Page 66 of The Sacrifice
“Okay.” I nod.You are such an idiot.
“I’ll check with him and see if he’s available.”
I gnaw on my bottom lip. “If he’s okay with me coming in, is that okay?”
“Yes, ma’am. The players can invite guests to the stadiums unless it’s an official practice time.”
“Thank you.” I drag my cellphone out of my pocket. “Let me call him.”
“He’ll either have to come out here, or I need to call him. You know.” He shrugs. “So I know you’re aboveboard and actually speaking with him. Having a baby doesn’t mean you’re here with good intentions.”
“Right.” I nod as heat settles over my face. I should have never come. I poke on Jackson’s face and listen as his phone rings.
Seconds later, he answers. “Is everything okay?”
The concern in his voice warms my heart, and after the last few minutes, I needed it. “I’m down at the front desk–”
“What’s wrong? I’m on my way.”
“It’s fine. You don’t have to. You can tell me where you are, and security can call you. I’m sure they can have someone send me to you. I know–”
“Mia,” he growls. “I’m on my way. The meeting just finished. Give me twenty seconds.”
“Okay.”
“Is everything okay?” His breath sounds ragged as if he’s jogging.
“I’m fine. Hadley is fine.”
“Thank God.”
The security guard turns back to his monitor as if realizing I’m harmless. Two seconds later, Jackson steps into view at the top of the second-floor stairs and descends them two at a time.
The guard nods at him. “Is she with you?”
“Yes. She’s with me.”
“Go on, then.” He tips his head toward Jackson.
“Thanks.” The floor is polished to a high shine, and the walls are covered in lit-up trophy cases. The largest one is covered in diamonds. That thing must have cost a fortune.
Jackson cups my cheek as his chest moves up and down with his breathing. “What is it? If you needed me, I would’ve come home.”
“It’s this.” I shove the envelope at him. “I think it’s Hadley’s paternity results.”
“About time.” He takes it from my hand. “You could have opened it.”
“No. I couldn’t.” My hand shakes as I switch the carrier to my other hand.
“Yes. You could have.” He lifts the yellow and brown blanket and smiles. “It’s not like I don’t already know the answer.”
“Open it.” I swipe my hand on my jeans.
“Yes, ma’am.” He winks and slides open the envelope, pulling out the pages. There aren’t many of them. Maybe two or three at the most. Is that a good sign or a bad sign? My hands shake as I wait.
He scans them for a couple of seconds and waves them in front of me. “See. I told you not to stress over it. I know the Rhodes genes. I’ve seen it in all our family baby photos. She is my daughter.”
“Thank God.” My shoulders sag. “I knew it but was scared to death it wasn’t true.” In a fraction of a second, she wormed her way into my heart and has only dug herself farther every day. I can’t imagine either of them not in my life.