Page 104 of Sweetheart

"But only if you practice," Sam added.

The young boy gave an energetic nod. "Okay, I'll go do that."

As I watched Trevor and the otherspractice bouncing the ball off their heads, I shook my own. How didSam make that look so easy?

Freya leaned over to me and said, "I think he's a keeper."

"No, actually, Sam's a midfielder," I said.

"You know what I meant."

"I do," I murmured.

Aurora nudged me with her hip. "You okay, Scar?" she asked. "You sound sad."

"Yeah, why is that?" Freya asked.

Because I don't know if I can keep him.

Shaking my head, I broke my stare from Sam who was now going to each kid, working with them individually, making sure they all felt special.

"I'm fine," I said, waving off their concerns.

Freya tilted her head. "Is it because they like him better than you?"

I bit back a smile."No—and I don't think they like him better."

"They totally do," she said. "My girl, Zoe, who you said doesn't like anyone at first, just gave him a high-five. A high-five!"

"I saw that," I said.

"Anyway, I understand if you're jealous."

"I'm not."

"Yeah," Aurora said with a sigh, completely ignoring my words, "it must be hard having such a loveable boyfriend."

"Hey, I'm loveable," I argued.

They both looked at me and laughed.

"Thanks, girls. Trying not to take that reaction personally."

"Look." Aurora gently took my chin and turned my head toward the field.It seemed likeSam was demonstrating how to correctly kick the ball. As he ran forward, he must've hit a slick spot of grass because a second later he was on the ground,smiling as all the kids around him burst into laughter. "That is the definition of loveable."

As Sam jumped to his feet, he smiled, sent me a wave, then pulled the bottom of his shirt up to wipe thesweat from his brow. Hard abs momentarily left me speechless.Was I even breathing?

"What's not to love?" Freya mumbled, which made me laugh.

"Stop ogling my boyfriend," I said.

"I will…in a second," she said.

As his shirt fell back into place, there was a collective sighof disappointment from my cousins and me. But again, I shook my head. Loveable, indeed.

Aurora suddenly smiled at something over my shoulder.

"Hey, Charlotte," she said."What are you doing here?"

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