Page 398 of Rogue Riders Duet

They stayed.

And somehow…

They loved me back to life.

BONUS CHAPTER

“What about us, coach? No pep talk? Nothing inspirational?” Luc yells after me.

I lift my hand and lazily flip him off over my shoulder without breaking stride. “There’s your inspiration.”

“We love you too, Papi!” he calls, his voice carrying all the way down the slope.

I shake my head, a grin tugging at my mouth.

How the hell did I end up here, loving that maniac like a brother right back?

His sunglasses sit crooked on my nose, oversized and ridiculous. I tug the hood of my hoodie a little higher, more for the tiny crew snoring inside it than for me. Four tiny heartbeats drum against my neck like bad punk drummers who never learned to count.

Shoving my hands into my pockets, I steer toward the gondola station. My reflection in the glass doors catches me—Rogue Riders hoodie, sneakers, four sleeping rats, rockstar shades.

Team Manager of the Year, right here.

The volunteer nods me through, his eyes darting to my wriggling hood. I shrug. “Emotional support staff.”

The gondola rocks as I step in. Doors hiss shut, cutting out the crowd, leaving only the creak of cable and the faint squeak of tiny dreams against my collar. I sink onto the bench and exhale, shoulders slumping.

“All right, Sleepyheads,” I murmur. “Question of the day, who do you think’s gonna win?”

A rustle. A squeak. Then a tiny face pushes out from the hood.

“Well, look who’s awake.” I lift my arm, and Pheonix scampers down the sleeve to my palm.

“My money’s on your mom, too,” I tell her. “Smart choice. She’s amazing, isn’t she?”

Phoenix tilts her head, then starts washing her face with both tiny hands like she’s agreeing.

“Yeah.” I stroke her soft fur with my thumb. “She deserves it. More than anyone.”

The gondola hums along the cable, trees sliding past in slow motion. Below us, the track snakes through the woods, sections flashing silver in the sun.

“Who would’ve thought dreams come true, huh?” I add. “A broken girl, a busted-up career, and two idiots who keep stealing my snacks. Somehow, this was the dream all along.”

There’s another rustle from the hood before Toulouse emerges, climbing up to perch on my shoulder. He stretches, yawns, and sits tall like a tiny, proud king surveying his kingdom.

“You probably knew from the start, didn’t you?” I say, turning my head so we’re eye to eye. “You and your crazy dad. The Delacroix boys knew before the rest of us did.”

Toulouse chitters softly, rubbing his nose against my ear. I chuckle. “All right, all right. You can take partial credit.”

Phoenix squeaks in protest, and I laugh outright this time. “Fine, all of you get credit.”

For a minute, I sit there in the swaying gondola, nerves and excitement mixing inside me.

“She’s gonna do it,” I murmur finally. “I can feel it. Hell, maybe I just know it. She’s got it.”

Toulouse chirps again, as if he’s echoing it for the universe to hear.

We slow, pulling into the station, and the trees break open, sunlight flooding in. “All right, gang. Showtime.” I lift Phoenix back toward the hood, and she dives in willingly. Toulouse follows, curling right against Bristol like the tiny gentleman he is. “Nap time’s over, my little pit crew.” I pat the hood lightly. “Let’s go see history.”