Page 61 of Let You Love Me

I turn my attention away from them, and not for the first time since our encounter at Slice, I wonder what kind of relationship he and Lane had these last seven years. I’d also like to know why he seems to think she’s his business. He certainly has an opinion on Lane’s personal life, and something tells me she would be none too pleased about him interfering without her knowledge.

But it’s not like I can ask her.

Her fiery independence combined with the walls I’ve yet to scale mean I’m not privy to answers. Which leaves me questioning: How much of a problem is Chance Lockhart?

Chapter 15

LANE

Iremove the freshlylaundered uniforms from the massive drum of the dryer, placing them in the basket before hanging them in preparation for tomorrow’s game as Teagan props a hip against the counter, watching me.

When he came to apologize yesterday for mistaking Sophie as my sister, I thought his helping me was a one-time thing, so imagine my surprise when he showed up today, too. “Will you be at the game tomorrow?” he asks.

I try to go to home games if I can make them, but I hadn’t planned on going tomorrow. Since taking on the student manager job, I have so much stuff at home to catch up on, but something about the pleading look in his eye when he asks, makes me want to try.

“I might be able to catch at least the first half of the game,” I say, tucking a lock of hair behind my ear.

His face splits into a wide smile, which turns my stomach into a whirlpool of quickly moving water and conflicting currents.

I keep my head down and focus on hanging the football jerseys until the feeling passes. Every time I’m around Teagan, he has the ability to make me feel torn up inside. My mind says one thing while my body tells me another.

“What are your plans for tonight?” He steps closer so he can help, and our fingers brush.

The jolt of energy shoots straight to my chest but I ignore it.

I inhale sharply, somehow forcing my words. “Not much. Just hanging out at the house. I’ll be solo tonight. My parents have plans.”

An extremely rare occurrence during football season. Not that it makes much of a difference. I’ll still be doing what I always do: Make Sophie dinner, play for a bit before bath and bedtime, and then sit alone on the couch catching up on laundry and schoolwork. If I’m lucky, I’ll have time to read. And though a Friday night at twenty-one spent doing such mundane things sounds boring to most, after how busy my week’s been, I’m looking forward to it more than I’d like to admit.

God, I sound so boring.

Teagan’s brows rise to his hairline, and he blinks. “Wait. Your father is goingoutthe night before a game?”

I chuckle. “I know. It’s unheard of. He misses holidays, weekends, barbecues, and basically anything not football related come fall, but my mother’s high school reunion is tonight, and he promised her he’d go with her, even if for a little bit. Of course, that was a year ago when Cumberland was ranked at the bottom of the NCAAs and he first started. Now that you’re climbing rank, he’s panicking about taking the night off.”

“Yeah . . .” Teagan laughs and shakes his head. “I can’t imagine Coach going out the night before a big game. Think he’ll actually follow through?”

I know all about tomorrow's game because I’ve heard about it all week at home. He and my mother went back and forth forhours over it. We play Alabama, who is currently ranked tenth. Securing a win will be really tough, but would also bolster our rankings, and my father thinks we can do it. Normally, he’d spend hours into the evening studying game tape and going over the playbook.

I smirk. “Oh, I’m not sure he has much of a choice if he wants to stay married.”

Teagan snorts. “Say no more. I know how that is. My parents have been married twenty-five years.”

I smile over at him and grab another jersey from the pile. “Yeah, mine were high school sweethearts and married right after college. There was a time I thought I might follow in their footsteps, but then . . .”

I discovered Chance Lockhart never really loved me.

I swallow, realizing how close I came to slipping up.

What the hell is wrong with me? Ineverdo that.

His baby blues narrow as if he can see right through me.

I clear my throat. “Anyway, my mom has sacrificeda lotto support my dad’s dreams and his love for the game, so this was her one stipulation. She’s giving Thanksgiving to football and the rest of the holiday season, but not this. I wouldn’t say my mother outright gave him an ultimatum, but let’s just say it was highly implied.” I chuckle, imagining my father’s long face. “I have no doubt he’ll be chomping at the bit to get home.”

Teagan crosses his arms over his chest. If he noticed my diversion from what I almost shared, he doesn’t show it. “What time does it start?” he asks.

I peer up at him, brow knotted. “Seven. Why?”