Mason’s brow furrows. “Yeah?”
Luc nods. “But his sponsor bailed. That’s why we drank.”
“Fuck,” Mason mutters.
I glance back at Finn. “I didn’t know you two were that close?”
“We weren’t,” Luc says with a chuckle, which somehow leaves me with more questions than answers.
We start walking toward the track, and not long into it, the first rock garden comes into view. Finn is crouched beside it, probably explaining line choices to Rachel and Kevin, and Otis makes his way over and listens in.
That leaves Luc, Mason, and me standing at the edge of the section.
My pulse picks up.
I was turning this over all of yesterday and all last night. If I’m going to do this, if I’m going to let go of the rage, theidentity,theyneed to know first. Because if they’re not in, there’s no point in making a new plan at all.
I glance around, but no one is close enough to listen in.
Now or never.
I wet my lips, then drop my voice to a murmur. “What would you guys say if Allen Crews finished the season without outing himself?” Both their heads snap to me. “And to Alaina Crews coming back to racing, after probably another hip surgery, recovery, and?—”
Luc’s eyes widen as he cuts me off. “You want to come back?”
“Yeah,” I whisper. “I think so. I’m not sure if it’s a good idea, or if it’s just?—”
Luc lets out a sharp laugh, and suddenly, I’m off the ground. He spins me in a full circle, almost dropping me.
“Of-fucking-course it’s a great idea!” he crows, setting me down only to frame my face with both hands. “Bébé, please. I’ll do anything to help. I’ll make sure my team signs you. You’re gonna haveeverything. From surgery to rehab to the best equipment and mechanic, to the first gate drop, we’ve got you. Right, Mase?”
Mason just looks at me. “So, fuck revenge?”
I nod. “The people I love know what happened. That’s enough.”
His smile breaks slowly, a dimple flashing as he pulls me from Luc’s grip into a solid hug. “I’m proud of you.”
“Yeah,” I breathe out. “Maybe I’m proud of me too.” We all smile at each other like dorks before I continue with the rest I wanted to share. “Okay, so even if I love you for trying to find me a spot, Luc, Dane actually had an idea. Our dad still wants to make up for everything. So Dane figured, why not use that?”
Luc’s brows lift. “Use ithow?”
“We pitched him the idea to fund Finn’s team, but notjust juniors. An elite squad too. So I can race, and Finn can run his junior team. Dane can still be my manager, and Piper can be our physio. I’d love to have Jim as our mechanic, even though we’d need to ask him first.”
Mason’s eyebrows rise. “Your dad would do that?”
“Yeah. He’s still hell-bent on trying to fix things with me, apparently, and money’s not the issue. He already agreed, we’re just waiting for the official go.”
“Putain, even better.” Luc steps in close, palm cupping my cheek. “You’re so damn special, you know that? You’re not just building a comeback, you’re making his dream come true. The kids’ too.”
I swallow hard. “It’s not me. It’s the money. My dad’s.”
“Luc’s right,” Mason disagrees. “You’re making the dream happen.”
“You know.” I glance up at him. “We’ll be a new team, not a big name, and you’re one of the best riders on the circuit, but…”
He steps closer. “But what, Bambi?”
“If we’re doing this. If we’re putting this together, I want you in it. Would you want to sign with us, Mason?” His eyes go wide, and it makes me insecure, so I just keep on talking. “I mean, we won’t have a big pit at first. We would have to share the physio and mechanic. It’s not a legacy team yet, but it could be in a few years, when we get some more sponsors going and?—”
