Page 154 of Let You Love Me

Once I’m out in the hallway, I pad my way to Sophie’s room in my bare feet and swing the door open. “Hey, baby. Ready for some breakfast?”

She nods and rubs her sleepy eyes. “Can I watch a show?”

“Sure. I’ll put something on while I make pancakes. Teagan should be here soon, too. He promised to stop by before practice.”

It’s not entirely a lie. After all, hedidpromise to have breakfast with us before his game; he just never left.

“Do you think he’ll still be wearing his lucky bracelet?”

“Of course he will.” I pick her up and hold her in my arms. It won’t be too long before I can’t do this anymore because she’s too big or too old for cuddles.

I carry her into the living room, squeezing her a little tighter. “He hasn’t taken it off since the day you gave it to him. It’s probably why he scored last game.”

Sophie beams. “Maybe I should make him another.”

I chuckle under my breath, knowing I’ve opened a can of worms. If Sophie had her way, she’d make him a thousand more.

I can picture it now, his arm covered in brightly beaded bracelets from wrist to shoulder. “Well, it would probably be a little hard to hide since he has to keep them covered. They don’t like the players wearing jewelry.”

“Why?”

I sigh. I’ve explained this to her already, and she’ll ask why a thousand more times more before I’m through, so I pick up the remote and flick on the television, then sit Sophie on the couch.

The knock on the door sends a spike of joy surging through my chest, and I marvel at the fact I spent all night in his arms and I still can’t get enough of him.

I hurry to answer it, swinging it open to find him standing there with sleep-rumpled hair, wearing gray sweats and a hoodie. The dimples in his cheeks deepen when he sees me, and my heart softens.

“Teagan, you’re here!” Sophie yells from a few feet away. “Mom’s making pancakes!”

“Really?” He steps inside and I close the door behind him. “I had no clue. Looks like I arrived just in time.” He winks at me, and my insides turn to mush. “Pancakes are in my top ten foods.”

Sophie gasps. “Mine too.”

“Along with pizza and ice cream?” I laugh. “Obviously.”

Teagan walks up to where Sophie’s perched on the couch and offers her a fist bump. “That’s why we’re best buds. Because we like the same things.”

“I thought Mom was your best bud.”

“Uh, well . . .” Teagan’s forehead knots. “She is, but I guess she’s a special kind of buddy now.”

I press my lips together, suppressing another laugh, but surprise myself when I say, “Actually,” I glance at him, “Teagan is Mommy’s boyfriend.”

The words slip out without preamble and the second they do, my pulse kicks into high gear, wondering if I made a mistake telling her.

“Boyfriend?” Sophie gapes.

I nod.

Even though her concept of romantic relationships is limited, she has a vague idea of what a boyfriend is from being around Gabby who talks about all her failed relationships incessantly.

“Mmm-hmm,” I murmur, barely looking at her because I’m too busy focusing on Teagan whose eyes glitter darkly, a gleam of joy in their cerulean hewn depths.

“Teagan, is it true?” Sophie asks, staring up at him like she always does when she asks him a question?as if he hung the moon and the stars, and holds all the answers to the universe.

“Yep, it’s true.” His grin splits into a smile, and his dimples deepen as he straightens and makes his way toward me, pulling me into his chest for a hug. “Your mom is my girlfriend.”

He brushes a kiss against my cheek. “Thank you,” he whispers, leaving a trail of fire in his wake. “Is that okay?” he asks Sophie, stiffening slightly like there’s even a remote chance she’ll reject him.