Page 107 of Let You Love Me

But the part of me petrified to risk Sophie won’t let go. My self-preservation clings to her. “What happened to just being friends?” I ask, but my voice is brittle, as weak as my thinning resolve.

“Does this feel like just friendship to you, Lane? The other night, in the lake?” His eyes heat, and he takes a step closer, “Didthatfeel like friendship? I proposed the friend thing because I knew it was the only way you would let me into your life. But make no mistake, I’ve never wanted tojustbe your friend. I’ve always wanted more.”

My breathing grows shallow. The thread of my restraint is thinning, ready to snap.

“None of that changes the fact that there’s a good chance you and I”?I motion between us?“this won’t work. And I don’t want Sophie to know what it feels like to have someone she thought loved her walk away.”

He blinks, understanding flickering through the green-blue flecks of his eyes. “I get why you’re afraid, Lane, and if you tell me right here, right now, you don’t want me—us—then I’ll walk away.” He reaches out, cupping my face in his hands. “But if you do . . .”

“I just don’t understand why you wantme. Ofallpeople, why me?” I whisper. It’s the same thing I wondered about Chance. I remembered thinking how lucky I was, and in the end, hedidn’twant me, not as long as I had Sophie.

What if Teagan changes his mind and decides I’m not good enough?

Teagan shakes his head, his tone fierce. “I swear to God, Lane, one of these days, I’m going to make you see what I see. I’m going to make you see just how special you are and how fucking lucky I am, or anyone else is for that matter, to have whatever piece of yourself you’re willing to give.”

“Teagan, I—” My voice cracks.

I snap my mouth shut, unable to finish the sentence, unable to cut him loose and set him free, yet unable to claim him.

It’s wholly unfair; I know this, yet I can’t seem to force myself to either take a step back or forward, too scared of making the wrong move.

He lets out a tremulous breath, the muscles in his neck straining as if the effort of holding himself back is too much. “If friendship isstillwhat you need, I’ll take it. I said it before, and I’ll say it again.” He straightens, his gaze steady on mine. “I’ll take whatever piece of you you’re willing to give. Fornow. But make no mistake, Lane.” He steps forward and tucks a stray lock of hair behind my ear. “I’ll prove myself to you. And when I do, youwillbe mine.”

Chapter 26

TEAGAN

“Iforgot to askyou something. Are you dressing up tomorrow?” I lean back against the wash basin. Tomorrow is Halloween and I have plans to trick or treat with Lane and Sophie, something I’ve been looking forward to ever since I bulldozed my way into their plans last week.

Lane turns to face me. She’s done with the uniforms, her shift officially over until she needs to be at the field later today, which leaves us approximately five minutes before I have to get my ass to class.

A week has passed since our argument at the park, and neither of us have mentioned it again. I haven’t pushed, haven’t so much as laid a fucking hand on her even though I want toeverysecond ofeveryfucking day. Each time I’m with her, not kissing her, not holding her hand, fucking kills me.

Her mouth curves into a grin. “I usually dress up, yes, but nothing extravagant. This year, I’m just wearing white, using the fuzzy bunny ears from Sophie’s easter basket last year, andpainting a bunny nose and whiskers on my face. Why? You’re not worried about it, are you? Most parents I see don’t dress up.”

“Oh, no. I already got something.” I flash her a smile. “I was just wondering if you wanted me to pick you up a costume, too.”

Her eyes brighten. “You really got a costume?”

“Sure did. Sophie’s going as a T. rex, right?”

Lane nods. “What did you get?”

“It’s a secret,” I wink. “You’ll just have to wait and see.”

She chuckles, then grunts. “No fair.” She fake pouts before asking, “What are Tommy and the others doing?”

I shrug. “A party.”

“You don’t want to go?”

“No.” I reach out and tug on a silken lock of her hair. “I’d rather be with you and Soph.”

She shakes her head like she’s afraid to believe me, like she’s stunned I’d rather spend time with her and Sophie than go to a party. Little does she know I’m over the whole party scene. I don’t need it. I had my fill in high school, and I’m not saying I don’t ever like to unwind and have a good time, but in truth, it’s lost its appeal. There’s nothing fun in getting wasted and feeling like shit the next day. Besides, there’s not much time for it in-season, anyway. Not unless you want to be sluggish as shit on the football field.

Lane bites her lip, and it takes everything I have not to reach out and pull her to me, claim her mouth with mine when my phone buzzes in my pocket, saving me.

I stifle a groan.“That’s my alarm, which means I have to go.”