Page 98 of Hold Me Tight

Carefully, as if it’s something fragile, she sets the little jersey aside. Her hand dips into the bag again and pulls out the second one in her size. Her movements falter, and it takes a moment before she lifts the fabric to her chest. When her gaze finds mine, the unspoken questions swimming in her eyes are impossible to miss.

“You got us matching jerseys? With your name and number?”

I shrug, feigning nonchalance. “I was hoping you’d wear them tonight at the game.”

The moment thrums with anticipation and a hint of anxiety.

This isn’t just about a jersey.

It’s about what it represents.

It’s about us.

About what we’re building, even if neither of us has dared to label it yet.

“I wasn’t planning on going tonight,” she admits quietly.

“It would really mean a lot to me to have you in the stands, supporting me. Both of you. I’m playing my brother-in-law, and Willow and the kids will be there rooting for Mav. I need my own cheering section.”

She steps in close and presses a kiss to my cheek. It’s quick, light, and gone before I’m able to react.

“Oh,” she says slowly, lips twitching like she’s fighting back a grin. “That’s right. You’re playing Maverick’s team tonight. Well, now you’ve given me something to think about.”

I’m sorry… what?

I arch a brow. “So let me get this straight. You weren’t sure about watching me, but the second Mav hits the ice, you’re suddenly clearing your schedule?”

She smirks. “What can I say? He’s nice to look at.”

I eat up the distance between us and brush my knuckles along her jaw. Only then do I tip her chin until our gazes lock. “Careful, Callie. You keep talking like that, and I’ll spend the whole damn night making sure you remember exactly who you belong to and whose name you’ll be screaming long after the game’s over.”

She wavers but doesn’t back away.

Not even a little.

And damn if that doesn’t make me want her even more.

My hand falls away as she picks up Nora and turns toward the hallway, as if the conversation has already been settled. As I watch her leave, every muscle winds tight and my pulse races.

That’s the moment I realize I’m already hers.

Body.

Heart.

Every damn piece of me.

I just hope when she’s ready, she’ll choose to be mine as well.

35

Callie

From the second I step into the bakery, I’m off-balance and out of sorts.

The bell over the door chimes the same way it always does, and the glass display case gleams without a smudge in sight. Behind the counter, Sloane is elbow-deep in a mixing bowl, folding chunks of chocolate into dough.

This place has always been my safe space.