Page 34 of Sweetheart

"Debatable," he said.

"Not really, Bishop. There's a ton of pros and no cons that I can see."

"Just because you can't see it, doesn't mean it's not there. If youlet yourself care, you can always lose something."

"Geez, that's bleak."

Sam gestured for me to keep going, so I looked to the plan again.

"You'll win back Brisa, the girl of your dreams," Iread aloud. "Again, that one seemedobvious."

"Who says I want her back?"

My gaze snapped to his. "What?"

"I toldyou. Weendedthings," he said. "What makes you think I want her back?"

Looking down, I saw that he'd written those exact words on the paper in my hands. Ithought about it then shook my head.

"I saw you guys in the hallway earlier," I said. "She was obviouslyusing Cooper to get a rise out of you. And you were staring at them with this look on your face. Don't deny it, Bishop. You wereupset."

"Yeah, but there could've been a ton of reasons for that," he said.

"Like what?"

"I don't know.Like my dog died."

Chest tight, tears rising immediately to my eyes, I said, "Oh my God. I-I didn't know. I'm so sorry."

"No, geez," Sam said, holding his hands out, "calm down, Kent. It was just an example.We don't even have a dog."

Shaking my head, voice tight, I said, "Well, that was a terrible example."

"You're right."

"The worst ever."

"I know, I'm sorry.I didn't mean to make you cry."

"I'm not crying."

"Yeah."He reached forward, cupped my cheek, and gently ran his thumb beneath my eye, capturing atear that had managed to escape. "Must be my mistake," he murmured.

My breath hitched at that soft touch.As he lowered his hand, I couldn't help wishing he'd left it there awhile longer.

"The point is," he said, "me being in a bad mood wasn't only about Brisa."

"Then what was it?" I asked.

Instead of answering, he shrugged andsaid, "Hey, Ibeen meaning to ask. When did you delete my number?"

"Excuse me?"

"This morning, when we texted, you didn't know it was me." His laugh sounded forced. "I know it's been a minute."

More like years, I thought.

"But I still have your number. Just wondered what I did to make you delete mine."

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