Page 251 of Rogue Riders Duet

Maybe I should be the one who leaves.

I make myself peek around the edge one more time, because I need to see her again before I go, but then Dane claps Luc on the shoulder. “I owe you one, Delacroix.”

Luc turns with a grin, and his gaze lands straight on me.

Ah, fuck.

His mouth quirks like he was expecting me. “Oh, you can show me that right now.”

Before I can move, he’s nudging Alaina gently toward Mason. “Go with him to the appointment, Petite. I’ll catch up.”

She glances between him and Dane, clearly confused, but Mason nods and takes the bag from her. Luc leans in and murmurs something I can’t hear, and Alaina gives the faintest nod before walking off with Mason down the hall.

Delacroix turns back to Dane, grips his upper arm, and starts walking straight toward me.

I almost bolt.

But I promised myself, I’m not running anymore. If I leave, I go with my head held high because it’s better for her, not because I’m too afraid to stay. So I step around the corner just as they reach it.

Dane’s eyes narrow the second he sees me, his body tensing. His jaw clenches, and his hands curl into fists.

Here we go again.

Luc steps between us, placing a hand on Dane’s chest. “You said you owe me one, right? Well, what I want is for you to fucking listen.”

Dane scowls, arms crossing over his chest. “You’ve got five minutes.”

Delacroix jerks his chin toward me. “Come here, Greer.”

I take a step closer, my pulse pounding in my throat.

“I don’t know your history,” he starts. “I don’t know your friendship or how deep the shit goes. I don’t care, but I know Alaina, and this fight between you two is giving her major anxiety.”

Dane’s brow furrows. “What?”

“She thinks she’s responsible for it, which is probably true.”

“No,” Dane growls, glaring at me. “He is. He’s the one who fucked my little sister.”

I cringe. “Can’t argue with that.”

Delacroix rolls his eyes at me. “Can you help me out a little here?”

I shrug. “I said I’d stop lying.”

“Incroyable,” Luc mutters. “Anyway. The point is you two need to figure your shit out so she doesn’t keep blaming herself.”

Dane glares. “What do you want from me? Pretend it didn’t happen? I don’t know, throw them an engagement party?”

“Fuck no.” Luc laughs.

But my brain latches onto the idea. Engagement. The thought should make me panic, but it doesn’t, not even a little.

After what happened with my ex-fiancée, I thought I was done with wanting to marry. Swore I’d never go near a ring again. Fuck, if I’m honest, the first thing I felt when she called it off was relief, and that should be telling enough. But if Alaina wanted it? If she looked at me with those stormy caramel eyes and asked?

I’d marry her in a heartbeat.

Delacroix shakes his head. “No weddings. Just understanding. She still loves him. She was in love with him for the last ten years, and don’t tell me you didn’t notice. That’s bullshit.”