Page 186 of Let You Love Me

“So, what does this mean?” Her gaze shifts nervously.

“It means that I still love you, Lane. I never stopped, and I’m sure as fuck not going to stop now.”

She sighs, closing her eyes and pressing her forehead to mine. “I thought I lost you. And I screwed everything up. Your back, football—”

“My back will mend.” I press a kiss to the top of her head. “And it’s not your fault I got hurt. It’s football. It happens. I might have been distracted, but it was my job to tell Coach I wasn’t fit to play, and I didn’t. And as for football . . .” I brush her cheek with my thumb. “Yeah, it’s gonna be fucking weird not playing, but football was never my endgame.Youare.”

She reaches up, placing a hand over mine as a soft whimper escapes her lips. “But you haven’t even read the journal yet. Are you sure?”

“Oh, I’m gonna read the journal,” I say as I pull back. “I have every intention of doing so the second I head back into my room.” I brush the hair from her face and her cheeks flush. “But I don’t need to read it to know what I have, because I’m holding something fucking precious in my arms, and I’m not about to let it go.”

“But I lied.”

I nod. “You had your reasons, and though I wish you hadn’t, you laid them all out for me on a silver platter, and they’re reasons I can live with, ones I can understand. My family means a lot to me, too, and I don’t know . . .” I shrug. “If I had been in your shoes, I might have done the same.”

She slides her hands down to the collar of my shirt and grips it like a lifeline. “I can’t believe I get to keep you,” she says, her voice thick.

“Believe it, Lane Turner.” I brush a soft peck on her forehead. “You were right. I did tell you someday I would make you see your worth. But I’ve always seen it. And I’ve been yours since the moment I met you. You just didn’t know it yet.”

Epilogue

TEAGAN

We pull into thedriveway of my childhood home and turn off the ignition. The ground is covered in a bed of white, the snow glistening like diamonds under the golden rays of the early morning sun. Several cars line our driveway, ones I recognize belong to my friends, and though I’m always glad to be home, today is different. Today is special because of the two girls seated beside me.

It's only a few days before Christmas, and we plan on spending the next two days here with my family and friends before returning to Cumberland where I’ll spend Christmas morning at the lake house, watching Sophie and Lane open their gifts.

“We’re here,” I announce, turning to Lane.

She sits in the driver’s seat, her posture rigid and her face a mask of nerves as she stares out the windshield.

I reach out and softly touch her hand. “Lane?”

She turns, blinking. “What if they don’t like me?”

“Impossible.” I shake my head.

“But—”

“I love you,” I say, lifting her hand to my lips where I press a kiss. “So they’ll love you, too. It’s that simple.”

“Mom,” Sophie whines from the back seat. “Stop worrying so much. Just be yourself and it will be fine.”

I chuckle under my breath while Lane shoots Sophie an incredulous look. “I’m the parent. Aren’t I supposed to giveyouadvice?”

“Sometimes Mommies get scared, too.” She shrugs.

My lips quirk. Sweet Sophie is so full of wisdom, I sometimes wonder where she gets it until I remember who her mother is—fucking amazing woman that she is—and it all makes sense. “You ready to meet everyone?”

Lane pales, so I squeeze her hand. “It’s going to be fine, I promise.” Sensing she’s still not convinced, I lean across the seat and place a soft kiss over her lips, then look her in the eyes. “You trust me?”

She nods, her teeth sinking into her lower lip, and if it weren’t for the child in the back seat, I’d be freeing it with my own. “Then, come on.”

I slide out of the car and help Sophie from her booster seat as Lane joins us and we walk to the front door, but I don’t even have to knock. Before we’ve even made it to the porch, the door flings wide open.

“Brother!” Jace yells, arms spread out in front of him. “You’ve made it.”

“Shut up, you big buffoon!” Brynn hisses behind him, her blonde head bobbing. “You’ll scare Sophie.” Turning her attention to us, she offers a little wave and says, “We’ll just wait inside.” Then she ushers him down the hall while he grumbles about beating everyone else to the punch.