Page 76 of Sing it, Sam

“Random, but okay,” Sam says, toying with my silver Pandora necklace, which sits at the valley of my boobs.If we weren’t in public I’d be praying for him to cop a feel.

I clear my throat, remembering we’re in out in the open and that small children and their parents are close by. “If you could’ve written one of them, any song at all, what would you choose?”

It doesn’t take long for him to open his mouth. “‘Forever Young’ by Bob Dylan. No question.”

I’m not familiar with the song. It must’ve been written decades ago. “I’m not sure I know it?”

“Bring it up on your phone,” he bosses me, waving at my bag.

I take my phone out and open YouTube. It doesn’t take long to find a Norah Jones version of the song. I hover my finger over it. Sam nods.

I snuggle into Sam’s warm chest as the melodic tones of Norah’s dream-like voice fill the air around us. Each word resonates with me, sending a ripple of goosebumps over my skin.

“Good, huh?” he whispers in my ear.

Good?That word doesn’t even comprehend how powerful the lyrics are. I close my eyes for a beat and take in a steady breath.Don’t turn into an emo mess.

Tears well in my eyes, against my wishes. I want this to be a happy time between us. When the song reaches the chorus for a second time, a sob bursts from my mouth. My hand rushes to my lips as if doing so will take it back. “Every word … it’s just so perfect,” I say and sniff. “What would you pick for number two?”

“’I Think I Love You’,” Sam says, staring deep into my eyes.

A weak laugh escapes my mouth. “How can The Partridge Family even rate? My dad used to listen to them. They’re horrid.”

“I’m not talking about the song, Janie. Talkin’ about you.”

He thinks he loves me?My skin prickles all over.

Sam juts his chin upwards. “Come ’ere.”

I move onto my side, hook my leg over his, and climb farther up his body.

The first kiss is soft, sweet. The next our tongues meet in the middle, slowly moving in time with one another. Warmth bursts throughout my body and a deep-sitting ache radiates from my chest. My heart pounds harder, thrashing in its cage as if it wants to escape to be closer to Sam. Is this what it feels like when you fall in love with someone? You can’t get close enough? Your heart goes psychotic, liquefying one minute and bashing about the next, aching when they’re not around?

I pull back, focusing on the glint in his eye and the satisfied smile stretching across his face.

“I think I love you, too,” I say softly.

Sam lets out a mammoth sigh.

Kim appears beside us and reaches down to pat Ed on top of his head. “Were you a good boy?” she asks him, sending his tail to whip around and flick my leg.

Sam sits upright and extends his hand. “Thank you so much for this,” Sam says, his voice thick as they shake.

“My pleasure, Sam.”

As Kim walks Ed to the car park, he keeps turning around and looking at Sam. It’s both heartbreaking and heart-warming.

A face-splitting smile doesn’t leave Sam’s mouth the whole drive home.

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