Page 125 of Rogue Riders Duet

But fuck if the intent doesn’t count for something.

“Not everyone thinks that,” he says, his voice so quiet I almost miss it. “I don’t. She never deserved you, even before she spewed that shit.”

I let out a bitter laugh, eyes drifting away. “You think so?”

“No,” he says, sharper now. “I know so. She’s a bitch. You deserve someone who’s not out to break you.”

“Yeah,” I mutter. “I used to think she was a bitch too. Then I thought… maybe I was wrong. She started acting differently.” I shake my head. “Guess she was just a better liar than I gave her credit for.”

“You weren’t wrong for hoping,” he says quietly. “Just don’t ignore your gut next time.”

I huff a bitter breath. “What next time? It’s not like I’m gonna find someone else who’ll actually let me touch them.”

There’s a beat of silence before we both glance down at our hands.

I didn’t realize how much I’d needed that contact until this moment, how starved I am for it. How safe it feels with him.

“I’m letting you touch me.”

I want to stay right there, skin on skin, hearts just barely beating in sync, but I can’t because that want terrifies me. So I yank my hand away like I’ve been burned, even though I already miss the heat of him.

What the fuck am I even doing here?

Mini Crews smirks softly, but there’s nothing mocking about it. “Another reason not to let Raine win this year.”

I snort. “It was his sister, not him.”

His eyes narrow again. “And who do you think told her to do that?”

Wait, what?

“You think?”

“Pretty sure. Yeah.”

Well, that’s just… fuck.

I rake a hand through my hair, exhaling hard. “I need that World Cup overall win anyway. Everything depends on it.”

“What does?”

I want to regret saying that, but after everything I just spilled, holding back now feels like bullshit.

“Dad lost everything because of me,” I explain with a heavy sigh. “His job. His home. His money. Everything. We’re living off scraps, holding this whole thing together with duct tape and debt. If this season doesn’t work, if I don’t win, I can’t afford another year as a privateer. We’ll have to give it up. The dream. Everything.”

I stare down at the dirt. Saying it out loud feels too real. All of it.

“And right now…” I add, my voice dropping, “… it’s not looking great.”

Mini Crews leans back on his hands, considering me. “It’s been two races. You’re only 125 points behind first, everything’s still possible.”

“Keeping track of points?” I ask with a raised brow.

He shrugs. “Aren’t you?”

Busted.

“And you’ve already pulled two overalls in your career,” he adds.