Page 24 of Secret Baby with My One Timer

The players line up for a face-off and I pull my attention back to the game. The whistle blows and everyone rushes forward, hustling for the puck which I win and skate toward the goalie again as Coach Anders yells orders from the bench.

Determination fires through me. I have to prove to him and the owners that I’m worthy of the massive yearly salary I now expect.

I pass the puck to Nate Sinclair, our defenseman, because he has a clear shot of the goal. He fires the puck to the left of the goalie; it hits the back of the net.

Nate skates past me, tapping my stick with his. “Good pass. Your greedy ass normally likes those easy shots.”

“Okay, you can take a break,” Coach Anders yells.

I rush to my locker and take out my cell, ready to call my dad. He needs to call off his lawyer. Taylor and I can sort this out with no legal interference.

I smile when I see her name and open up her text.

How could you? You used me. Don’t bother coming to my home tonight. We were a mistake two years and definitely were last night, and it’s never happening again.

“Fuck!”

Without waiting, I hit her name on my cell and rush outside, not wanting anyone overhearing my conversation.

“What’s happened?” I say the moment she answers.

“You know fine well,” she hisses. “You’re trying to take Holly from me.”

“What are you talking about?”

Inside, I seethe as I think about my father.

“Don’t act dumb, Oliver. Harrison told me.”

“Harrison told you what?”

“You have a private investigator looking for me... for Holly.”

“How does Harrison know that?”

“Because his lawyer is Finn Jacks, the son of the man you hired.”

Chapter 10

Taylor

I stare at Harrison, listening to everything he has to say about what Finn told him.

“But why did Finn tell you?” I ask.

“Because he disagrees with some of his father’s practices and because he knows you’re my friend.”

Tears slip down my cheeks. I quickly wipe them away. I need to keep my tears for another time, because I know I’m going to be shedding a lot when he does what he promised. But I’m going to let him take her from me.

I don’t care if he is a hockey star with more money than me—I am her mom.

My head pounds as I rub my temples. “I need to see my mother.”

“I’m sorry Taylor. I really am. I thought Oliver looked genuine, like he really wanted you... not just Holly.”

Tears coat my eyes, but I refuse to cry. “Give me a minute.”

I stroll down the hallway to the bathroom, where I compose myself as I look myself over in my bedroom mirror. “You did it again, Taylor. Why can’t you fall for someone else?” I groan. “Once is forgivable. Twice is your own damn fault.”

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