Page 106 of Golden Goal

“I saw that car too. I figured it was someone in the neighborhood. But now that you’ve mentioned it, I remember seeing one like it a few times recently. I thought it was a coincidence seeing the same color and type of car all over the place. But maybe not.”

I wrap my arms around myself, trying not to think about the invasion of my privacy. Of Holt’s privacy. How angry it makes me feel.

“It’s too late for me to call my lawyer now, but I’ll do it first thing in the morning. I’ll see what he thinks, but I’m sure he’ll want us to file a police report and get a restraining order against Kat.” He meets my gaze.

“Okay.”

“Do you really want to break up with me?”

“Hey,” Wes says, walking into the kitchen. “Where did you . . .” He trails off, his eyes widening, when he catches sight of me. “Never mind,” he mumbles, backing back out of the room and disappearing.

I pick at my nails, thinking about Holt’s question. Of course I don’t want to break up with him. Of course I want to be with him.

But can I really?

Or will I be looking over my shoulder forever, waiting for Kat to show up again? Will I be worrying that something bad will happen to him? Or Hazel?

But what will not being with him solve? Won’t that essentially mean that Kat has won? I’ll be unhappy without him, and I have a feeling he’ll be unhappy without me.

Fuck her. She doesn’t get to win.

“Becca?” Holt prompts.

“No.” I look up at him. “I don’t want to break up with you. It’s the last thing I want, but it’s what I thought I had to do. To keep you and Hazel safe from her. But that’s what she wanted, right? For us to break up? I refuse to give her what she wants.” I scowl.

He makes his way over to me his arms outstretched, and I get up and sink into his touch, loving the way it feels to be in his arms.

Like I’m home.

Like he’s my home.

Tears well in my eyes and I take a shaky breath.

“It’s okay. Everything’s going to be fine. I promise.” Holt rubs my back, and I lean against him, letting him hold me up. “Can I kiss you?”

In answer, I pull back from him, go up on my tiptoes, and press my lips to his. With a contented hum, he kisses me back.

“Will you stay the night?” Holt whispers when the kiss ends.

“I’d like that. But I don’t have anything with me.”

“I’m sure I can find you a shirt to wear to bed. Not that you’ll need anything.” He winks at me. “So no need to go home.” He pauses. “Unless you need to feed Peaches.”

I shake my head, smiling up at him. “No, she’s set for the night.”

“Good. Are you hungry?” My stomach rumbles. “There’s my answer. Come on, I’m sure the guys are hungry too. We’ll order takeout.”

We spend the next few hours eating pizza and hanging out with everyone.

Eventually, the guys leave, and Hadley feigns wanting an early night and heads to her room.

Holt and I get Hazel ready for bed together. He gives her a bath while I make her bottle. I clean up the last of the pizza and do the dishes while he feeds Hazel and gets her into bed. Once everything is cleaned up, I take a seat on the couch, suddenly exhausted, the events of the twenty-four-ish hours catching up with me.

A few minutes later, I hear him come back downstairs and look up from where I’m scrolling on my phone to see him leaning casually against the wall, arms crossed, smirking.

“Yes?”

He pushes off the wall, stalking over to me and scoops me, throwing me over his shoulder. I squeal, dropping my phone on the couch, and squirming.