Page 65 of Twisted Trails
Luc reaches over and takes my hand, his thumb stroking lightly over the back of it.
“I want all of that withyou, too,Petite,” he says quietly. “I want to be in a relationship withyou. I want to be happy withyou.”
I look at him, heart suddenly thudding in a whole different rhythm. Part fear. Part awe. All tangled up in the stupid, complicated truth of what I want.
“Okay, then let’s be happy,” I say it like I believe it, and I’m not scared to death that I’ll end up third-wheeling the very thing I pushed for, but I do mean it. I want them both to be happy. I want that for all of us, and maybe, if I say it enough, I’ll start to believe it—the idea that Luc can have the choice between the two of us and still choose me too.
He stills for a second. “You mean…”
I nod again, my heart thudding. “Honestly? Yesterday, I was still convinced my life was over in four weeks. Now, if I’m really committing to living this life, then I sure as fuck want to live it the wayIwant. So yeah. You can be with Mason, and you can be with me. You can have both of us,ifMason’s okay with that, I mean.”
Luc smiles. “I don’t think he’ll have a problem, but I’ll talk to him.”
“Great.”
Is it though? I mean, yes, I love that for them. For us. But part of me is still bracing, afraid of what happens when lines blur and love starts multiplying. What if I just handed Mason over on a silver platter? What if Luc falls harder for him than for me? And what about Finn?
Before I can spiral too far, Luc speaks again—like he’s been eavesdropping on my inner chaos.
“And you can have Greer.”
I snort. “I don’t think I want him anymore.”
Luc snorts, too, louder than I just did.
“Fine,” I mutter. “I don’tletmyself want him anymore, and I don’t think Dane would allow it anyway.”
Luc shrugs. “Let that bemyproblem.”
“Ugh. Whatever.” I glare at him. “You changed the subject. We weren’t done talking about your dad.”
Luc smirks, not letting go of my hand. “Areyouchanging the subject now? From Greer?”
“Maybe.”
He squeezes my hand gently and lets me off the hook. “Well, there isn’t much more to say. He did what he did, and I can sympathize, but I’m not feeling that way right now.”
I nod, a little relief seeping through. “I’m glad to hear that. But… you did once?”
Luc’s voice drops a little. “I did last year. When shit happened with Mason. I felt so fucking bad. I pitied myself, you know? Because I lost that thing we had, the fire, the fight, and I think, somewhere in my head, I thought my whole career was over, and at that point, it was everything I had.” He laughs softly, self-deprecating. “I was actually thinking about it, but I was alsoverysure I wouldn’t do it, mostly for mymaman, but I felt like absolute shit. Then, after a race, when the rumors were flying and everything was messed up, I was walking through Val di Sole and passed a pet shop. I don’t know why, but I went in. I’ve never wanted a pet. Neverbeenthat guy.”
He turns onto a more rural road, and the car starts to shake and bounce over the cobblestones.
“I got to the cages, and they were all empty, except one. One cage, one rat. Tiny little guy. He looked miserable, sick, and alone. Like he’d already given up. Just like me.”
A soft smile tugs at Luc’s lip. “And I thought…non. We can do this together. Me and him. Toulouse taught me how to take care of myself because I had to take care ofhim. He saved me and kept me sane. At least until I metyou.”
I don’t even try to stop the sting in my eyes. “Sounds like I’m gonna have to try to like that little guy.”
Luc huffs a laugh. “You alreadylovehim.”
I squeeze his hand, because yeah, maybe he grew on me.
“How are you feeling?” Luc asks softly after a beat of silence, still holding my hand. “You just said you wanted to commit to living this life?”
“I do.” I tilt my head and let myself think about it. “And right now I think I’m feeling strong enough.”
“But?”
