Page 54 of Rush

“Quarter of a million dollars. That's just this race.”

“Off one race?”

Isla glances at me; her face etched in concern. “Yeah, babe. And this isn’t his first race. Jameson’s been racing for the past three years for Romeo.”

“No.” I shake my head in denial. There’s no way. Soon other puzzle pieces start to fall into place. The sudden opening at Natures Ridge, my apartment building. Jameson’s handwritten note with that same name next to Live on my own. The easy transfer to Michigan and the scholarship. My tuition amount is written in the same penmanship next to my list of college choices. “This isn’t happening,” I whisper to myself, feeling tears well in my eyes.

My legs shake as I take steps forward. I need answers and I don’t trust going to Jameson right now. Instead, I make my way out of the library, forgoing classes for the morning until I figure out how deep this goes. The admissions building is right across from the library as I run out the door and up the stairs. The office area is clean and crisp and has three different receptionists.

“Can I help you, dear?” A sweet, middle-aged lady dressed in a deep burgundy pantsuit addresses me.

Clearing my throat, I approach her and hope she can’t see the tracks of tears left on my cheeks. “Yes. I need to talk to someone about my scholarship."

Her head tilts and her eyes narrow slightly. “Can I get your first and last name, please?”

“Sam. Sam Campbell,” I rattle off the necessary information to help her look me up in her system. Her lips turn into a frown as she reads the screen and her eyes come up to mine slightly confused. “I’m sorry, Miss Campbell. I don’t have you listed here as a recipient of one of our scholarships.”

My face pales and there's a flash of concern in her eyes. “You aren’t getting a scholarship but your tuition is being paid. All deposits are usually paid in advance. Right now, it's through the beginning of your next semester.”

My eyes widen. “That’s over twenty thousand dollars.”

She nods, glancing at her computer. “Yes, dear.”

In a last ditch effort, I look at her pleadingly. “Can you please tell me if Paisley Rourke is the name on the checks.”

The poor woman turns back to the computer and clicks a few more buttons before clucking her tongue. “Nope. It looks like the checks are in the name of a Mr. Jameson Kane.”

Noise fades and white dots dance in front of my vision. My lungs seize for air. “Thank you,” I manage to tell the woman, while I walk away fast, staring into space like a zombie.

My aunt lied to me. Jameson lied and has been keeping more secrets. Life-altering secrets. How much has he done to get me here? Why is he doing all of this? I should ask him. I could pull out my phone now, make the call, or show up at the shop demanding answers. Would he tell me the truth? My breath shudders in my chest and I feel the most vulnerable as I have in years. I want to run and I want to hide. My mind needs time to process this bombshell and come to grips with what it means.

I coast through the rest of my afternoon classes. Attending for appearances but not paying attention. Somehow, I make it through practice, but I can feel Riley’s, Emma’s and Isla’s concerned gazes on me the entire time. After practice, I pull Riley to the side.

“Can you come get Dylan tonight?”

Her brow rises and shock flashes in her eyes. “Yes. Are you okay? Did something happen?”

I shake my head. “No. Don’t tell anyone I’m asking, especially the guys, please.”

And I tell her quickly about how Carter went to Jameson when Isla and I were in Chicago. Riley frowns.

“Carter needs his head examined. But yes, I promise, I won’t say anything until you say it’s okay.”

“Thanks, Riles.” I hug her and leave the locker room to get Dylan. This is usually Jameson’s late night, which happens to work in my favor.

After picking up Dylan, I text Jameson a picture of her like normal. Act normal. Pretend like everything is okay, my brain keeps chanting. He responds back quickly, saying he’s happy to see his girls. After Dylan eats, there’s a knock on my door. I answer it and Riley steps in.

“I just need to pack her bag,” I tell her and hurry down the hall to her room. I grab clothes and pajamas and her favorite blanket. “Dylan! Guess what big girl, you get to have a girls’ night with Aunty Riley.”

Dylan claps her hands and bounces on her toes. “Unca RayRay too?”

Riley giggles at her. “Yes, Uncle Reign will be there too. Let’s hurry, little bestie.”

Riley helps her slip on her shoes. Once they leave, I lock the door and turn off my lights, choosing to hide out in my room. Taking out the note again, I lay it flat on my bed. Everything I’ve known the past few years feels like a lie, a carefully laid out manipulation. I feel betrayed and my trust destroyed. My mind replays every event, large and small, that happened. Things that didn’t feel significant and things that were. My eyes fall to the list again, hitting every bullet point. This time I stop on the word Babies. He circled it. Knowing Jameson, there's a meaning behind that.

My phone vibrates. KANE flashes on the screen. Holding my breath, I let it ring. The room goes silent for a few seconds and then it happens again. I do not answer. The phone finally falls silent and I release the breath I was holding in. My body jumps when the lock on my front door engages and the door opens then closes. He found me.

Jameson’s footsteps echo down the hall. His large frame fills my open door space and the hair on the back of my neck rises. Our gazes clash and I see the unfiltered hunger in the way he’s looking at me. Babies. My mind pulls me swiftly to the past of another memory.