Page 33 of Let You Love Me

Of course. He probably has a million girls he strings along, just like the rest of them.

“Those your groupies?” I purr.

“Depends.” He grins. “You jealous?”

I choke on a laugh when Gabby slaps a hand over my chest to stop whatever word vomit is about to spew from my mouth. “Do you like kids, Teagan?” she asks him.

I want to die.

Seriously.

Dig a hole and throw me in.

My entire face catches fire, but the worst part is that I find myself waiting for his answer.

But Teagan just chuckles like this is a question he’s asked all the time and is not completely humiliating. “I love kids. Tiny humans are cool.”

“See?” Gabby turns to me, eyes wide. “Tiny humans are cool.”

“Anyway. . .” I drawl, trying to quickly change the subject. Not that I want to be discussinganythingwith him. “Didn’t I tell you to lose my number?” I ask him again.

“Lane!” Gabby gasps, but Teagan remains unfettered.

He hooks his thumbs in the pockets of his jeans, the picture of easy confidence as his lips quirk. “I don’t scare easily.”

Beside me Gabby snickers, and I shoot her a glare that says,Don’t you have class?

I toy with my coffee cup, flustered. “There has to be something that would turn you off.”

“Just liars.”

“Well, great. I’ll make it a point to lie through my teeth from now on.” Frustrated, I sigh and rake a hand through my hair. “Listen, I’m busy, and I’m not looking to date right now.”

“So, if that’s a lie, then youarelooking to date?”

“What?” I shake my head. “No. I was just—”

Teagan laughs, and I roll my eyes.

“Relax, Lane. Who said anything about wanting to date you?”

You know a minute ago when I thought I might die of embarrassment? Yeah, I was wrong. Now is the time of my death.

My cheeks catch fire, and I want to crawl in a hole and die. How could I be so presumptuous? Of course he doesn’t want to date me. I’m a college student and a single mom. I flat out told him my life is complicated. I’m basically a walking, talking disclaimer. Most guys don’t want to touch me with a ten-foot pole when they find out I’ve got a child at twenty-one.

“Oh. I . . .” I snap my mouth closed.What the hell do I say?

If he’s not interested in me, then whatdoeshe want from me?

“Right, sorry. My bad,” I mumble.

He chuckles and bumps my arm with his. “Lane, I’m kidding.” Then he rolls his eyes. “Of course I was interested. Have you looked in a mirror lately?” He reaches out and brushes a thumb over the heat in my cheeks, and I suck in a breath at the electric jolt of his touch. “You’re so freaking cute when you’re flustered.”

“But . . .” I stumble over my words. “My father . . .”

Teagan grimaces at the reminder. “I know. Kind of put a hitch in my step, not to mention the fact that you’re clearly uninterested. You and I probably aren’t the best idea.”

All the air leaves my lungs as if someone popped me like a balloon, and I feel a pang of disappointment deep inside my chest. Which is ridiculous. I don’t want a relationship, but I can’t deny that his interest feels nice.

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