Page 48 of Twisted Trails (Rogue Riders Duet #2)

It’s not that simple, and it eats at me that I had weeks to say what I should have.

I let her walk away from me because I was too scared of what it meant to want her, too loyal to Dane.

I told myself I was protecting her, that it wasn’t my place, and now I watch her lean into someone else’s touch, hear her laugh because of someone else’s words, and it feels like a punch and a blessing all at once.

Dane snorts just as another bright laugh bursts from Alaina’s chest, and I can’t help it, my lips pull into a grin because God, that sound .

“Whatever makes her laugh like that,” I murmur, more to myself than to him, “I’m on board.”

Even if it’s not just me, and even if she chooses all of us.

The fact that she might still choose me at all?

That she hasn’t shut that door after everything I did and didn’t say.

And that’s more than I deserve.

Dane looks at me a little longer this time. “You do love her.”

“You know I do, and I love you, too, like a brother.”

He arches a brow. “Didn’t you once say you loved her like a sister?”

“Things change.”

“But a punch to the face didn’t change you loving me like a brother? ”

There’s something raw in the way he asks it. Not anger, but honesty, and maybe a little shame, as if he wants things to be okay between us again, but maybe isn’t quite ready for that yet.

“I deserved it, and like you said, we’ve been through hell, but we’re still here.”

Silence stretches, and I think that the conversation is done, but then Dane whispers, “What you said in the hospital.” I look up at him, but he doesn’t meet my eyes.

“I’m sorry I left you all those years ago.

I was hurting and didn’t know what to do, but you were right, I should’ve picked up the damn phone.

I needed you. I just didn’t know how to say it. ”

I swallow around the knot that rises in my throat. “It’s okay. I’m sorry I fell in love with your little sister.”

He huffs a laugh through his nose. “I think I can get over that, as long as you keep doing what you’re doing.”

I lean forward, listening intently. “Which is?”

“Looking out for her. The finger guard? That shit was genius. You saved her season, probably more.”

“I’m just trying to make things right.”

“She knows, and I do too.” He stretches his arm behind Piper and closes his eyes briefly, like he’s letting something heavy go. “Alaina said you ended your career.”

Fuck.

We always said we’d stop together. We used to joke about it, retiring the same year, throwing a party, ditching the jerseys, and starting our own team. We said we’d build something.

But he stopped without me.

And now I’ve stopped without him.

That space between us, the years, the fallout, and the silence, it’s damn hard to put any of it into words, so I just nod .

“Because of her?”

I run a hand over my jaw.

Damn, I need to shave.

“It was time. That ending was overdue for a while now, but, yeah, she may have been the key factor.”

He nods like he understands more than he says. “So what now?”

I lean back, eyes drifting out the window. “I’ve got a plan, and I’m gonna do everything I can to make it real.”

He tilts his head. “What kind of plan?”

I smile at the thought of it. “I’ve got two juniors at home. A brother and sister I’ve been training for the past couple of years. Good kids. Better than good. They’ve got the fire.”

Dane’s eyes spark with interest. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me that?”

“I don’t know. The timing never felt right, but I’m gonna introduce you when we’re in Mont-Sainte-Anne. You’ll love them. They train like hell, and their dream is to get to the circuit. My dream is to get them there.”

“And what’s keeping you from it?”

“Sponsors.” I frown, remembering the bitter disappointments. “I had one on the hook already, almost signed, but they bailed, said I wasn’t big enough to carry their name.”

“Fuckers.” He huffs. “Okay, so now you’re looking for other sponsors? How are you pitching that? Do you have a finance plan, a budget, a training plan?”

“Yeah, I’ve got everything. Did some seminars and shit.”

“Show me.”

“What?”

“Show me your pitch. The plans. Budget, projections, all of it.” Dane levels me with a serious look.

“I studied finance, man. I know my way around analyzing and running numbers. I know what a good rider schedule looks like from years of doing this shit, and in case you forgot…” He smirks.

“I also manage a world-class rider. Heard of him?”

“Right.” I laugh, despite myself. “That Allen Crews guy.”

He grins. “Exactly.”

I pull my laptop from my backpack, open the folder, and pass it over. “Knock yourself out.”

Dane sets it across his lap, clicking through the files. “Huh.” His voice is thoughtful. “This is actually pretty damn impressive.”

“Thanks.”

“You really want this,” he murmurs, and it’s not a question.

I glance at Alaina again.

“More than almost anything.”

Dane clicks on something and frowns. “There are a few things we could clean up in here. Streamline the numbers. Make your sponsor pitch tighter.”

I raise an eyebrow. “ We? ”

“Yeah, we. Don’t look so shocked. Show me the plan, Greer, I’ll help you make it happen.”