Page 47 of Hold Me Tight

Every time Zane opens his mouth, it becomes more obvious that he’s not worthy of either one of them.

He never was.

I close the distance between us before dropping my voice as he yanks on a pair of joggers. “Did you know the bakery’s struggling? If Callie’s the one supporting your kid, maybe you should do the right thing and help her out instead of being a selfish tool and only thinking about yourself.”

He scoffs like I’m being overly dramatic, and that pisses me off even more. “You think I’ve got extra cash lying around?” He grabs his cologne and sprays it twice. “I need to head out. We’ve got a photoshoot tonight, and Gigi’s hair takes, like, an hour.”

He winks at himself in the mirror before strutting out of the locker room. The door swings shut behind him as the silence settles like dust in his wake.

Oliver shakes his head. “That guy is on such an ego trip. If Gigi dumps him, he’d probably marry himself.”

Laiken lets out a low whistle. “That guy needs a reality check that’s not on TV.”

Jax’s brows furrow. “Did he really say he wants to put Nora on camera? On a reality show?”

“Yup,” Steele says, crossing his arms as he leans against his locker. “That’s exactly what he said. There’s no way Callie will let that fly.”

“There’s no way I’m going to let it happen,” I grit out. Just saying it makes my blood pressure spike.

Steele lifts a brow. “Is that so? You get a say in the matter?”

I meet his gaze without flinching. “Yeah. I do.”

Respect flickers in his expression before one side of his mouth hitches with amusement. “Does Callie know you’re making decisions for her now?”

“Nope,” I admit, “but she will.”

I’m done watching her carry the weight of everything while Zane coasts through life without consequence. And I’m done watching Nora grow up without the kind of steady, safe presence she deserves.

Zane might be her biological father, but let’s be honest, that’s where his contribution ends. I’m not going to sit back and let either of them pay the price for his failures.

Steele nods. “Good for you, man. She deserves someone who’s willing to step up.”

“Thanks.” I sling my bag over my shoulder, offer a quick goodbye, and push through the locker room door.

The second it clicks shut behind me, my phone buzzes in my pocket.

I don’t have to look at the screen to know who it is.

Twin intuition is a legit freaky thing.

I swipe to answer. “Hey, Willow. What’s up?”

“Is everything okay?” She sounds like she’s on full alert.

“Yeah, everything’s fine. Why?”

“I don’t know,” she mutters. “I just had this feeling you needed me.”

I huff out a quiet laugh. “Have I ever told you how unsettling that sixth sense of yours is?”

That comment makes her chuckle. “Welcome to being a twin. There’s something in your voice. You sound like you’re about to punch someone or profess your undying love. Which is it?”

“The situation is complicated,” I say with a groan.

“So,” she muses, “not hockey.”

I scrub a hand down my face as I step into the corridor. “Her name’s Callie, and she has a daughter. Along with an ex who doesn’t deserve either of them.” There’s a pause before I admit, “He also happens to be one of my teammates. Zane.”