Page 334 of Rogue Riders Duet

Rachel lets out a high-pitched squeal that makes Mason huff a laugh. I reach for his wrist, giving it a gentle squeeze in apology, since we’d planned to ride the gondola up together, but he gives me that soft smile in return. As I move past him and Luc to join Finn and the juniors at the next gondola, I let my fingers brush Luc’s arm in passing, and he flashes me a wink.

As the gondola door hisses shut behind us, and we all sit down, Rachel blurts, “Alaina, I’m your biggest fan!”

“Rach!” Finn visibly tenses. “Didn’t I tell you not to use her name here?”

“Yeah, but we’re in the gondola. It’s just us.”

“Yeah, loosen up.” Kevin shrugs. “It’s not like anybody can hear us here.”

“Jesus Christ,” Finn mutters, pinching the bridge of his nose, which is still green from the bruising.

I snicker. “They’re fine, Finn.”

“I have no idea who you two are,” Finn says dryly. “You’re usually so well-behaved.”

“Liar.” Kevin chuckles, and I bite back another laugh.

They’re adorable together and clearly tight. It reminds me of how Finn was with me when I was a junior.

“Anyway,” Rachel continues. “I’m your biggest fan. I watched almost all your races. In juniors and now. You’re the coolest.”

“I’m not, but thanks.”

“You so are,” she insists. “You were always the fastest, the one with the most insane lines, and now you’re racing with the men, and you’re still killing it. You’re so cool.”

“Thanks,” I say again, chuckling.

“I’m not the only one who thinks that. Kevin does too.”

Kevin shrugs. “How could we not? It was always Alaina this, Alaina that. Alaina would have sent it better. For years.”

Finn shifts, rubbing the back of his neck, a little sheepish. It’s rare for him to look even a tiny bit embarrassed, and I kind of love it.

“For years,” Rachel echoes. “Rach, you need to ride more like Alaina.”

Then Kevin joins in and they say in unison, “Alaina had the rhythm.”

I laugh at Finn, whose ears are as red as his jerseys always were. “Okay, are you two done with the bedtime stories?”

“If you knew how many times he talked about you…” Kevin says, grinning widely, “… you’d get a restraining order.”

Finn shoots him a look. “You know what I told you to do if you want to come on the track walk?”

“Shut our mouths and keep our eyes open.”

“Great,” Finn deadpans. “Why don’t we start with that right now?”

My cheeks hurt from smiling, and my chest tingles as Finn’s gaze finds mine again, the corner of his mouth twitching in that half-grin.

The gondola slows, doors cracking open at the top.

I step out and glance back. “I’m waiting on Luc and Mason.”

Finn nods, hands shoved into his pockets. “Sure, but we’re starting now before they get too excited and start leaking more of my secrets.”

“Better odds,” Kevin mutters dryly, just as Finn plants a hand on each of their shoulders and nudges them forward.

The next gondola rolls in, doors gliding open to reveal Luc, Mason, and Otis. Luc is already grinning, while Toulouse pokes his tiny head out of Otis’ hoodie. Mason squints toward the trailhead where Rachel and Kevin are chatting animatedly beside Finn.