Page 95 of Let You Love Me

“I don’t want her to get hurt, Teagan. She’s already growing attached, evidenced by the bracelet she begged me to bring you yesterday, and I think a little of that is okay. Our weekly pizza night at Slice is fine, but I’ve been thinking, and it’s probably best if we limit our interaction to just that, once a week.”

As it is, that’ll be too much. I know, because I already find myself waiting to see him each day on my shift and counting down the hours until the next one.

Sophie’s no different.

The more time she spends with him, the more she talks about him. Just yesterday, after we delivered the bracelet, she asked when we’d see him next, and the idea of her becoming attached and losing him scares me more than anything.

“That’s bullshit, Lane. I would never do anything to hurt her, and I want to see her.”

“I know that, but when things go south with us, I’ll have to explain—”

“If.”

“What?” I blink and shake my head to clear it.

“Ifthings go south. You saidwhen. And for the record, that’s one of the reasons we’re only friends, right? How could things possibly end poorly among friends?”

I swallow over the lump in my throat. The word “friends” suddenly seems wholly inadequate to describe the flowy feeling I get when I think of him, like someone turned on a spotlight inside my chest, lighting me up and chasing the darkness.

When I say nothing, he adds, “You should know I don’t just abandon my friends, Lane. Best damn friend ever, remember?”

I huff out a laugh. Of course I remember, and so far, he’s living up to the title. But that’s part of the problem, isn’t it? The more amazing he proves himself to be, the worse it’ll hurt once he’s gone.

“Do you want references?” he asks.

I bark out a laugh. “What?”

“References. I can give you the numbers of all my friends and you can ask them about what kind of friend I am, how loyal, trustworthy, whatever.”

I scoff. “Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t need references, Teagan. I need . . .”I growl in frustration, “I don’t know what I need.”

But I do know; I just don’t want to say it.

Ineedspace but Iwanthim, and I feel my resolve slipping by the second under his persuasion.

“So it’s settled, then.”

“What’s settled?” I lift my free hand and pinch the bridge of my nose.

“We’re friends, which also means we’re hanging out today.”

“Teagan, I don’t think—”

“Be at your house in thirty. Be ready and dress casual.”

“No. Wait—” I start, but the line goes dead before I can finish.

I hold my phone out and stare at the blank screen, stunned as I rewind our conversation in my head, wondering how we got here. From the moment I found out I was having a baby, I had to grow a backbone. I’m no longer easily persuaded or influenced. I don’t give into things on a whim. Instead, I’m headstrong and steadfast in my decisions.

But Teagan Nichols is an entirely different beast.

I’ve only known him for weeks and yet I can see he’s a man who goes after what he wants and doesn’t quit until he gets it.

And for reasons I can’t explain, he seems to want me.

Chapter 23

TEAGAN

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