Page 140 of Sweetheart

"You'd been avoiding mefor three days, so I wanted to know what was wrong." I shrugged. "Guess I got my answer."

Sam's eyes were piercing. "That wasn't what it sounded like."

"Then what was it?"

When he didn't respond, I felt my shoulders drop.

"I just ended things before you could," I said."You can only carry around the torch of unrequited love for so long, you know?"

"Sometimes it's hard to let go," he muttered.

"Definitely wasn't easy."

"I wish you would've told me."

"I thought you knew," I said again.

"But Kent, I didn't want anything to end." His voice and eyes wereheartbreakingly earnest when he said, "I always wanted you."

"Okay." I sent him a smile."Can we watch moreSchitt's Creeknow? I'm feelinga little tired from all this honesty."

"Sure."

Sam was obviously still deep in his thoughts, but Ifelt better, knowing we'd gotten everything cleared up. I didn't know why. But the conversation freed me in a way that I hadn't known I needed. I told the truth—for the most part. Sam now knew that I'd been in love with him.

He just didn't know I still was.

When I looked over about 30 minutes later, his eyes were closed.I tried not to find everything about him as attractive as I hadwhat seemed like so long ago. I told myself he wasn't the best thing I'd ever seen. But it was a lie.Sam was fastasleep, and I didn't have the heart to wake him. The blanket had fallen to his waistat some point.I reached down, pulled the soft material back up, andcovered him. Leaning my head against the couch, taking one last look at him before I closed my eyes, I reminded myself this was for my list.#11. First night spent together.

But it was more about the boy beside me.

His words replayed in my head even as I drifted off to sleep.

I always wanted you.

Oh, Sam.

I always wanted you too.

CHAPTER 20

"Wait, wait," Charlotte said. "You slept with Sam?"

"Yeah," I said. "As in sleep. Weboth literally slept on the living room couch."

"And Dad was fine with that?"

I nodded even though she couldn't see it. "Heset down the rules butdidn't seem upset." I thought about it a second then added, "Honestly, that might've had something to do with you."

"Me?" she said.

"He already had to get used to the idea of you and Bo, so that probablymade it easier. To accept Sam."

Charlotte whistled. "Well, you're welcome, I guess."

"Thanks."

"And you say Sam hasn't mentioned anything about it since?"

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