Page 70 of Hold Me Tight

Zane’s brow creases. “When the hell did you two get so chummy? Shouldn’t I have been the first one she texted if she needed something?”

I skip the first question and go straight to the second. “Would you have watched Nora for the entire day?”

We both know the answer.

He shifts before glancing away. “That’s not the point. She should’ve come to me first. There was no need to involve you.”

His gaze drifts back to Nora, studying her a little too long before landing on me again. I can practically see the gears grinding in his head as his face turns pinched.

“There’s nothing going on between you two, right?” He lets out a sharp laugh, but it doesn’t touch his eyes. “You wouldn’t do that to me, bro. Would you?”

Emotion tightens in my chest. I knew this conversation was coming at some point. Maybe it’s better to rip the bandage off now and get it over with. My feelings for Callie aren’t going to change. If anything, they’ve only grown stronger.

And now that she’s living with me?

I don’t want her to ever leave.

“I haven’t done anything to you,” I say.

Zane’s expression shifts as his eyes widen. He doesn’t need help reading between the lines. “What the fuck does that mean?”

“Watch your language,” I warn, adjusting Nora when she stirs at his sharp tone.

His jaw tightens. “Don’t tell me how to talk around my own kid.”

“Callie and Nora are staying with me.”

He jerks back. “Why the hell would they do that?”

“Her rent shot up five hundred dollars a month and she wasn’t able to swing it.” I keep my tone even, not wanting to escalate the situation. People are already throwing curious glances our way. The last thing I need is for someone to recognize us and decide to record our conversation. It’ll end up on Railers Rumors before I can blink. Unlike Zane, I don’t need or want the attention.

“Maybe you haven’t noticed, but she’s been working her ass off and is barely scraping by. I have more than enough space. So, I’m helping her out.”

Zane’s jaw works as he processes the comment. “Sounds to me like you might be doing more than just offering her a place to stay.”

It would be impossible to miss the pointed edge in his voice.

Before I can respond, Nora shifts in my arms and her thumb slips into her mouth as her eyes blink with drowsiness.

“Rivvy,” she murmurs, curling her hand into the collar of my hoodie. “Go home.”

My chest tightens. There isn’t a single thing I wouldn’t do to protect this little girl. Even if that means the person I need to protect her from is her own father.

Zane watches us, and I see the moment he realizes this isn’t a temporary situation. I’m not just some guy helping Callie out. I’m part of their lives now.

“Looks like my ex has gotten real comfortable with you, huh?” he says.

“Yeah, she has.” I hold his steady gaze. There’s no fucking way I’m backing down. There’s too much at stake. “And you don’t get to have an opinion about that.”

He opens his mouth like he wants to argue before slamming it shut again. Whatever he’s thinking, he keeps it to himself.

Without another word, he swings around and takes off.

But the look he throws over his shoulder as he walks away?

It says everything.

I adjust Nora in my arms and press a kiss against her head. She smells like strawberries and cream.