Mia’s heels clicked against the pavement, the sound echoing like a countdown in her mind. She tried to run faster, but the tight straps of her boots betrayed her. She tripped, twisting her ankle, and quickly reached for a streetlight pole to stop herself from falling completely.
Suddenly, the sensor light above her snapped on, revealing the man trailing her.
He came to a stop, raising his hands to pull back his hooded sweatshirt. Her breath hitched as she stared at the face now exposed.
“Derrick?” she whispered, barely audible over her heavy breathing.
“It’s me,” Derrick smirked, stepping closer. His tone was teasing, almost playful.
“Why are you running? I was just messing with you.”
“Messing with me? Derrick, you scared me!”
She struggled to catch her breath, even though her hea
