I’m trying to focus, to find that razor’s edge of calm I race best in, but Finn’s laughter is like a damn woodpecker battering my skull.
“Beauty,” Finn says to Dane with a low chuckle. “This feels like old times. Only thing missing is your little sister cussing us out.”
My spine goes as stiff as if someone yanked my brake line tight, and I bite my lip so hard I taste copper.
“She was cussingyouout for not being able to shut up and let us concentrate,” Dane deadpans.
“Which, you’re still not able to do,”I mutter under my breath, trying to steady my pulse, but it’s already gone erratic.
Dane glances at me, frowning, but I avoid his eyes.
Focus.I need to focus.
Just as I manage to reanchor myself, something pink slices through the crowd like a highlighter.
Can’t I get a fucking break?
God help us all, helpme, there he goes, wearing another of his way-too-tight race jerseys. His mechanic trails behindhim, pushing a pink bike that probably costs more than my entire setup.
Luc stops in front of us, surveys the already-cramped space, and points right between me and Finn. “There.”
The mechanic obeys without so much as a blink, wedging the bike right between ours like we’re not even here. The handlebar grazes my elbow.
“Hey!” I snap as I aim my glare at the guy, but he’s already walking off.
“Don’t be like that,Petit,” Luc says as he flicks my nose.Flicks it.“There’s space for everyone. Right, Greer?”
“Sure.” Finn doesn’t miss a beat. “There’s always space for Delacroix. Whether we want there to be or not.”
Luc chuckles like he didn’t catch the dig. Or maybe he just doesn’t care. He swings his leg over his bike, clips in, and starts spinning like he owns the mountain. It was already tight here before, but now it’s too tight. I’ve got a Luc Delacroix elbow six inches from my face.
“Isn’t there…” I stop and clear my throat, lowering my voice. “Isn’t there anywhere else you could go?”
“What?” Luc tilts his head with mock innocence. “You don’t want to share your space with me? I shared my physio with you, didn’t I?”
Ah, fuck.
“What?” Dane asks, drawing our attention. “What did he just say?”
“I’ll explain later,” I mutter to him as a fresh bead of sweat trickles down my spine, then glare at Luc. “And that was you apologizing.”
“For what?” Finn asks, perking up like a bloodhound catching a scent.
“Yeah,” Dane adds, glancing between us. “For what?”
“Oh, mon amis,” Luc says with a shitty little smile. “I have some secrets withPetit.”
Finn laughs and reaches for his water bottle. “Al doesn’t have secrets.”
I glance at him using my nickname, then at Dane, who just shrugs.
I hate that I still can’t figure out whether Finn is fucking with me.
Luc hums. “I don’t know. I thinkPetitCrews is full of surprises.” His tone dips just enough to make it suggestive, and I narrow my eyes at him. “You’ve got this look,” he adds. “Like you’re always ready to bite someone. But maybe, deep down…” His grin stretches his mustache. “You just want someone to bite you first, hmm?”
Finn coughs loudly, almost choking on the drink of water he just took. Dane shoots Luc a glare so sharp it could cut tires.
God.
