Page 22 of Sweetheart

Sam:No need, Kent. Ifyou have car trouble again, just call me.

My throat suddenly went tight with emotion.

Sam:Gotta go. Don'tforget to call my dad's garagelater. Bye, Kent.

Me:Okay. Bye, Bishop.

I swallowed the lump in my throat but couldn’t do anything about the flutters in my chest. We'd talked/texted more during this car ride than wehad in the last three years.And yet, Sam told me to call him if I had trouble.

That only strengthened my belief that I'd made the right choice.

Sam Bishop would be the perfect partner to help me complete my list.

Now, I just needed to convince him.

Last night, I'd written down all the reasons he should say yes—with a strong emphasis on how this could benefit him. Brainstorming and making lists were two of my favorite things. I'dalso gotten to break in a brand new journal and pens that would only be used for this project. Because that's what this was. A project. And I was determined to give it my all.

"Scarlett, you're making the face again," Dad said.

Turning to him, I smiled. "What face?"

"The scary one."

I scoffed.

"Kidding." Dad chuckled while elbowing my side. "That face is the one you make whenever you're determined to get something, no matter what it takes."

"I think you're making all that up."

Leo Kent aka the Best Dad Ever shook his head. "No,I've seen it a lot over the years. You made it right before you went in and nailed your All-State audition"—he lifted a finger—"when you placed first in that oratorical contest"—another finger—"when you convinced me to buy you that over-priced violin…"

"Hey," I said, pointing at him, "Yami Yami was worth every penny."

He gave me a look.

"You know I'll pay you back when I'm the world's #1 professional violinist. I already promised."

"I know," Dad said with a warm smile, "and you know, I'd never in a million years let you do that."

He wouldn't. I'd already tried to pay him back some of it, even going so far as to sneak cash back into his wallet, pants, or car, but somehow the money always ended up back in my purse. With a sigh, I shook my head.

"Scarlett, all I want is to see you and your sister achieve your dreams," he said, "and for you to remember me when you're famous."

"Sosappy," I said with a frown. "But I love you anyway."

"Thanks, kid. The feeling's mutual."

"Everything go okay with your client?"

"Yeah," he said, "but that call lasted way too long. Sorry about that."

"It's okay," I said.

Dad lifted his brows expectantly. "How'd your conversation go?"

I tilted my head. "What conversation?"

"Saw you texting up a storm over there, looking down at your phone, wearing a big smile. I almost thought I was driving Charlotte," he said on a laugh.

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