Page 92 of Heartbreaker

“This is us telling you that you belong here, Lana.” The light turns on, then, in some wild, grand gesture, and it works out perfectly. In the center of the arena, the unicorn truck sits, a light shining on it. All the other trucks are parked around it, pointing toward the center, but most importantly, everyone stands before Lana’s truck: drivers, techs, crew, and employees of the circuit. Even Phil and my dad are standing there, in shirts matching everyone else’s.

Purple shirts with pink writing across the chest: Heartbreaker in big, bold font.

What the hell is this?” she asks with a laugh, eyes wide.

“You’re a part of this family, Lana. We want you to stay.”

“I…” she starts, the word a whisper as she looks at everyone smiling at me. “Did you do this?”

“I had some help.” I look over at Oliver and Tyler, who have thrown a Heartbreaker shirt over his tee, and both are grinning at me. When Lana’s eyes turn back to mine, they’re shimmering. “You belong here, Lana. Everyone knows it. I think you know it too, but you’re scared to admit it. But it’s fine. The whole point of an adrenaline rush is that it’s tinged in fear.”

“Rome,” she whispers, looking from everyone watching to me. “I’m supposed to go to a new assignment soon.”

“I think your mission is over, Lana,” I murmur, pushing a loose hair behind her ear. “I think this was always your path, that you were always supposed to find the version of you that felt right. And stay.”

“What?”

“You joined the Mavens because it was easy, because you’re great at sliding into one personality or the next, because you didn’t know which one felt most like you. I think you joined because it gave you the chance to try new versions of yourself out, see which one fits. It was never supposed to be a forever thing for you, Lana.”

“I don’t⁠—”

“Has it ever been hard to leave an assignment?” I ask, and when she doesn’t argue my point, my chest swells with hope.

“No, but I think it’s just hard because of you,” she says, and I shake my head.

“No, it’s not, and you know it. You didn’t love this place just because of me. You felt safe to love me because you finally found yourself. You’re having a hard time leaving this assignment because this is where you belong.” He looks at me, stunned, then looks over my shoulder at Demi, who gives her a small, knowing smile. She’s seen it too, sees Lana light up, become more of herself. And just like me, she doesn’t want her best friend to lose that, even if it means she’ll lose her partner.

“Stay here. It’s where you were always meant to be, Lana.” I murmur, holding her close.

“Lana, you’ve gotta stay!” Courtney shouts from the crowd.

“Yeah, with you and Rome gone, no one is going to be able to keep Tyler’s ego in check,” Oliver says with a laugh. Her eyes shimmer as she laughs, too.

“Please don’t make me put on a purple shirt for nothing,” Tyler groans.

“How did you convince them to do that?” she asks, smiling wide and alluring.

“Blackmail.”

“Roman!”

“I’m kidding, Lana,” I say with a wide grin. “It didn’t take much at all. They also want you here.” Her eyes water and a single tear drops down her cheek. I wipe it quickly with my thumb.

“They do?” she asks, voice shaky.

“Hello! And now that Jordan’s gone, I told Phil we should bring another woman on. The applications have come pouring in,” Courtney adds. Lana gasps, looking over at the publicists with the certainty clear on her face.

“They have?”

“You’ve inspired so many women to try out. You need to stay to continue that legacy. You’ve made such an impact in just two months—imagine what you could do with an entire season.” It’s clear now that she likes this idea, that she needed the permission to believe in this, that she wants to get excited. Then another wave of reality crashes over her face

“I don’t know…” she says, looking to the side. “I’ve got a job, and⁠—”

“Lana, babe. I love you,” Demi says, coming to her side. Lana steps away, turning her whole body to her partner and friend; my hand stays in hers, a firm, grounding touch. “You know that. And not having you by my side will suck so bad because I always want it to be us, but you lit up when you came here. You’re a different person than you were when we first arrived.” She takes a moment, as if trying to think it through, to find the right words before her smile softens. “You’re you when you’re here, Lana. Not the Chameleon, not someone who can shape shift into a version that fits in wherever she needs to. But you. Lana, the real version, is all bubblegum pink, sparkles, dirt, and chaos. I’ve never seen you fit in somewhere the way you do here.”

“But… the Mavens…” she says, her voice wavering, and Demi lifts a shoulder.

“You and I both know this gig isn’t a lifetime thing for everyone. You just needed it while you needed it. Now you have found where you were supposed to be. Gabriel said he knew this was coming.”