My chest tightens, but he doesn’t even give me the chance to open my mouth.
“We’ll frame it like this season ended early due to injury. Give you the off-time to recover, then let you wrap it up next year, your way. Clean exit. Full support. You’ll be back on your feet for Fort William.”
“You’d do that?” My fingers flex around the phone.
“Of course,” he says, almost scoffing. “You’ve been solid for us. A great mentor for the juniors, dependable as hell, and the fans love you. I’d love to have you for another season.”
It hits harder than I expected. Not only the offer, but his words, telling me that all the work I’ve done in the shadows actually meant something. I didn’t think anyone noticed, and I didn’t expect them to. I was just doing what felt right.
I almost say yes.
Almost let myself be swayed by the comfort of being wanted,needed.By someone finally seeing what I broughtto the table, but then my nose stings, and I remember why I called him, why I’m doing this.
I was clinging to racing because it was the last piece of me that made sense. The only thing I hadn’t wrecked, but now the only thing that matters is Alaina, and I can’t keep chasing long-ended dreams while I’m trying to rebuild what I destroyed. She deserves someone who shows up for her, who doesn’t run, who doesn’t keep hiding behind handlebars and adrenaline to avoid the hard shit.
If I want a chance at getting Alaina to let me back in, not just into her life, but to earn her trust and belief, I need to be better, and that means letting go of the version of me who only ever knew how to race away.
This time, I’m staying.
No more finish lines.
Just the fight that actually matters.
“Thank you,” I say, my voice thick with things I’m not sure how to name. “That means a lot, but I’m done.”
He blinks. “You’re done?”
“Yeah. I’m done racing. My career ended with the last race.”
“Finn—”
“It’s fine. Honestly, it was over a long time ago. I was just too much of a coward to admit it. Kept chasing ghosts because I didn’t know who I was without the plate on my bars.”
His silence is heavy on the other end, but I press through it.
“Doesn’t mean I’m leaving the sport, though. You know I love this too much to stay away, but I won’t be racing again.”
He exhales hard. “I get that. I really do, but you’ve still got a contract with us, Greer. Walking away like this will cost you.”
I shrug. “I know. It’s fine.”
“Fuck.” He scrubs a hand down his face, then softens. “Go on, break some hearts on a random Friday morning.”
I smile faintly. “I’m sorry to end it like this, but I’ll be around for the rest of the circuit. I’ll come find you in Val di Sole, say goodbye properly, okay?”
“You better.” He jabs a finger at the screen. “Or I’ll come findyou, Finn Greer.”
“Yes, sir.”
The moment the call ends, I sag back against the headboard, my spine finally giving out. Relief hits me so hard, I exhale sharply through my nose and grimace at the sting, but it’s worth it. God, it’s worth it.
That conversation has been overdue for months, years really, and yeah, it’s going to cost me. Terminating my contract, the payout clauses, the fines, they’re going to gut my savings and maybe ruin me for a while, but I can come back from that. I can fight through financial ruin. I’ve done harder things.
My phone buzzes in my hand, the screen lighting up with a text fromLuc-fucking-Delacroix.
Luc
Alaina’s check-up is in 30, better be there.
