The Endgame Is You (Rixon Raiders #4) - L A Cotton Page 0,65
been understanding. I’ve tried to be there for you, for Xander, even your parents. I don’t grumble or complain, or trash talk you to our friends. Because I get it. I get you want to do the right thing. You wouldn’t be the guy I fell in love with if you didn’t. But something is happening to us and I’m starting to wonder if it has anything to do with everything else going on, or if it’s just us. If maybe you’re starting to feel like...” Hailee’s bottom lip quivered but she swallowed her emotion. “I’m the burden.”
Without speaking, I got up and crossed the room to her. Dropping to my knees, I looped my hand around the back of her neck and pulled her to me until our heads were pressed together. “You are not a burden.”
“So, what is it? Why do I feel like I’m losing you?”
Her words snaked through me, lashing my insides. “Because I’m an asshole,” I breathed. “I take your love for granted. I take you for granted, and I shouldn’t.”
“I just don’t understand how we got here?” Hailee was holding back her tears. I heard them in her voice.
“I love you. I love you so damn much, and I know things haven’t been right for a while and I—”
The blare of my cell cut through the air, and Hailee’s gaze darted over my shoulder.
“I’ll leave it,” I said.
But it didn’t stop ringing.
“Maybe you should get it; it could be your mom.”
My eyes shuttered, my heart torn in two. I wanted to put Hailee first, to prove to her she was the most important thing in my life...
“Cam, it’s okay.” She took my hands and gently moved out of my hold. “Go, they need you.”
And I need you. But the words wouldn’t come out.
I got up and ran a hand over my face. Hailee had curled up on the chair, her expression crestfallen. “I’m sorry,” I mouthed as I snatched up my cell phone and hit answer. “Dad?” I said, panic flooding me as I wondered what Xander could have possibly done this time.
“Cameron, Son…”
“Dad, what is it?”
“It’s your mom... She’s in the hospital.”
The world fell away as I tried to process his words.
“What do you mean, she’s in the hospital?”
“She... she collapsed. They think she had a seizure.”
“Where’s Xander?”
“He’s with Asher’s mom. He was there when it happened. I found them—”
“Dad?” My voice cracked.
“We need you, Son. We need you to come home.”
Hailee
We got a flight to Philadelphia and rented a car to drive to Rixon. It was the quickest option.
Cameron had barely spoken a word on the ninety-minute flight from Detroit. He’d clutched my hand the entire way there though, as if I was his lifeline.
The second I pulled up outside the Rixon General, Cameron grabbed the door handle. “I need to—”
“Go,” I said. “I’ll find somewhere to park.”
He gave me a small nod and climbed out, jogging across the street and disappearing inside.
My heart ached for them. First Xander, now this. I didn’t want to assume the worst, but I knew that if anything happened to Karen, the Chase men wouldn’t survive it.
I found a parking spot and cut the engine. I wanted to go to him, to see how Karen was. But I needed a minute.
I didn’t get it though. My cell phone started ringing.
“Jason?”
“How is he?”
“I- I don’t know. His dad called and everything was a blur after that. We just got to the hospital.”
“Is he there? Can I speak to him? He isn’t answering his cell.”
“N- no. I’m in the car still.”
“Hailee, what is it? What’s wrong?”
The tears I’d fought so hard to contain exploded, streaming down my cheeks like unstoppable rivers, the noise of my heavy sobs audible.
“Shit, Hailee, don’t cry. He’ll be okay. They’ll all be okay.”
“They won’t. If she doesn’t make it... I’ll lose him, Jase. I know I will.” Every fear and insecurity I’d felt over the last few weeks battered me like an unforgiving storm.
If his mom was sick again, he would quit the team—maybe even quit college—and move back to Rixon. Because that’s the kind of guy Cameron was. He made sacrifices for the people he loved. And they would need him.
His family would need him.
“You’re his family too,” Jase said, and I didn’t even realize I’d said the words aloud.
“You know what I mean. He’ll be here and I’ll be there.”
“But you’ll get through this. You will. Listen, did the two of you get a chance to talk?”