Page 66 of Sweetheart

The first time he took my hand at school,my breath caught. Not going to lie, I trembled a little too. But Sam didn't miss a beat. He didn't seem affected, just gave me that cocky grin and walked with me,side-by-side, holding hands like we'd done it forever.Our palms had kissed more timesthis week than we had. Theywere doing it again now.

I didn't know I could feel so much.

Alight electric current hummed under my skin. The pleasant warmthspread from where we were connected to the rest of my body, makingme feel light as air. I finally understood. All those songs about wanting to hold your hand? Yeah, theywere right.

Because this. Was. Lovely.

I was almost disappointed when Sam released my hand and gestured to a beat up sedan in front of us.

"This is it," he said.

I blinked. "What do you mean?"

"I'm going to teach you how to change a tire, #17 on your list."

I shook my head as a smile touched my lips. "You don't have to do that," I said.

"But I want to," Sam replied."It'll make me happy, knowing you're safe."

Oh my heart.

I felt those words tattooing themselves on my soul as surely as if he'd written them there.

Why did he have to say things like that? It made it so much harder to remember this was allpretend.

He sounded so sincere and had this expectant look on his face. I didn't haveit in me to tell him. The truth wasI'd already gotten my dad to walk me through thisa couple days ago. But so what? Maybe Sam had some tips to make the job easier.

"Thanks, Bishop," I said.

"Are you surprised?"

"Yeah. Honestly, I figured you'd lured me here to ravish me. But I see now the lessons were just an excuse. "

I tried my best to hide the disappointment in my voice. Wasn't sure I succeeded.

"No, we're going to do those too," Sam said.

"We are?"

"Like I said, you've only had one kiss, and we need to make Scam believable. Sothe kissing lessons will be happening."

Sam threw me a smile.

"Ready to get dirty?" he asked.

"What?!?"

Sam laughed quietly. "I meant the tire, Kent."

"I knew that."

"Did you?"

"Less talking, more teaching, Bishop."

#

Okay, I had to admit.

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