Page 100 of Let You Love Me

“O positive,” Teagan deadpans.

I laugh and poke him in the arm. “I’m serious.”

Teagan chuckles. “And that’s a bad thing?”

“Uh,yeah. That’s a very bad thing, Teagan, because we’refriends.”I flick my gaze back toward Sophie.

“Right.” Teagan drums his fingers on the steering wheel, and I sense there’s more he wants to say on the matter. In fact, I wonder if he’ll contradict me when he changes the subject. “About that, thanks for the quick thinking with your father. You saved me.”

He’s not wrong. Dad looked pissed.

I shrug. “I just told him the truth.”

“Maybe, but your quick thinking is what saved me from getting my butt benched come Monday.”

“You don’t need to thank me.” I smile, but it’s like trying on clothes that don’t fit and are a little too tight. “Besides, that’s what friends are for,” I say, ignoring how at odds the words feel with the growing ball of warmth in my chest. “Now, tell me where we’re going.”

I stand in front of the expo center, Sophie’s hand clutched in mine, staring at a massive banner proclaimingDinosaur Worldstretching across its entrance.

My eyes find the giant T. rex the same time as Sophie, and she gasps. “Dinosaurs?” She glances up at me, mouth agape, eyes wide like the moon.

I look to Teagan for confirmation, and he grins down at her, taking her hand. “This is Dinosaur World, and I’ve been told they haveveryrealistic, life-sized dinosaurs inside, including some that you can ride.”

“Teagan . . .” I say, wanting to protest because I know how much these things cost, and it’s entirely too much for this single mom on a budget.

When he shrugs, his expression turns sheepish, and I don’t have the heart to tell him. “What? It’s only here for three weeks before they move locations, and the second I heard the ad for it on the radio, I knew we had to come.”

The sentiment is so sweet, I swear my heart melts into a puddle inside my chest.

“Come on!” Sophie tugs us forward, each on either side.

I take one step in front of the other, trying to figure out how the hell I’m going to pay what will probably be one hundred dollars just to get in, not to mention any food or refreshments Sophie may want.

We head underneath the high archway and through a large set of glass double doors to the lobby with a ticket booth on the right, and a station to the left where they check your tickets before letting you inside the expo center to view the exhibits.

I squint up at the sign, trying to see how much this will cost me when a cold sheen of sweet pricks my back.

Adults: $60.

Kids: $40.

Teagan tugs me to the left, stealing my attention. “Come on . . .”

“Wait. We have to buy tickets,” I protest.

He shakes his head. “Nope. Already bought them.”

“Teagan.” I stop and narrow my eyes.

“What? I figured it was faster than waiting in line.”

“Well . . . fine.” I hope Sophie doesn’t mind peanut butter and jelly for the next two weeks. “Just let me know what I owe you.”

Looks like no lattes from The Buzzy Bean this week.

“Not happening.” He shakes his head. “This was my idea.”

“Just because it was your idea, doesn’t mean you should pay.” I cross my arms over my chest. “What happened to going Dutch, remember?”