Page 36 of The Red-Hot Stakes

We came to sign number two and exchanged proud high fives. This time we went left, but quickly doubled back after hitting a dead end.

“So you and Avery met in college, right?” Liam kicked a clump of dirt that exploded into a tiny cloud of dust.

“Yeah. We were in the same dorm building and a bunch of the same classes. My roommate dropped out after the first semester, so she moved in and the rest is history.”

“She’s pretty great. I’m glad you have her.”

I stayed quiet as we rounded a corner, trying to decide if I should say more. “I’m sure she’s told you that I didn’t grow up in the best situation.” I glanced over, but his face remained neutral. “I never knew my dad, and I got taken away from my birth mom when I was three. Then I got put into the system.”

Flashes of painful memories stabbed at me, trying to break through the barrier I kept them behind. “I jumped from foster home to foster home. Every time I’d get settled, something would happen.” I stared at the dirt. “Other kids called me cursed.”

I’d stopped hoping after a while, stopped even unpacking. Because I’d known it wasn’t worth it.

And I was always right.

“I was living on my own at the age of sixteen, and I went into a pawn shop to sell the only thing I had of value, a gold necklace from my mother. Aunt Thea runs that store.” I cleared my throat, remembering my desperation that day, how hungry I’d been.

“She gave me money for the necklace, but she also gave me a job. And a place to stay with her and Uncle David. They’re family now. I don’t know where I’d be without them.” I walked in silence for a few minutes, gathering my thoughts.

“College was my way to make something of myself, and I ended up with a partial scholarship. Between that and some grant money, I made it through my first year.” I paused, thinking of my best friend. “But I couldn’t have done it without Avery. She’s my family, too.”

He nodded. “I’m sorry things were so rough on you growing up.”

I braced myself for the pity I knew I’d see, but it wasn’t there. His gaze held a mix of empathy, sadness, and maybe admiration.

“It’s amazing how far you’ve come.” He touched his elbow to my arm in a gentle nudge. “Cleats were definitely the right description for you.”

I ducked my head, unsure what to do in the face of his compliment. I cleared my throat. “What about you? Your family?”

“I have two sisters, and I’m the middle one. They’re both married with kids.” A fond smile tipped his lips.

“I bet you’re a fun uncle.” I could just picture him, teasing and playing. The sisters yelling at him not to get the kids all riled. “What about your parents? What do they do? Something in politics, right?”

“You mean you haven’t heard of the great John Davenport?”

The name sounded familiar, but not enough to make me put a name with a face, so I shook my head.

“Dad’s fairly high up, works at the state level now. My mom and Derek’s mom grew up together, both from old money.”

He led us down a narrower path. I silently predicted it’d be a dead end, but kept my mouth shut.

“Each of us kids had a trust fund to use for college or business. I started using mine for college, but that…didn’t work out.” He cleared his throat. “So I began investing, and I’ve been doing well.”

“You don’t have any other job? That’s all you do?” A pinprick of envy ran through me.

He stared at the ground, finding another clump of dirt to kick. “Aside from The High Five, I’m pretty much a silent partner. I’ve been wanting something I could have a more active role in, so when this deal came along, I jumped on it. I’m anxious to see how we can make your vision come to life.”

The dead end appeared, just as I’d known it would. I smirked, and he noticed.

“What? You knew?”

I shrugged. “I had a hunch.”

He pressed his lips together then grunted. “Fine. You lead.”

I led us back the way we came, taking the opposite choice at the intersection, then a right turn at the next, and soon we came to sign number three. I raised my chin in triumph.

He chuckled. “All right, you win.” When we stopped to have a drink of water, I itched my nose, and Liam laughed. “You’ve got a smudge now. Hang on.”

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