Page 42 of Let You Love Me

It’s just food, nothing more, evidenced by the small human clutching your hand.

No biggie.

I clear my throat and glance down at Sophie. I’d told her on the way here we were meeting a new friend, but I hadn’t botheredwith specifics. I’m about to remind her of where we met Teagan when he surprises me by dropping to his haunches so he’s at eye level with her, and says, “Hey, Soph, remember me?”

She nods, curls bouncing as her tiny grin eats up her face. “You bought me the ball.”

“That’s me. Good memory, kiddo.” He winks and points to the little stuffed dinosaur in her hands, the one she’s never without. “Who’s this?”

“Oh,” Sophie glances down at the stuffed toy. “That’s Betty.”

“Betty? That’s a nice name for a cool dinosaur.”

She nods, eyes wide. “She’s a Brachiosaurus.”

“Well, I hope Betty likes pizza.”

Sophie screws up her face. “No. Betty’s an omnivore. She doesn’t eat pizza. She eats plants, silly.”

“Oh. My bad.” Teagan grins, then straightens as Sophie beams up at him like he’s God’s gift, and right now, I kind of don’t blame her.

The knot of nerves in my chest tightens as he rises to his full height and his eyes lock with mine. “Hey,” he murmurs.

“Hey,” I say back, and he stares at me so intently with a slow spreading grin that I blush and glance away. “Um, are we allowed to sit?” I motion for the booth, and he jumps as if remembering where we are.

“Oh, yeah. Shoot. Sorry about that.” He runs a hand through his hair and steps aside while I slide into the booth beside Sophie, chastising myself for the bubbling, giddy feeling building inside my chest.

I feel like a middle schooler with a crush, which is ridiculous.

“I’m thirsty,” Sophie says.

“Okay, I know. We’ll get you something, hon.” I risk a quick peek at Teagan, wondering if he’ll find her slightly whiny tone irritating, but I notice nothing amiss in his expression. Ifanything, he seems pleased by her presence as he folds his arms over the table and leans toward her.

“I’m thirsty, too. After practice, I could drink a gallon of water. Did you know I play football?”

Sophie shakes her head, eyes wide while I fidget in my seat. “You do?” she asks.

Teagan nods. “Which is also why I’m starving, and pizza is my favorite. I bet you don’t like pizza.”

Her blue eyes round even more, and she nods, offering him a toothy grin. “No, I do. I love it.”

Teagan slaps a hand over his chest. “Whew. Man, I’m so relieved. For a second there, I thought maybe you were like Betty and hated it, and that would be terrible because I just can’t be friends with a human who doesn’t like pizza since I eat itallthe time.”

“You do?”

Teagan nods, his expression solemn. “I do.”

“My mom says pizza is bad for you.”

Teagan gasps in mock horror. “It is?”

“I don’t know.” Sophie turns to me as something tugs inside my chest.

“Well, in moderation it’s fine, but you don’t want to eat it too often.”

“How much do you eat it?” she asks, turning back to him, concern wrinkling her brow.

“Hmmm . . . at least three times a week.”

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