Page 105 of Rogue Riders Duet

My heart stutters. Not enough to give me away, but enough to feel it, right in the ribs, right where it already aches. I swallow it, pack it tight, and lock it away.

“No.”

“Okay.” He nods, not looking convinced in the slightest. “What about?”

“I had some big feelings,” I mutter. “He had some big feelings too.”

Luc hums thoughtfully. “Oh, I know having big feelings. My maman always says you’re entitled to your big feelings whenever you want, but you’re still responsible for the way you make others feel while you’re feeling those feelings.”

“That’s… weirdly wise.”

He grins. “She’s terrifying and powerful. I love her.”

“Yeah?” I ask, not even sure which part I’m asking about.

“Yeah,” he answers anyway. “She’s my best friend. Next to Toulouse.”

“Must be nice. I don’t have a mom.”

His expression softens even more. “I don’t have a dad anymore.”

“I don’t like my dad.”

He exhales slowly. “Mmm.”

His hand finds mine under the covers, stroking the back of it with his thumb.

We’re quiet for a long time after that.

“What were those big feelings about?” he asks eventually.

I hesitate. “I don’t know if I should tell you that.”

“You can tell me anything. Nobody would believe me anyway.”

I huff something close to a laugh. “Life.”

“What about it?” When I don’t answer quickly enough, he asks, “Does it have something to do with the scars that are all over you?”

Fuck, I’d hoped he had forgotten about them. “I know they’re not pretty.”

“Tout chez toi est joli. Absolument tout,” he murmurs, then demands softly, “Tell me.”

I shift closer and rest my forehead against his chest. “I’m not well. I haven’t been for a long time. And Dane just doesn’t understand.”

His hand slides up, threading into my hair. “I’m not well either,” he says quietly. “I understand. You can tell me.”

I sink further into his chest, relieved beyond words by something in his response. Something I’m too tired to pinpoint right now. “Life’s too heavy.”

“Why?”

“Because I can’t be who I want to be. Can’t do what I want to do. And because everything hurts all the damn time.”

He rakes his nails lightly down my scalp, creating a shiver all the way to my toes. “I get that, it’s shitty, but you’re here, you’re racing. We’re living the dream.”

“And what happens when the dream ends?” I whisper.

Luc doesn’t answer right away, but he continues his soft touches, then shifts slightly, snuggling closer. His nose brushes my forehead as he whispers, “Anything can be a dream if it’s small enough.”