Page 83 of Sweetheart

I'd often wondered if the word would have as much impact if he wasn't saying it to my face. Spoken or written, it didn't matter. Sam calling me his girlfriend would likely always make my chest flutter.

Me:You're crazy. I have to go. We're about to start our set.

Sam:Good luck, Kent.

Me:Thanks, Bishop—we'll need it lol.13-year-olds aren't the easiest to please.

Sam:Don't worry. You got this. You and your cousins are going to blow the roof off that tea party. Wish I was there to see it.

I wish you were too, I thought.

Before I could chicken out, I replied.

Me:You're a really good fake boyfriend. Bye, Bishop.

I didn't wait for his response. Putting my phone away, I looked up, only now noticing that the girls around me had fallen silent.They were staring at me expectantly.

"What?" I said.

"Nothing," Charlotte said, but by the small grin on her face, I could tell it was more than that."Good conversation?"

"Sam just wanted to wish us luck. No big deal."

Though it was big, at least to me. The fact that he remembered and took the time to send those messages? Yeah, not going to lie. It moved me, meltingmy heart more than a little.Not that I'd say that to my family. Charlotte, especially, was a no go. Shealready suspected my feelings were far more serious than they should be.No need to prove her right.

"He was wishingyouluck," Charlotte said."Not us."

Freya spoke next, sounding uncharacteristically cheerful."Have I told you how much I love your dress?" she said.

I shook my head, wondering if she'd been reading over my shoulder. "You hate this dress—and all dresses for that matter."

"Hmm, well, I love that one.Speaking of which"—she added with possibly the worst segway ever—"how's your love life?"

"Huh?" I said.

"That little text session." Freya bounced her brows at me. "Looks like things are going well with Sam.So?"

"So?" I echoed.

"Come on, Scarlett," my sister said."She wants details."

"I do," Freya added."As someone whose boyfriend sucks, I'm living vicariously through you. I want all the tea."

"Me too," Charlotte said, "although Bo doesn't suck, and he even called just to hear my voice before this."

"Me three," Aurora put in.

"There's not much to tell," I said cooly, but they kept giving me—and each other—theseknowing looks. "I'm not sure what you want me to say. It was just a few texts."

Aurora shrugged. "You couldn't stop smiling," she said.

I frowned.

"When you saw his name on your phone, it was like the sun came out of your face."

"That sounds painful, Ror," Freya said.

"It does," Charlotte agreed.

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