CHAPTER 18
Not going to lie. I wanted to keep it.
Sam”s jersey.
I wanted to keep him.
But I knew returning the shirt was the most sensible thing to do. You couldn”t hang onto something—or someone—unless they wanted you to. And Sam had never said he wanted to be mine. He also didn”t tell me I could keep his jersey indefinitely which was really the point. Showing up at Sam”s house Saturday afternoon, I knocked on the door, carrying his freshly laundered, meticulously folded shirt in one hand.
Sam answered the door, wearing a smile.
”Starlet,” he said.
”Bishop,” I said back.
”I”m honored. Can”t believe you woke up so early just to see me.”
A scoff. ”Please, it”s after twelve. I”ve been up since 5:00 AM.”
Sam winced. ”Why?”
”Well, I had the morning shift at the diner. Didn”t you wonder why I”m wearing this?”
”Thought you dressed up just for me.”
”Very funny,” I said. ”Anyway, after that, I checkedin with our vendors for the festival. They”re all set. Then I emailed all the volunteers to make sure they”re up to date. Then I went to the store, and…”
”I get it,” he said and shook his head. ”Wasn”t expecting to see you today.”
”I know.” I gave a shrug. ”But I guess we weren”t expecting to see each other last night either.”
”Do you want to come in?”
Shaking my head, I thrust his jersey at him. ”Nope, I just came to give you this.”
Sam frowned at the material then looked back to me. ”You didn”t have to come all the way here for that.”
”I didn”t know if you”d need it.”
”Hmmm.”
”I washed it,” I added. ”So, it”s clean. You don”t have to worry.”
”I wasn”t,” he said then lifted the shirt with a shrug. ”You could”ve kept this you know.”
I cursed internally, wishing I had done just that. My heart leaptat the offer, reading more into it than I should have—but then he kept talking.
”I have other jerseys. It”s no big deal.”
”Well, I wasn”t sure.”
”You positive you don”t want to come in?” he offered again, gesturing inside. ”My parents are out, but the twins are home. I know they”d like to see you.”
I threw him a smile. ”Babysitting? That”s such a normal thing for the Sam Bishop to be doingon a Saturday.”
Sam shot me a grin. He was about to say something when Bennet ran around the corner and spotted us.
”There you are,” Bennet said to his brother. ”I need your help. ASAP.”
”Is it urgent?” Sam asked.
”Yes.”
”Are you or your sister dying?”
”Well, no,” Bennet said.
”Then can you give me five more minutes, B? I was talking to someone.”
The boy”s eyes lit up when they landed on me. ”Oh hey, Scarlett.”
”Hey, Bennet,” I said. ”How are you?”
”Terrible,” he said seriously.
”What”s wrong?”
”I”m going through something.”
”That doesn”t sound good.”
”I know, and I need Sam”s help. This could affect my entire life—but what”s another five minutes?” the boy said with a frown. ”Oh yeah, and Betty won”t stop blocking the TV, practicing her dumb dance routines.”
”They”re not dumb,” Betty said, appearing at his side. ”I have a recital coming up.”
”Yeah, in like three months.”
”I need to practice.”
”Whatever. Sam?” he asked again. ”Are you done yet?”
”Don”t be like that, Bennet. He”s talking to his girlfriend.”
Betty threw me smile.
”Hi, Scarlett. Did you come to see our brother?”
”Yeah,” I said, ”but we”re done now. So, I”ll just go.”
”Wait,” Bennet said suddenly. ”Maybe you can help.”
”She probably has more important stuff to do than hang out with us,” Betty said.
”Do you?” Her twin gave me the roundest, bluest, most beseeching look ever. ”Have something more important to do than help a child in need?”
Betty gave me the same look. ”Well?”
Glancing between the two of them, I said, ”Oh, that is so unfair.”
They didn”t drop the puppy-dog eyes for a second.
”I guess I”m staying,” I said finally.
The twins whooped, and I followed them into the house.
”Did you teach them that?” I asked Sam.
He shook his head. ”Nope,it works on my parents, their teachers, me, and apparently you too. They were born knowing exactly how to get what they want.”
”Sounds like someone else I know.”
”I don”t always get what I want,” Sam said.
”I don”t believe you,” I said with a laugh. ”Name one time you haven”t gotten what you wanted.”
”There was at least once.”
Hearing the odd note in his voice, I looked over and found him already staring back at me. His eyes were intent on my face. For some reason, that look warmed me from the inside out, and I found myself blushing.
After Sam and I were seated on the loveseat, Bennet”s face turned serious, and he asked the last question I expected.
”Okay, I need to know. How do you kiss someone?”
Sam”s brows rose. ”Wasn”t expecting that.”
”Me neither,” I mumbled.
”Why are you asking, B?”
Bennet ran a frustrated hand through his hair. ”Well, it”s complicated.”
”There”s this girl in class,” Betty cut in. ”Her name”s Anna, and she asked him to kiss her the other day. Bennet freaked.”
”I did not,” Bennet said.
”You raced out of the room like it was on fire.”
”No, I walked quickly.” He sniffed then turned back to his brother. ”Anyway, I didn”t even want to kiss her. She”s annoying.”
Sam looked to me then back at his siblings. ”Then what”s with the question?” he said.
Betty grinned. ”Bennet likes her, even if he won”t admit it.”
”I really don”t,” her brother replied.
”Then why did you give her your pencil to take the test in English?”
”That doesn”t mean anything.”
”It did to Anna.” Betty rolled her eyes. ”Scarlett, what do you think? When a boy gives you something, no matter what it is, it means something. Right?”
Sam crossed his arms, and I chose my words carefully.
”It can,” I murmured. ”But some girls—and guys—have been known to read into things.”
”And they”re usually right,” Betty said.
”I guess.”
”Okay, I”m going to go practice in my room.” Betty stood and turned to me. ”Scarlett, you”re coming to my dance recital. Aren”t you?”
”Do you want me to?” I asked.
”Of course.”
Betty gave me those eyes again. Earlier Bennet mentioned the recital was months away. I wasn”t sure Sam and I would still be together then. We were on track for a Brisa-Sam reunion, and my list only had a few more items. Still…I couldn”t say no her. Didn”t want to. But I also didn”t want to get her hopes up only to let her down.
”I”ll try my very best to be there,” I said.
Satisfied, Betty left the room, and Bennet shook his head at his sister”s back.
”She”s wrong,” he said, turning back to his brother and me. ”I really don”t like Anna. I just want to know how to kiss in case someone Ido like asks me.”
”That makes sense,” I said. ”You”re planning ahead. It”s smart.”
”Thanks. So, will you guys show me?”
I blinked. ”Show you?”
”How to kiss,” he said.
I sputtered as Sam chuckled at my side.
”Also, can you hurry? I”ve got homework.”
”I”m in,” Sam said. ”How about you, Kent?”
”I”m…yes,” I said back.
We turned to face each other on the couch, and I honestly couldn”t believe we were about to do this.
”Okay, B,” Sam said, ”first rule, you never rush. Kissing isn”t a race. Understand?”
”No rushing.” Bennet nodded. ”Got it. What else?”
He gently cupped my cheek, causing me to swallow. ”You”ll want to take your time—especially if it”s someone you like.”
”Okay. But what do you do with your hands?”
”Whatever you want,” Sam murmured, ”but you should watch the other person for cues. You want them to enjoy it too. Actually, that”s the most important part, making them feel good.”
”How will you know if they enjoy it?”
I shivered as Sam”s other hand gently caressed my face, his fingers gliding into my hair.
”You”ll know,” Sam assured him.
”But what if you don”t?”
”Then you ask.”
As Sam”s eyes locked on mine, I felt a spark deep inside me.
”Can I kiss you?” he asked.
Bennet scoffed. ”That”s not how you do it.”
Sam looked away to meet his eyes. ”Trust me, B. Consent is sexy.”
”It really is,” I breathed.
”So? Can I?”
”Yes, please.”
As ocean blue eyes came back to meet mine, I leaned forward, and Sam did as well. Our lips met in a kiss that was like the ones we”d shared before and not. As his mouth moved, it seemed to say, ”Hi, I missed you.” And mine responded, ”I missed you more.” When we broke apart, I couldn”t help but smile as I opened my eyes. Sam”s lips were turned up as well as he looked at me, and I couldn”t stop myself from stealing one last kiss.
”Huh,” Bennet said, officially ending the moment.
”All good, B?” Sam asked.
”All good,” he said. ”I”ll leave you guys alone now. Thanks, Scarlett.”
”No problem,” I said without looking away from Sam.
Once we were alone in the room, he leaned back with a grin. ”Well, that was an interesting lesson.”
The tension dissipated, and I couldn”t help but giggle.
”And she laughs,” Sam said. ”Not sure if that”s a good or bad sign.”
”It”s good,” I said.
”Yeah?”
I nodded, trying not to smile too big, but it was hard. Sam looked so pleased with himself. I was still reeling from that PG-13-yet-amazing kiss. I wasn”t sure who started it, but when the front door opened a second later, we were mere inches apart.
”Kids, we”re home,” a voice said.
My eyes widened, realizing how this might look, and I hopped off the loveseat just in time. Sam”s dad came into the living room first followed by his mom, who was arm-in-arm with another woman I didn”t recognize. She was obviously older with pearly white hair, walking slowly with the aid of a cane, but her eyes missed nothing. As she took in Sam and me, the older woman whose makeup was done to perfection smiled her ruby red lips.
”Well,” she said, ”either my eyesight”s finally gone, or I”d say we interrupted something.”
Colton choked back a laugh, and Sadie, Sam”s mom, poked his side.
”Hi, Betty,” Sam said brightly.
”Godson,” she said back.
”You”re looking beautiful as always.”
”And you are just as charming as the day I held you in my arms the first time.”
Sadie lifted a brow. I”d only met her once or twice, but she”d always been nothing but friendly. ”Sam, you didn”t tell us you were inviting anyone.”
I stepped forward then. ”Oh, he didn”t know.”
”Really?”
”I just came to return his shirt.”
All the adults” eyebrows hit the ceiling on that one.
”Must”ve interrupted more than I thought,” Betty muttered.
After another cough-laugh, Colton said, ”Well, at least, everyone”s fully clothed.”
”That is so not funny,” Sadie said, shaking her head at him.
”Come on, Sadie. It”s kinda funny.”
”I”m with him,” Betty said. ”This situation is hilarious.”
”Thanks a lot,” Sadie mumbled. ”I thought you were supposed to be on my side.”
”I am, dear. But as I”ve told you before, you”re only young once.”
Before she could say more, the twins ran into the room, smiles eating up their faces.
”Betty!” they both said in unison then proceeded to attach themselves to the woman”s legs. She gave a trilling laugh, hugging them each in turn, and as they drew back, little Betty looked at me.
”This is who I was named after,” she said proudly. ”Betty senior, my mom”s oldest friend. Isn”t she fabulous?”
”She is,” I said.
”And who is this lovely young lady?” the older Betty asked.
”That”s Scarlett,” Bennet said. ”She”s Sam”s girlfriend.”
”It”s nice to meet you,” I said. ”Also, your makeup is flawless.”
”Thank you, dear. Politeness and flattery will get you everywhere.”
I turned back to Sadie. ”I”m really sorry to intrude, Mrs. Bishop.”
”It”s fine, Scarlett,” she said with a sigh. ”Would you like to stay for dinner?”
”I—”
”It”ll be ready in an hour. We do early dinner on Saturdays.”
I debated on whether to accept the invite, but the twins looked so hopeful. When I met Sam”s eyes, he said, ”You should stay.” And that was how I ended up agreeing to eat dinner at my pretend boyfriend”s house.
It was truly a family affair.
Music, food, and conversation flowed freely. Although I learned Betty senior wasn”t related to them by blood, everyone at the table loved her. Sadie and she, especially, seemed to have a close bond. I found out that Betty did makeup for the stars back in the day which made sense. She was so put together and gorgeous. When she told me she was 99, my jaw dropped.
”No way,” I said.
”Yes way,” she said back.
”I can”t believe it.”
”The secret to staying young is to forget the number. It”s all about how you feel. Also, finding a good skincare routine and washing your makeup off before your head hits the pillow.” Betty grinned at Sadie. ”Unless you”re so naturally pretty you don”t need it.”
Sam”s mom laughed. ”In case you forgot, you were always asking to do my makeup.”
”Yes, but that was only because I wanted to spend more time with you.”
”Betty.”
”And okay, everyone could use a little enhancement.”
Sam leaned over to me.
”You doing okay, Kent?” he asked.
”Yeah,” I said, glancing around the table. Sadie and Bettysenior were laughing with their heads pressed together while Colton pulled out a car part and explained something to the twins, who listened with rapt attention. ”Your family is pretty fantastic.”
”True, but I”m still your favorite, right?”
Looking back at him, I said, ”I don”t know.”
”It was a rhetorical question.”
”Between Betty senior and the twins, you”ve got competition. I”m just saying.”
Sam scoffed. ”Well, at least I”m ahead of my parents.”
”Your dad is kinda hot,” I whispered, nearly laughing out loud at the look of horror on his face.
”Gross, Kent.”
”What? Your mom”s beautiful too. I just meant I can see where you get it from.”
He grunted. ”Way to kill a guy”s ego.”
I reached out and rested my hand on top of his. ”You know I was joking.”
”Do I?”
”Yes,” I said, ”and you know I prefer your pretty face over anyone”s.”
Sam grinned, never breaking eye contact, as he brought my palm to his mouth.
”Good to know,” he murmured.
The kiss he placed there had my pulse fluttering.
A chair screeched, and I looked up to see Sadie”s back as she walked into the kitchen.
”I don”t think your mom likes me,” I whispered.
”Maybe she heard what you said about my dad,” he said. When I gave him a look, Sam added, ”Kidding. My mom likes everyone. And she has to like you because you”re with me.”
It sounded so simple when he said it like that.
But I couldn”t shake the feeling that Sadie had something against me.
When I walked into the kitchen to put my plate in the dishwasher, I had to ask.
”Mrs. Bishop,” I said. ”Did I do something wrong?”
”Why would you say that?” she asked.
”I don”t know. I just got a feeling.”
A beat passed.
”If this is about the shirt thing from earlier, I can explain,” I added.
”It”s not that.” Mrs. Bishop turned to face me and met my eyes. ”I”m just worried about Sam.”
”Why?” I asked.
”Do you want the truth?”
The way she said it made me hesitate, but I nodded anyway, bracing myself for whatever she was about to say.
”It”s hard for me, Scarlett. I love seeing how happy my son is right now with you. I”m actually thrilled that you”re here. But I can”t forget what happened.”
I frowned as she went on.
”Sam”s always been a happy kid. Carefree. Easy-going. But beneath all that, he has the biggest heart.”
”I know,” I said.
”When you two stopped being friends…” She shook her head. ”I”ve never seen him so sad. Even when he broke up with Brisa, Sam bounced back like it was no big deal. But with you, it was different.”
As I tried to process this, Sadie continued.
”Sam cares about you so much. He always has.”
She took a deep breath.
”I just hope…you”ll be careful with him. And I know I probably shouldn”t say this, but I”m going to anyway. Don”t hurt my son, and we won”t have any issues. If it doesn”t work out, fine. But try not to break his heart. Okay?”
”Okay,” I said quietly. ”For the record, it broke my heart when our friendship ended.”
”I hope you don”t think I”m crazy now,” she said.
”I don”t.”
”Being a boy mom is hard sometimes.”
”You”ve got to look out for the ones you love,” I said with a smile. ”I get it.”
She tilted her head. ”Sam told me he”s helping you with a list?”
”Yes,” I said, ”I love lists.”
”Me too. Checking things off is so satisfying.”
”It really is.”
”How”s that going?” she asked.
I shrugged. ”Pretty good. I put some items on there that aren”t practical. One in particular is more like a dream that may never happen. So…”
”Never say never.” A soft smile touched her lips. ”When I was your age, I had a list.”
”You did?”
She nodded. ”I wanted to do things like roll down a hill in Ireland.”
My eyes widened. ”That”s awesome!”
”Go viral with my choreography when I had next to no following,” she added. Sadie Day-Bishop was a well-known choreographer these days with tons of viral videos, so I knew she”d achieved that one, several times over. ”Like you said, some of them seemed impossible. But that was only until they were done. I had help, of course.”
She looked over at her husband, and as if he felt her gaze, he looked up and gave her the most devastating smile.
”So did you ever go?” I asked.
”To Ireland?” When I nodded, Sadie sighed. ”Colton and I went there on our honeymoon.”
”That”s so romantic,” I said.
Sadie turned up the music then patted my shoulder. ”I like you, Scarlett. Any time you want to come for dinner or take class at the studio, feel free.”
”Thank you, Mrs. Bishop,” I said.
”And for your list,” she said. ”Just remember, carpe diem.”
She walked away, and Sam took her place.
”Everything okay?” he asked.
”Sure,” I said. ”I think your mom just gave me her version of the talk.”
Sam”s brows went up. ”I didn”t know she had one of those.”
”Learn something new every day, Bishop.”
Betty senior sighed loudly from the other room. ”Oh, this song! My husband and I used to dance to it all the time. Scarlett, make my day, and dance with my godson.”
”Well, I—”
”It would mean so much, considering the little time I have left.”
With wide eyes, I nodded and walked over to Sam.
”Will you dance with me?” I said.
”You don”t even have to ask, Kent.”
He placed one hand against my waist; I rested mine on his shoulder. Our other hands joined, and then we were dancing. The slow sway of our bodies matched the music to a tee.
A few moments later, he chuckled, causing me to lean back.
”What”s so funny?” I asked.
”Betty,” he said. ”She guilted you into this.”
”No, she didn”t. I love to dance.”
”Hmmm.”
”And if it reminds her of good memories with her husband,” I added, ”that makes it even better.”
”I”m not even sure she had a husband,” he said, and I gaped at him. ”According to Betty herself, she was quite the flirt.”
”But what about having only a little time left?”
He threw me a smile. ”My dad tells me that”s how she got him to help my mom years ago. She”s a master of persuasion.”
”I see.”
”You wanna stop?” Sam asked.
”No,” I said. ”I like this song.”
”Me too.”
He pulled me closer, and I released a sigh.
Resting my head against his shoulder, I tried to drink in this moment. Lock it inside my heart and never let it go. Because letting go was exactly what I had to do with Sam. The talk with his mom only made me more certain.
Yes, I had a few more list items that required assistance.
No, I didn”t know how I”d complete them without him.
But it wasn”t fair to either of us to keep this going—especially with Brisa waiting in the wings. Maybe she could make him happy, I thought with a pang in my chest. It was time to end this. I just needed to let Sam know.
After this dance, I told myself, listening to his heart beat in time with mine.
I”d do it right after this song.