Page 59 of Let You Love Me

“Trying to get the point across?” she asks, breathless.

I nod. “Yeah.”

“Point taken.”

Chapter 14

TEAGAN

Coach barks out anorder and I jerk to attention. My mind has been anywhere but football for the last hour—namely a gorgeous ginger—but I better fucking focus before I get called out.

No sooner than the thought leaves my brain does my gaze flicker to the sidelines where Lane helps Mark break down equipment. She lifts her head and when our eyes meet, I swear I can see the flush in her cheeks from here.

Making Lane blush will never get old.

Grinning, I turn my focus back to Coach.

“All right, boys, no more dancing around. This isn’t fucking ballet. Let's make this one count,” Coach calls out. “Tank,” he says to Tommy, “you’re the heart of this defense. Show ‘em how it’s done!”

He moves down the line, each step slow and deliberate as his gaze skims across us. “Teagan—”

My ears perk, attention focused. “Yes, sir?”

“You’re distracted and sloppy.”

Fuck.

“Show me why the recruiters said you had hands like vise grips and the agility of a heat seeking missle. Show me you’re not just a fuck-up rookie that likes to steal tires.”

Harsh. I mash my mouth into a thin line. But I guess it’s a cheap shot I deserved. “Yes, sir.”

He addresses several others, and then I line up, positioning myself in the offensive backfield. Crouching down, I brush the grass with my fingers as I focus on the play at hand.

When Coach Turner blows his whistle, Chance barks out signals and we break. I split out, taking the left of the V-shape formation, my feet carrying me down the field where Chance lets it fly.

I turn right where the ball should be to find it spiraling right toward me. I reach out and catch it, then tuck it under my arm as I spin and dodge a defender with a mix of finesse and strength.

With my head down, I move my feet, flying over the turf as I barrel toward the end zone.

When another defender appears to my right, feet before the goal line, I know he’ll get to me before I can cross, so I launch myself into the air, soaring like a bird and crashing straight into him.

The pain from the collision is immediate, thundering through me, but it’s mitigated by my desire to score.

I plummet to the ground like a stone,overthe goal line.

The impact knocks the air from my lungs, but it only takes me a moment to recover before I’m getting to my feet, the ball still clutched in my arms.

A grin spreads over Coach Turner’s face before he quickly smothers it with his usual stern expression. “Now that’s what I’m talking about.”

With a jolt of pride, I jog back toward the line of scrimmage, trying to catch my breath as beads of sweat roll a path down my forehead, underneath my helmet, and over the back of my neck. My gaze flickers to the sidelines, and I’m pleased to catch Lane staring. A flush of pleasure surges through me before I tamp it down, a secret smile curling the corners of my mouth as I focus on the next drill.

When practice is over, my teammates and I file off the field. Tommy runs to catch up with me, his breathing still ragged from the squat jumps Coach had us do to close practice. I barely glance over at him, too busy watching Lane pack equipment into the Gator to pay much attention. “Shit, man. I need a shower, a hot meal, and about a week’s worth of sleep.”

“You’re not kidding.” I remove my helmet and run a hand through my sweat-damp hair. “Cafeteria tonight?”

Tommy grunts. “I guess so.”

“I’ll meet you there,” I say, but my focus is already on Lane. “I just have to—”