Page 25 of Sweetheart

I couldn't stand seeing him like that.

It was clear Samhadn't been completely truthful last night. With the way he was watching them, I could tell he was feeling something, maybe a whole bunch of things.Maybe he hadn't even known his true feelings until this very moment.

I'd had my suspicions, but this just confirmed it.

Sam was obviously still in love with Brisa.

And she, for whatever reason, was acting like he didn't exist.

Or wait, no. That wasn't right.

It seemed like…she was trying to make him jealous.Brisa was beautiful, and she might be a nice person—but I could've sworn she just glanced at Sam before laughing and turning her attention back to Cooper.

My eyes narrowed.

I'd seen this film before.

And I wanted to give Sam a different ending.

Despite our history, Sam really stepped up last night. He helped me without question. And I was determined to repay the favor.

I strode over until I was right in front of him.

"Hey, Bishop," I said.

"Hey," he said back.

His eyes hadn't moved off Brisa and Cooper.

"I just wanted to thank you again for last night," I said, "and for the offer to take me to school this morning. It wasthoughtful of you."

"No problem," he mumbled, still not looking at me.

"I'd love to help you somehow."

When he didn't respond, I leaned in closer, stood on tiptoe, and balancing myself with a hand on his shoulder, I placed a kiss against his cheek. Did I linger a little longer than necessary? Maybe. But I wanted tomake sure I had his attention—and honestly, he smelled really good.

As I lowered back to my heels,Sam's eyes were on me. Arange of emotions played inside those gray-blue depths.Surprise. Confusion. And a spark of something I couldn't name.

"What was that for?" he asked.

I shrugged. "Looked like you needed a distraction."

"And you're volunteering to be my distraction?"

Yes.

I'll be your anything.

Giving myself a mental shake, I refocused.This was so not the time for my feelings for Sam to make an inconvenient reappearance.I was past that now.It was just…

Something about the way he said those words made my cheeks fill with heat.

Sam arched that brow of his, waiting for an answer, and I swallowed.

"Sure," I said."Why not?"

"Interesting," he said.

---