Page 104 of Moto
Huh?
I read the label more closely and recognize the medication. An ACE inhibitor, which is usually prescribed to manage heart conditions. And this dose is high. Extremely high. Who is Dr. Sanders? Why would he prescribe Dev heart meds, and why does Reese have them? My head swims. What the fuck is going on?
I text Reese immediately before I throw a load of clothes in the washer. I shower quickly, opting out of doing my hair or makeup.
Reese doesn’t respond which only irritates me.
Since I’m supposed to meet Sam in a half hour, a face-to-face with Reese will just have to wait. Or will it? As I open the front door, Reese races into the driveway on his muddy dirt bike.
“Kayla?” He parks the bike, charging toward me. “Is everything all right? Your text was cryptic.”
“I’m fine,” I bite, digging in my purse to pull out the pills. “What the fuck are these?”
Reese turns white. The nickname Phantom fitting.
“Where did you get those?” he asks defensively.
“I found them in your book bag. Hidden in the lining. Why do you have Dev’s pills?” I push.
He works his jaw, his eyes jumping between my face and the amber bottles.
“Reese?” I stress.
“They’re mine,” he confesses stoically.
“Yours?” I reply perplexed. “If they’re yours, why do they have Dev’s name on them? And what doctor in his right mind would prescribe a dose so high? These are some serious meds.”
“A doctor who knows his patient is a professional motorcycle racer.”
“I don’t understand. Explain,” I demand, desperate to connect the dots.
Before Reese can utter a word, it all comes crashing together, making perfect sense. The extra “pain” pills Dev gave Reese. Why he wouldn’t let me touch them. Why he’s so tired all the time, pale, weak. The obsession with his leather bag, and why he won’t let it out of his sight.
“How sick are you?” I can barely choke out the words.
“I’m not sure. I’m supposed to see Dev while I’m here,” he divulges, not a trace of reaction on his face.
“Why do you need to see Dev?” But as I ask the question, I already know the answer. “Because he treats you.”
Reese gestures with his head. “No sponsor would ever sign a rider who wasn’t in perfect physical health, let alone one with a heart condition. My career would have been over before it even began.”
“Your career!” I erupt. “What about yourbody? Your demanding lifestyle is taxing it to the max. You know that,right? The strain you put on your heart could kill you!” I shout. The thought of our child growing up without a father crushes me. He was already pushing his luck with his profession. But this?
“I know!” he pops off. “And I don’t care! I have nothing else to live for! It’s my life! I can’t walk away!” he screams at me like he’s possessed.
“You have nothing else to live for?” The tears well in seconds. “What about me? And our child? And our future? They’re all things you wanted, Reese. All things you pushed for.”
“Kayla, that’s not what I meant. I do want all those things.” He takes a distressed step toward me. “That came out completely wrong.”
“No, it didn’t.” I back away. “It’s exactly how you feel. Dev told me nothing would be more important to you than racing, and he was right.”
“No, he wasn’t. You’re more important thananything.” His tone is dire.
“If that were true, you wouldn’t have married me under false pretenses! You wouldn’t have lied! You would have told me the truth!”
“I couldn’t!”
“Yes, you could!” Enraged, hurt, and deceived, I storm out of the house.
