaving only the soft hum of tension between them.
"Why do you put up with me, Xavier?" she asked suddenly, her tone teasing but her eyes searching.
"Who says I'm putting up with you?" he replied smoothly, though his voice carried a hint of seriousness.
She chuckled, leaning back against the bench. "Oh, come on. You're not exactly the most patient guy, and I'm not exactly low maintenance."
He studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, without warning, he leaned slightly closer. "Maybe I don't mind."
Her heart skipped a beat at the sudden proximity, but she quickly masked it with a raised brow. "You don't mind carrying dozens of shopping bags for someone who's been bossing you around all day?"
His lips curved into a small smirk, but his eyes stayed locked on hers. "If it means seeing you smile like that? No. I don't mind."
The air between them shifted, the playful teasing giving way to something more vulnerable, more real. Zara felt her cheeks warm, a reaction she hadn't expected—and definitely hadn't wanted. She opened her mouth to reply but was saved (or interrupted, depending on how she looked at it) by the soft buzz of her phone.
"Saved by the bell," she muttered, pulling it out to check the screen.
Xavier leaned back, the moment passing but leaving an undeniable spark in its wake. "Next stop?" he asked, his voice casual again, as if nothing had just happened.
She hesitated, glancing at him once more before standing. "Actually, I think I've done enough shopping for one day."
"That's a first," he quipped, standing as well and grabbing the bags.
"Don't push your luck," she shot back, though her tone lacked its usual bite.
As they made their way to the car, Zara found herself sneaking glances at Xavier, her thoughts swirling with questions she wasn't quite ready to answer. And if his occasional glances in her direction were any indication, he was feeling the same way.