“Merde, Papi.” Luc grins, eyes bright with intrigue. “What’s my song? I gotta know.”
Finn shrugs again, but his eyes stay on me like he’s still astonished I’m speaking this highly of him. “Smooth Criminal.”
Luc wrinkles his nose, clearly offended. “Michael Jackson?”
“No. Alien Ant Farm.”
“Fuck yes. That’s way more my jam.”
I snort, shaking my head.It does fit him.
“What’sPetite’ssong?” Luc asks, obviously very interested in the answer, and I am too. I’d love to know whether Finn thinks it’s still the same song, even after all the years of training.
Finn’s eyes find mine, and the smallest smile tugs at his lips when he says softly, ““Still Waiting,” Sum 41.”
Warmth fills my chest, and I have to remember to exhale.
Yes, still the same damn song.
AndI love it.
Luc squeezes my hand when he laughs. “That’s so damn badass.”
Mason leans forward, catching Finn’s eye. “And you’re saying I’m too aggressive?”
“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.
