Page 94 of Let You Love Me

“Anything I can help with?”

I wish.

I remember the days when my problems were so small my parents could solve them all. It’s been a long time since then.

“Nope. It’s fine.” I sigh.

Nothing I can’t handle, anyway.

My phone dings and I glance down at it, noting a new text from Teagan. “Um, I’ll be right back,” I mumble, grateful both Mom and Sophie are preoccupied with loading another cookie sheet.

I wander from the kitchen and up the stairs toward my bedroom as I click open the text and read.

Teagan: Do you have plans for the day? I was hoping to see you.

I bite my lip, debating.

Should I answer or ignore him?

I crack my neck, a habit I’ve had for years, then begin to type.

Me: I was just out with Gabby and Soph. We’ll probably stay in the rest of the day. Sorry.

Not even a minute passes after I hit send that my phone starts to ring.

I suck in a breath.

He’s calling me.

Shit.

Do I answer?

Of course I have to answer.

He obviously knows I’m around because I just texted him back.

Shit, shit, shit.

“Hello?”

“Why stay in when you can go out with me instead?” Teagan asks the second I answer.

My stomach tightens at the same time the rush I feel whenever I’m with him floods through my veins, begging me to give in and say yes.

My head spins from the whiplash of emotions as I try to remember the reasons I can’t. “I don’t know,” I hedge. “Soph and I should probably stay here.”

“What? No. You most definitely shouldnotstay there.”

“Teagan . . .” I close my eyes, my head warring with my heart. I want to see him, but I know I can’t. Friends or not, it’ll only lead to disappointment.

“Lane . . .” He mocks.

“It’s just that you’ve spent a lot of time with Sophie lately. I think you should probably keep a little distance, you know?”

“No, I don’t know. Explain.”

I sigh and shove a hand through my hair.Why can’t he just make this easy? Take my answer as a no and move on?

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