Page 29 of Let You Love Me

I exhale, my stomach tight as a drum as I stare out into the football field. I hate that Chance still has the ability to mess with my head after all this time. I’m over him. Of that, I’m sure. Whatever we shared was a long time ago. My wounds have since been licked and healed over. The scabs might’ve formed scars, but I’m as good as new. At least, I’d like to think I am. I have no room in my life for what-ifs. I only have time for right here, right now.

I want people in my life who don’t view Sophie’s existence as some monumental hardship or sacrifice. I want someone who sees her like I do—a blessing. And if that means I have to live the rest of my days lonely and single, then so be it. I don’t have time for half-assed feelings or relationships.

I turn and storm out of the stadium. Our conversation—his request that I simply find another job—really pisses me off. And the fact that he has any effect on my mood pisses me off even more.

Taking a cleansing breath and counting slowly to five like I do when I’m overwhelmed with Sophie, I reign in my anger. Once I’ve banished it to the back of my mind, I head for my car, more determined than ever.

I start Wednesday. I have a new job, and no one, especially not Chance Lockhart, is going to stop me from doing it.

Chapter 7

TEAGAN

By the time Iget back to the athlete dorms, I’m fucking spent. My legs and arms feel like rubber as I pick my way down the hall toward the suite I share with Tommy.

I try the doorknob to find it unlocked and enter the small living space between our bedrooms. CU doesn’t have athlete apartments, only dorms, but still, the setup is a hell of a lot better than the regular dormitories, which feature only a single room and a bathroom on each floor. Instead, the athletes are set up with a suite that has a small common area big enough for the essentials—a small sofa, a bistro table, television, a mini fridge, and a single bathroom—which joins a bedroom on each side.

When I step inside, I find Tommy on the couch, one arm draped around Melissa, his girlfriend, a pretty cool chick who commutes from her parents’ place nearby.

His attention shifts from the television to me, and his brows rise. “Bro, you all right? I told Melissa about the shit Coach put you through. You’ve got to be dead.”

“That’s one word for it.” I kick my shoes off on the mat by the door, my duffle bag slung over my shoulder. “Is that pizza?” I ask, zeroing in on the takeout boxes gracing the counter.

Tommy nods. “We saved you some.”

“Thank fu—” I start, then stop myself when I remember Melissa is here. “I mean, thanks,” I say instead.

I drop my bag by the small table and tear into one of the boxes, lifting a slice to my mouth and taking a huge bite at the same time Tommy braces one arm over the back of the couch and turns to me. “So, that’s some shit about Coach’s daughter working with us, huh? Do you think something happened before and he felt the need to warn the guys off like that?” He shakes his head. “So fucking weird.”

I shrug, grabbing a napkin from the table and wiping my mouth before I speak. “I don’t know. It got me wondering, too, but you know how some of these guys are.”

“Horny assholes.”

“Exactly.” I shrug. “Some will see her as a conquest.”

“I guess I didn’t think about it like that, but you have a point.” Tommy frowns. “Back in high school, the basketball coach’s daughter was super hot, and I remember hearing rumors about how the team had bets going on who could bag her first.”

I stuff more pizza in my face, mostly because the thought of some douchebags making a bet like that about Lane chaps my ass. It almost makes me grateful for Turner’s warning.

Or at least it would, if it didn’t also apply to me.

My thoughts drift to Lane, and how indifferent she’d seemed. Damn if it doesn’t make me want to try even harder to win her over.

I don’t know what it is about her.

I can’t explain it.

Obviously she’s beautiful, but it’s more than that. There’s this intangible thing I can’t put my finger on that draws me to her.

The sound of squabbling and slightly raised voices interrupts my train of thought, and I focus back on Tommy to see him arguing with Melissa. I arch a brow and grab another slice of pizza, plowing it into my face as I try my best to ignore their conversation.

“Come on, baby, you know I think you’re the hottest chick on the planet,” he murmurs in a soft voice.

Ah.I stifle a chuckle.They’re arguing over the fact he called another chick hot. Classic.

Melissa picks up her phone in a huff and starts scrolling while Tommy glances back at me and rolls his eyes to which I raise my hands up in surrender.

Yeah, not getting in the middle of this one.