“You kidding? I was serious. That was exactly what I needed to hear. Listen, I talk to Zach about this every day and of course I talk to my grandma and my dad, but they are more on that basic encouragement tip.”

“Oh man. That must be awful,” Amanda whined before she smiled back at him.

“You know what I mean. Miss Leona is exhausted with Hollywood. She’s just chillin’ waiting for grandchildren, waiting for Rory’s War checks to roll in. And my dad—he’s great, but he’s really focused on his own shit now. And he should be, but you were right. I am in a unique position.”

“Listen, it’s scary to go for what you want,” Amanda said.

“It is.” There was more, something just on the tip of his tongue. She could tell, but instead of confessing whatever was on his mind, he turned back to the fancy dashboard and started the car. Amanda took that as her cue to put on her seat belt. Maybe he’d tell her when he was ready. Maybe she’d tell him how much she was starting to like him when things felt a little less scary for her.

They chatted about random bits of nothing as they drove back to the ranch. He told her about the time he tried to sneak into Claim Jumpers as a teen.

“This whole valley knows my whole family and I thought I could just walk in there and order a Tecate.”

“What happened?”

“They called my dad and had him come pick me up. He made me sit there while he threw back a good five beers, just chatting it the fuck up with the bartender and the high school football coach. Then he made me drive his drunk ass home. I was hot.”

“You didn’t walk out as soon as you saw the football coach?” Amanda asked as they pulled up to the front of the lodge. Sam stopped just beyond the valet and turned the car off.

“I didn’t know it was him. I didn’t go to Charming High. I didn’t go to high school.”

“Oh I’m sorry. I forgot you mentioned you—”

“No, it’s fine. I got my GED. But I started doing stunts when I was like twelve and I got cast on Dude Ranch Summer Camp when I was fifteen. Anyway I didn’t go to Charming High like Zach and Jesse did. There was a different coach when Jesse played. I had no clue who the new guy was. Anyway. I’m legal now and my dad isn’t here to stop me.”

“Thank God.”

“Come on. Let me walk you to your room.”

Amanda climbed out of the car and took Sam’s hand as he came around and met her at the entrance to the lodge. When they reached her room, she forced herself not to ask him to stay.