Page 38 of Sweetheart

But the kiss wasn't real, I reminded myself.

We did it to seal our agreement and check an item off the list.

My mind knew this to be true.

But my heart still shot off sparks when I thought of Sam.

And the kiss that awakened a symphony in my soul.

CHAPTER 6

Later, I would tell myself, it couldn't have been that amazing.

Sam Bishop wasn'tsome kind of kissing virtuoso. His lips weren't magic. He didn't make my soul sing. This was all normal. A side-effect of waiting so long and yearning forever to be kissed. It had nothing to do with the guy himself. I could've kissedanyone, and this would be the end result.I'd recover once the effects wore off. Everything would be fine.

There was no way Sam altered my brain chemistry with one kiss.

Right?

Wrong.

I moved through the rest of the day on autopilot.

Teachers called on me in class, and I responded.I heard my name spoken in the hall and waved in that general direction.But I wasn't really there.

My mind was back in that music room.

My body was still wrapped up in his.

And despite my best efforts, no matter how hard I tried to fight the truth,I was filled with a deep sense of certainty. I just knew.

My lips would never forget Sam Bishop.

I had yet to decide if this was a good or bad thing.

Probably a bit of both. Good because I had an unforgettable, heart-melting first kiss.Bad becausethis might make it harder to keep things professional. Butit had to be done. My arrangement with Sam wasn't some open door to try and win his affection. It was a business deal. One where the stakes were clear: he'd win back the ex he was still in love with—and I'd get to experience all the things on my list in a safe, controlled environment.

True love wasn't an option.

In fact, it was one of the main no-no's in fake relationships.

I knew this.

I didn't include it in the plan—but only because it was so obvious.

Maybe that was a mistake?

Shaking my head, Istrode forward, putting one foot in front of the other.It was a beautiful day. Sunny with a light breeze, nothing but blue skies and fluffy cloudsas far as the eye could see.The walk was supposed to help clear my head.

And it did.

Kind of.

The more distance I put between myself and Chariot High—and a certain guy—the easier it becameto focus.I mean, yeah, the kiss still played on repeat in my mind every five seconds.But at least I wasn't stumbling into walls (yes, that happened. Thankfully, there were no witnesses).In my last class, I'd received a text.

Your car is ready for pick up.

Colton's Auto Service Centerwas the best in town.

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