Samantha’s eyes flicked to her wrist, then up at Drake, stunned by his sudden grip. She hadn’t expected him to reach for her—let alone hold her this firmly.
“W-what are you doing?” she stammered, trying to pull her hand back.
Drake didn’t let go. His fingers tightened around hers, his gaze steady and unyielding. “The real question is—what are you doing? You froze at the pedestrian lane like you couldn’t even take a step.” His voice was calm, but there was an underlying challenge in his tone. “Are you afraid to cross the street?”
“I’m not scared,” Samantha shot back, though her voice lacked conviction.
“Then why did you stop?”
She hesitated, avoiding his gaze. Should I tell him? Would he even understand?
After a beat, she cleared her throat. “I was thinking about the lunch I brought y
