Page 183 of Let You Love Me

“Okay, just take the elevator here, then.” She motions to the right. “It’ll take you to the lobby and the hallway to the rooms is right off it.”

“Thanks,” I say, ignoring the jumping jacks in my stomach.

“Sure thing.” She waves goodbye and turns, heading toward the girls’ wing and leaving me on my own.

I stab the button to the elevator and the doors slide open. Stepping inside, I block everything out except the sound of my heavy breathing and count in my head as the car rises to the second floor.

The doors open and I step off, more than grateful to find the lobby blissfully empty. The last thing I need is to see one of my father’s players and get drawn into conversation when all I want to do is get this over with, say my piece, and let the balls fall where they may.

Hurrying down the hallway, I pass the door numbers until I find room 204 and pause. I stare at the grains in the wood for what feels like hours, afraid of what will happen the moment I knock. Every possible scenario runs through my head in quick succession, until my heart is pounding so hard, I don’t even hear the door when it opens.

Tommy steps out and startles. It takes him a moment to compose himself, but even so, his dark eyes widen like the moon when he sees me. “Uh, hey, Lane.”

I swallow, my throat turning dry. “Is, um, Teagan here?”

“Yeah.” Tommy nods, his gaze darting behind him. “He’s in his room. I just came back for lunch, but I have to leave for practice,” he says, looking sheepish, like he’s guilty for still being able to play. “We go over game tape and plays in the afternoons.”

I muster a smile. “I know.”

“Oh. Right. Yeah, I guess you would.” He rocks back on his heels. “Anyway, you can go ahead in if you want.” He hooks his thumb toward the room. “I should probably get going.”

I watch him leave before taking a step forward and opening the door. I knock on it for good measure, then enter.

The space is small with two doors on either side of the bathroom, leaving me to guess which one is his. I turn toward the one on the right, but I only get two steps before it swings open. “Hey, Tommy did you see my—” Teagan stops mid-sentence, frozen in place.

His eyes make quick work of me. Shock and disbelief melds into joy and then a wary apprehension as shoves his hands in the pockets of his joggers and says, “Lane.”

“Um, hey,” I manage with a weak smile.

The sight of him punches me in the gut. His torso is thicker than normal, all weird angles jutting from the cotton of his t-shirt, which I realize must be some sort of brace.

I swallow and motion toward him. “Does it help?” I shake my head, flustered when he frowns. “The brace, I mean.”

“It helps,” he says, softly. “I was actually just looking for my keys. I wanted to come see you.”

“You did?” My heart beats faster, and I try not to read into it as my gaze sweeps over him.

He looks good. Maybe a little tired if the dark half-moons beneath his eyes are any indication. But despite the brace, he’s in one piece, on his feet, and walking. His blond waves curl around his ears and a week’s worth of stubble covers his jaw, giving him an irresistibly sexy scruff. Leave it to Teagan to take a broken back and heartache in his stride and come out looking even sexier than ever.

I swallow, feeling suddenly self-conscious in the silence. I have no doubt I don’t look half as good as him and I don’t have aserious injury to blame it on, just myself. “Um, Tommy told me to just come in. I hope you don’t mind.”

My gaze flicks to the yellowish bruise on the edge of his jaw. More evidence last Saturday went sideways.

“Uh, no. It’s fine.” Teagan stares at me for a moment, his brilliant blue gaze drinking me in as if he’s forgotten what I look like. “What are you doing here?”

My stomach twists and all at once, I doubt my plan. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all. Maybe I shouldn’t have come, but I’m here and there’s no going back, so I straighten my spine and strengthen my resolve. “I came to see you,” I tell him.

Obviously, Lane.

I fight the urge to roll my eyes.

Of course I’m here for him. Now strap on your big girl panties and tell himwhy.

Fucking talk, Lane.

I puff my chest and unearth the last of my courage. “Listen, Teagan. Maybe you’re glad I’m here, or maybe I’m the last person you want to see. I don’t know. But what I do know is I couldn’t go another day without talking to you, and even if you had answered one of my calls or returned one of my texts, this was something I had to do in person. So, I hope you don’t throw me out.”

I hold my breath, waiting for his reaction.

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