Page 57 of Sweetheart

The warning bell rang as we reached my class, and I turned to face him.

"As long as it doesn't involve nudity, alligators, or water moccasins, I'm in," I said.

Sam chuckled. "Good to know."

"So?"

"I think you should let me give you some lessons."

"In what?"

"Something that will increase the authenticity of our relationship," he said. "If you think you can handle it."

I narrowed my eyes, hearing the challenge loud and clear. "I'm a straight-A student, Bishop.Whatever the subject is, I'm sure I'll master it."

"Good," he said, "then we start kissing lessons Friday."

My jaw dropped.

Did he say—

Sam backed away, wearing a small grin.

"You should see the look on your face," he echoed my words back to me from earlier. Blue eyes shining with amusement and something else I couldn't name, he said,"Bye, girlfriend."

I made a small noise in the back of my throat, but no words escaped.

My mind was reeling, caught on two things.

First, did I seriously just agree to kissing lessons with Sam Bishop?

And second, why did the wordgirlfriendsound so good falling from his lips?

#

"Scarlett, I'm sorry, but there's no way I'm letting that kid near my instrument."

Freya's voice was final. My cousin never said anything she didn't mean.But I had to at least try and convince her.

"Why not?" I asked. "Gavin's a good kid."

"I just saw him pick his nose and then wipe it on the wall." She shivered. "Just…ew."

"Come on, Frey," Aurora, my other cousin, said with an infectious smile. "We knew what we were getting into when we signed on. Kids pick their noses. Sometimes they even eat their—"

"Don'tfinish that sentence," Freya said, looking horrified.

"They're kids," Aurora repeated.

"That's disgusting."

"Could be worse," I said—then added, "and I always carry hand sanitizer in my bag, so no worries."

Freya still looked stressed, but Aurora rolled her eyes.

"I'll take him in my group," she said.

"Yes, good idea," Freya said, nodding enthusiastically. "You take him, and I'll take that nice girl in the corner."

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