Page 134 of Let You Love Me

“I’ll call Cindy from the center and let her know you’ll be there. Here.” I rummage in my bag for my keys, “Take my car, so you can use the car seat.” I place them in his outstretched palm with a flutter of nerves. “You know where I park, but do you know where the day care is?”

“Outside Simon Hall,” he says, already backing away. “It’ll only take me two minutes to get there.”

I bite my lip and he must see the worry churning in my gaze because he says, “I’ve got your girl, Lane. Don’t even give it a second thought. Now get in there”?he nods at the hall?“and kick some presentation ass.”

Chapter 34

TEAGAN

The doctor leaves theexam room to grab a nurse and supplies before she stitches Sophie’s knee, leaving me alone with her.

The scent of antiseptic and Clorox fills the air, stinging my nose. So far, Sophie has put on a brave face, but I can tell by the quivering of her chin and the fear in her eyes, she’s two seconds away from a meltdown.

“Hey, you okay, kiddo?” I ask, taking her little hand in mine; it’s so soft and small with little dimples at each knuckle.

Her little round face tips, and the trust I see in her eyes grips at my heart. “Is it gonna hurt?” she asks, lip curling like she might cry.

Fuck stitches. If I could take them for her, I would.

I squeeze her hand, trying my best to reassure her with a calm, steady tone. I don’t want to scare her, but I also won’t lie to her, either. “It’s just going to be a tiny pinch, kind of like a bee sting,then the magic numbing medicine will work, and you won’t feel anything.”

“Is that what they did to your hand?” Her blue eyes drop, focusing on my bandaged hand.

“Sure is, except I’m a big boy, so I didn’t take any magic numbing drops.” Slowly, I remove the bandage and hold it out for her to see the dozen sutures in my palm. “A few of them are even starting to dissolve already.”

She stares intently, then asks, “Does it hurt now?”

I shrug. “Not really. It’s a little sore, but just because I think my hand is healing and it’s ready for the stitches to start coming out.”

Her brow furrows, and for a moment, I worry I said the wrong thing.

Should’ve just said no, asshole.

But then she bobs her little head, seemingly accepting this new information in stride. “Can I touch it?” she asks, blinking up at me.

“The stitches? Sure.”

She reaches a tentative hand out and touches the sutures so lightly I barely feel it.

“See? Doesn’t hurt at all.” I nudge her with my knee. “And you wanna know the cool part about stitches?”

“What?” Her eyes brighten slightly, her expression earnest.

“You’re going have the coolest scar after. Then everyone will know how tough you are, and you can tell them about the time you fell off the monkey bars onto a big, jagged rock.”

Her brow furrows. “Do you have scars?”

“Sure do.” I roll up the sleeve of my shirt, revealing a pink line just below my elbow.

“Wow. Did you fall off the monkey bars, too?” Sophie pokes it, and I can’t help but laugh.

“Almost. It was a skateboard in my driveway.” I grimace, leaving out the part where I was doing stupid tricks and goofing off. I’m lucky I didn’t crack my head open.

A knock on the door interrupts us, and all the blood drains from Sophie’s face, leaving her ashen. “Ready?” the doctor asks, pushing into the room with a nurse trailing behind her.

Sophie’s small throat bobs, and her eyes glisten as they meet mine.

“You know what always helps me when I’m scared?” I ask, my stomach clenching into a fist.