Page 119 of Let You Love Me

He takes a couple of bites, then grins. “You know, this wasn’t really what I had in mind when I hoped I’d get you alone tonight.”

My cheeks pinken. “Really? Sitting in the waiting room of the ER wasn’t what you had in mind?”

His lips twitch. “Not quite.”

I lean into him with a smile. “Well, I’m happy just being anywhere you are, so . . .”

“Yeah?” his voice softens, his hand in my hair.

I nod and bite my lip, lost in the simplicity of the moment together as I turn shyly away.

He eats the rest of his granola bar, then crumples the wrapper and shoves it in his pocket with his good hand before he turns toface me, his expression serious as he asks, “What were you like in high school?”

I think I know what he’s asking. What was I likebeforeSophie?

I stare off into the distance, thinking about it. That time in my life feels so distant, it’s like I can barely remember it. “I was carefree, but kind of quiet. Definitely a rule follower. I didn’t go to parties or drink or stay out late. I never did anything rebellious.” I glance down at my hands, trying to fight the stab of self-consciousness; I’m not exactly making myself sound cool. “I had a group of friends I hung out with on the weekends. I studied and got good grades. Kind of the opposite of what you’d expect from a girl who got herself knocked up at seventeen.”

He narrows his eyes in disapproval of the latter, but it’s the truth, so I don’t apologize for it. Instead, I meet his gaze head-on, losing myself in his sky-colored irises. “What about you?” My gaze drops to his lips for a moment, and I find myself wishing we were somewhere more private. Somewhere I could possibly kiss him again, this time on the mouth.

I grunt and roll my eyes at myself.

Not gonna happen, Lane.

“What wereyoulike?” I ask, steering my thoughts away from his lips.

I can only imagine Teagan in high school. He was probably the kind of guy who charmed all the girls in his grade, never had trouble finding a date, and ran with the “cool kids.” Football on Friday nights. Parties on the weekend. Teagan Nichols strikes me as the boy everyone wants to be around, including me.

“I was a little different than you, not gonna lie.”

I smile at this; it’s what I expected.

“I certainly wasn’t shy, though Icanbe quiet when I want to be. Hell, I’m definitely more reserved than some of my friends. But I wasn’t an angel, either. In the summer, and often duringthe year, my friends and I were known for the parties we had at my best friend’s cabin in the woods. If I had to put a label on it, I would call myself acautiousrule breaker.”

“A cautious rule breaker?” I arch a brow.

“Sure. As in, I only broke the rules when I knew I wouldn’t get caught.”

I tip my head back and laugh, and Teagan’s eyes flare at the sound.

Reaching out, he lifts my legs and places them on his lap, so I’m sitting half on the chair, half on him, and my breath catches.

“You probably had a lot of girlfriends,” I murmur while his thumb strokes circles on my leg.

One muscular shoulder lifts, then drops. “Some.”

I roll my eyes. “A lot.”

“Maybe, but none of them were you.” He reaches out and brushes the pad of his thumb over my lower lip and my stomach free-falls.

God, why does he have to be so damn perfect?

“You never would have gone for me in high school,” I say, completely serious. “I was too quiet, too reserved. You probably went for the outgoing cheerleader types.”

“Wrong,” he says, his tone firm. “I would’ve fallen all over my feet to take you out.”

I narrow my eyes and call his bluff. “I don’t believe you.”

“Why not?”