Page 96 of Sweetheart

The challenge was obvious, and I couldn't back down. Now, I had an added incentive to win.Questions were one of my favorite things.Samhadjust upped the stakes and sealed his fate, and he didn't even know it. Grinning, I sent him a nod.

"Fine," I said.

"Fine," he said back, gesturing for meto putt first. "After you."

I couldn't deny it. The game got more exciting after that. My ball seemed to understand the level of importance—that or my hate-to-lose mentality kicked in—and I won the next hole. And the next. And the next. I planned to keep winning, but Sam didn't seem worried. If he wasupsetby the turn of events, he didn't show it. In fact, he looked downright pleased when I asked my first question.

"Favorite food?" I asked.

Sam shot me a smile. "You already know the answer to that."

"It could've changed."

"Nope, warm chocolate chip cookies with milk.Same as it was back in middle school."

I nodded, filing thataway for later. "You can ask me a question if you want."

"Okay," he said, "but just remember I get four from those early wins."

"I'm not sure those should count," I said."Our agreement wasn't reached until after the fact."

Sam shot me a look. "They count," he said in a voice that brooked no argument. "Now,what'syourfavorite food?"

"It's a three-way tie between grilled cheese sandwiches with ginger ale to drink, Chinese, and ice cream."

I lifted a brow as he laughed.

"Something funny?"

"I see yours haven't changed either," he said."Good to know."

"Hmmm," I said, "speaking of which, you mentioned something about dessert. Is that still happening?"

"Yeah, there's anice cream shop next door.Thought we'd stop there after we're done here. By the way"—Sam pointed at me—"you just used your second question."

"Hey! That'snot fair."

"Tell it to the magical one-eyed dragon that blessed our agreement back at hole five."

I shook my head. "You're so weird."

"You love it," he said.

I do, I thought.

And I really hope you can't see how much.

Swallowing, I shook it off and got ready for my next shot.

"Whatever," I said. "Here'saquestion. Why do guys always throw the word lovearound like it means nothing?"

"Guess we're done with the easy ones," Sam mumbled.

My ball soared forward landing only a few feet away from the target.

Giving him a shrug, I said, "Told you I was nosy."

"I can't speak for allguys." He placed his ball on the green turf meant to look like grass, stood back up, and studied the area. "But love is a word I heard a lot growing up. My parentssaid 'I love you' to each other and us kids every day."

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