Page 21 of Let You Love Me

I’m halfway up when the doorbell rings, and I almost turn back around to answer it before I hear my mother call out, “I’ll get it.”

I hold my breath, waiting to see if the sound woke Sophie, breathing a sigh of relief in the answering silence.

My feet hit the landing and I dart to my room to grab the worn library book, then head back for the stairs where I plan on sinking into the couch beside Sophie with a cup of cocoa, but I pause.

Below, my father’s burly figure fills the doorway and I stiffen, half expecting it to be Chance Lockhart at the door. Those two are always going over plays and talking shop during the season. But when my father shifts his weight and crosses his arms over his chest, barking out a gruff response, I realize it mustn’t be him.

Probably a solicitor or someone else from the team.

Thinking nothing of it, I continue down the stairs, turning to take the hall into the living room when I hear a voice I recognize and freeze.

A voice I heard only hours ago.

It can’t be . . .

Risking a glance over my shoulder, my heart races at the sight of Teagan, partially obscured by my father’s burly form.

For a moment I wonder if he’s stalking me.

He must have followed me here.

It’s the only possible explanation for how he ended up at my door.

The idea sends chills down my spine until I hear my father address him by name, and I frown.

He must know him. But how?

I take a couple steps back, hiding in the alcove beneath the stairwell so as not to be seen as I strain my ears to listen.

“Well, get on with it, then. What brings you here on my day off?” My father’s tone is gruff, unimpressed while I strain to hear Teagan’s response.

“I know I can’t take it back now. What’s done is done. It was stupid, and I never should have participated, but I just wanted to come again and apologize. Man-to-man, to your face.”

Alarm bells go off in my head.

My mind races.

My father says nothing for a moment while my head spins. What on earth could Teagan possibly be apologizing for?

“So, you admit you weren’t alone, huh?”

“No, sir. I wasn’t. It was freshman hazing, but I’m asking you kindly to please not ask me the names of the others with me, because I won’t tell you. I’m a team player, not a snitch.”

A team player?

My body sags, the wall taking on the full brunt of my weight.

He must play football. He’s one of my father’s players.

You’ve got to be kidding me.

I wait until my father finishes, my brain buzzing with my thoughts as he closes the door, and I step out into the hallway. “Who was that?” I ask, trying to keep my tone as casual as possible.

Dad rolls his eyes. “Just one of my boys. Those guys were up to their usual pranks the other night, and this one got caught.” He shakes his head while any hope that I might be wrong plummets.

I nod, schooling my expression into one of indifference as I wait until he brushes past me. I stare at the closed front door where Teagan just stood and fight the urge to peer out the little window to watch him leave, knowing I’m being ridiculous.

I never should’ve given him a second thought, but I did.