I’m so ready for this season to be over.
I need a break, a real one where I can sleep in and wake up next to her without wondering what media outlet is about to drag her name through the dirt. Where I can breathe again, plan, and figure out what’s next for us. Because no matter what the future looks like, I’m not leaving her side ever again.
We pull into the gravel driveway, and I notice immediately that Dane’s car is gone, but light spills out of the kitchen window, and I catch a shadow moving behind the curtain. Probably Piper chasing Toulouse off the counter again.
I kill the engine, but no one moves right away.
“You think you’ll be faster tomorrow?” Mason says, probably only to fill the silence.
Luc grins. “IknowI’ll be faster.”
Mason nods solemnly. “Just make sure you don’t yeet yourself off the course.”
Luc flashes his teeth. “Better than finishing with no flair,Payne.”
I shake my head and pop the door open, boots crunching on the gravel. Their banter fades behind me as I head for the porch, my heart kicking up a notch the closer I get.
She’s in there.
She’s waiting.
And dammit, I don’t even care who wins this race tomorrow.
Tonight, I want to kiss my baby girl.
We step inside, and the second the door shuts behind us, I forget how to breathe.
She’s standing in the hallway in a robe that only makes it halfway down those strong, muscular thighs, the ones I can never not look at, and she’s holding my helmet in one hand, waiting. Her hair is damp, skin flushed like maybeshe just got out of the shower,andJesus Christ, I’m in trouble.
“How was qualifying?” she asks, voice casual, like she’s not standing there looking like a damn fantasy.
“Good,” I manage, though my brain is already somewhere else entirely. “Looks like I’m winning some money tomorrow.”
Luc snorts. “Pfft.To finish first, you have to finish first.”
“Still qualified ahead of you,” Mason mutters.
“I was conserving energy,” Luc counters. “Pacing myself. You ever heard of strategy, Pretty Boy?”
“That’s rich coming from you.” Mason smirks.
Alaina chuckles, her eyes warm when they meet mine. “I’ve got good news for you.”
“Oh?” I glance around for Dane or Piper, half-expecting them to pop out from behind the couch. “Where is everyone?”
“We’re home alone,” she says, stepping closer. “Dane and Piper left earlier this afternoon. They went to DC to meet with our dad. Talking team details.”
My brows pull. “Team details?”
Alaina nods, then shifts, placing my helmet on the counter. “Remember when Dane asked for your pitch? Your training plans, sponsor deck, budget, and stuff?”
“Yeah, but that was just…” A strange feeling bubbles up in my chest, a mix of unease and hope. “You’re saying they’re what? Showing that to your dad?”
“It was Dane’s idea. He wanted to wait to tell you about it until we were sure it would work out.” She hesitates, then lifts her gaze to mine. “But we are sure now.”
Something inside me cracks open. “Wait, Al, what are you talking about?”
“Your junior team,” she says softly. “Except it’s not just juniors anymore. It’s a full-blown team. We already signedLuc and Mason. And Otis. We’re hoping you’ll bring in Kevin and Rachel.”
