Page 130 of Broken Breath
“What makes her off-limits?”
I swallow hard. “She’s too young.”
And your sister.
Dane groans and lets his head fall to his shoulders, looking up to the sky. “Please tell me she’s at least eighteen.”
“Dane,” I snap. “Can you justlistenfor a second? It’s not like that, all right? She’s not a minor. Christ.”
He holds up his hands, but his eyes stay hard. Skeptical. “Okay. Okay.”
“It’s just… there’s a big age gap.Reallybig.” Dane’s face tightens, but he doesn’t interrupt, waiting for more. “And he’s not a bad guy,” I add, softer, like maybe if I say it enough, it’ll be true. “He never planned for this. It just… happened. One second, everything’s where it should be, and the next, it’s not, and now it feels all kinds of fucked-up, but at the same time, it feelsright.”
Dane leans against the railing, crossing his arms. “Right and fucked don’t usually go together, man.”
I drop my head, but the words keep coming. Ineedhim to understand. “The thing is… he knows if he leans into the feelings, if he lets this become something, it could break the friendship. And fuck, if that happens…”
I trail off because finishing that thought feels too dangerous.
“Real friendships don’t break like that.” Dane is back to looking at the screen. “Look at us. We’ve been through hell. You and me, we’re still here. We’ll always be.”
I swallow hard.God, I want to believe that.
“But I get what you’re saying. That kind of thing could make a mess out of both of them.” Dane glances at me again. “You sure this is about afriend?”
I scoff, try to laugh it off, but it comes out thin. “Just a friend.”
His gaze lingers on me for longer than I like, but then he shrugs. “Well, sometimes it’s better to leave it alone. Let people figure their shit out without making it worse.”
I nod, stuffing my hands deep into my pockets, feeling like I’m drowning in my own skin.
“Maybe it is.” But all I can feel is the ache of wanting to do anythingbutleave it alone.
Dane leans heavier into the railing, that crooked grinsliding back into place. “Look, man, you know I’d still be here for you, right? Even if you went and knocked up one of the young riders on the circuit.”
I snap my head toward him, eyes wide, but he just chuckles, which turns into a cough by the end.
“I mean, sometimes shit like that’s just fate,” he says, giving me hope briefly before ruining it. “And five years from now, when you’re married, chasing a toddler around the pits, no one’s gonna care about the age difference. They’ll just ask how you’re surviving on two hours of sleep.”
“Jesus, Dane, it’s not like that.”
His grin spreads, teasing. “You sure, old man?”
I glare, but it’s hollow. “We’re the same age, asshole.”
“All right, all right.” He raises his hands, palms out, still grinning. “Just saying, if you everwerefucking someone that much younger, you know I’d still love you, right? Shitty life choices and all.”
Even if I wasfucking your little sister?
My jaw clenches so tight it aches. “I’m not fucking anyone.”
“Sure, sure. Tell yourfriendthat, then.”
The speaker announces that Alaina is up next, and we both snap to attention.
I cross my arms over my chest and lean into the railing beside Dane, hoping it will help hold me upright as I try to hold all my shit together.
Because my baby girl or not, she’s coming.
