Chapter 21 #2
“Yeah. I mean, you’re riding angry. That can be good, but it’s not your flow. You’re not the angry type. You can still keep the aggression that makes you fast, but you have to let go of the anger.”
Mason’s jaw works as he thinks that over, but Finn is right. Mason is not angry, not at his core. The world forced that anger into him, turning him into something he isn’t.
Before Mason can say anything else, the gondola slows, creaking as it reaches the top. The doors slide open, letting in a gust of mountain air, and we spill out onto the platform.
I take a breath, relieved for fresh air and the space from everything inside that too-small cabin.
But then Finn touches my elbow. “Al, can I talk to you for a sec?”
I glance up into eyes that I know better than my own—my safe place until everything broke apart. “Sure.”
He steps away from the others, and I follow. His shoulders are tight, and his expression is carefully neutral when he speaks. “I think I can help Payne.”
I frown, taken aback. “What?”
“I think I’ve figured out what’s been holding him back.
If I’m right, I could help make him faster.
But…” Finn hesitates, searching my gaze, his jaw flexing.
“I wanted to check with you first. If I do this, I’ll be giving you stronger competition.
He’ll be harder to beat. I just don’t want to screw all this up for you. ”
My breath catches, latching onto the important part. “You’d do that for him?”
He shakes his head. “Not for him.”
The silent part is loud between us.
He’d do it for me.
Wait, does he still believe the rumors?
Does he think I would hang out with Mason if he’d done what they say he did?
“I’d appreciate you helping him.”
Finn tilts his head and watches me like he’s searching for what I might not be saying, and before I can stop myself, the words spill out.
“He didn’t do it.”
His brows draw together slowly. “He didn’t?”
“No. It was all Raine. It was Isaac telling his sister to spread rumors about Mason, to get rid of him. It’s the same thing with your fiancée, the same way he made Luc lash out, and what happened to Dane and me.
It’s all connected, Finn. It’s all him.” He doesn’t respond immediately, and anxiety twists in my chest. “You don’t believe me? ”
“I believe you. It’s just…” He exhales slowly, dragging a hand across his face. “Fuck. This is all so messed up.”
“I know, and Mason doesn’t deserve it. He deserves every bit of help you can give him. I want him to have a real shot at winning.”
“Even if he takes the overall from you?” Finn asks, searching my face. “Because, Al, Payne is good. More than good. When he finds the right melody, he’ll probably be faster than you and Luc.”
That doesn’t surprise me. Mason Payne is a phenomenal rider, calculated and stupidly fast. He’s already secured two overalls at twenty-four. That says enough.
I nod eagerly. “Yeah. I’m fine with that.”
And the thing is, it’s the truth. If Mason or Luc took the title, I wouldn’t be bitter. I’d be proud. I’d be actually happy for them.
That realization hits me like a slow punch to the ribs, and a crooked smile tugs at my lips before I can stop it.
Shit.
Everything has changed so fast. For years, all I wanted was revenge and a trophy.
And now? I want so much more.
Not just for myself, but for these men, Finn included, even if that doesn’t include me.
Finn watches me intently, like he’s seeing all of that play out behind my eyes. A soft, bittersweet smile spreads across his face. “You’re into him.”
I shrug, but the words come out almost breathless. “He’s mine.”
Luc’s laugh echoes nearby, and Finn glances toward the sound.
“And Luc’s mine too,” I add softly.
That gets his full attention again. I bite my lip as my pulse thuds at the base of my throat. “We’re together. All three of us. Mason, Luc, and me.”
Surprise and hurt flash in Finn’s eyes, but then he nods, and the hurt softens, folding into something warmer. “As long as you’re happy, Al.”
Something inside my chest cracks open at his gentle sincerity.
“I am,” I whisper, and it’s mostly true.
“Okay,” he says, straightening his shoulders. “If you want me to help Payne, I’ll do it, but he has to actually let me.”
“He will. I’m sure of it.” I offer him a small, grateful smile. “Thank you.”
“Of course, baby girl.”
The endearment echoes between us, dredging up all the things we haven’t said. I take a deep breath, holding his gaze just a moment longer, wishing things could’ve been different, and the what-ifs between us hadn’t cracked into a thousand sharp edges.
But the world isn’t that kind.
“Come on.” Finn nudges me lightly, the gesture familiar enough to break my heart just a little more. “We have a track walk to survive.”
My heart aches as we rejoin the others, not because I don’t want Mason or Luc, but because I know Finn will always hold a piece of me I can’t take back.
Dane has Piper tucked close to his side, but when he sees Finn, his smile drops away, replaced by a cold glare.
“You two done with your secret little chitchat?” he snaps, more cutting than necessary. “Some of us are here for track walk.”
“Dane,” I warn, putting myself squarely between them. “Drop it.”
His eyes flicker down to mine, and when he sees the conviction there, he huffs and turns his attention toward Piper again.
Finn gives me another sad smile, and it hits me right in the chest.
All of this, his bruised-up face, the broken friendship, the pain, the fractured silence between us, it’s on me.
My fault.
“What a beautiful day for a fucking useless walk down a mountain, don’t you think, Petite?” Luc breaks the tension, his arm slipping easily around my shoulders, tugging me against him.
Mason steps up to my other side, and together we make our way down the track.
After a few feet, I lean toward Mason and whisper, “Finn’s really good at what he does, you know.”
His brows furrow in question, but before I can say more, Finn crouches near a difficult half-camber section, gesturing at the rocks and roots littering the line.
“Here, see this? You want to come in a little higher, keep your weight farther back. Let the bike float over this section, then dive low into the next turn to carry your speed out.”
Mason shoots me another quick look, trying to puzzle out what’s changed, before he crouches down beside Finn. “You sure it’ll hold speed better?”
Finn nods confidently, tracing the line with his finger. “Yeah, you’re losing time with sections like this because you’re fighting the bike. Flow here, don’t battle it.”
I smile softly to myself, glancing sideways at Luc. He raises an eyebrow, curious, and I nudge him gently.
“You should probably listen to Finn, too, you know. Might learn something, or Mason will overtake you, and we’ll both end up eating his dust.”
“Funnily enough, since winning isn’t the only nice thing in my life anymore, Petite, it’s not quite as important as it used to be.
” Luc tightens his arm around me, pulling me close enough that I feel his breath ghost across my temple as we walk past the others.
“I’m not saying I’m done winning, or that I’ll stop racing for the top spot.
I’m just saying my life’s a whole lot fuller now.
And if you win, or if he does? It’s like I’m winning too. ”
My throat closes a little, emotion tightening in my chest, but then Luc tips his head down, nipping my neck. I push his face away, eyes darting around in panic. “Luc, not here.”