Page 167 of The Route to You

“Can I ask you one question?” she said at last.

“What’s that?”

“Are you doing this because you feel backed into a corner, without any other options, or are you doing it for you?”

His lips lifted in a smile, as though her words made him feel better about something. “For me, Sloan. I’m doing it for me.”

But instead of saying any of what she was thinking, she just squeezed his hand, her chest squeezing like she was bracing for impact. “Then I’ll be there.”

42

SLOAN

FOUR MONTHS LATER

Sloan had to give it to the Winnicks—they showed up for each other.

Even though she was certain, both from quiet asides and emotional tells, that none of them agreed with Kyle’s decision to participate in the SkyRun, every single one of them had come out to Jackson Hole. And then some. Quinn’s parents had joined the crew, as well as Quinn’s brother, Aiden, and his wife, Isla.

While the rented house was big enough to handle the influx of people, as the morning of the race dawned, Sloan’s nerves weren’t.

Kyle had left the house before sunrise. They’d made love before he left, then he’d kissed her goodbye, and he’d gone to meet Dean, Thomas, Davy, and his crew over by the race site. Then Sloan had gotten up to open the door for Cheyenne, who’d come into town for the race and brought the whole Winnick family donuts, muffins, breakfast sandwiches, coffee, and juice.

She was going to make the perfect soccer mom someday.

But now, the silence was gone, and Sloan stood in one corner of the kitchen, sipping a cup of coffee that had long since gotten cold, too nauseated to eat—not just because of the race—but because today was the day she’d prearranged with Penny for what she had planned.

Months of preparing. Months of finalizing every last detail while trying not to alert Kyle. Not because she wanted to keep secrets from him, but because she knew he’d stop her if he knew. And he was busy as it was, training for the race and filming the first few episodes of his show as test runs with his new crew in locations around Tennessee.

So, she’d relied on other people instead. Elle and her mom had helped Sloan go through every last thing in the storage unit, cataloging things and taking pictures.

Delilah, Quinn, and Kyle’s dad had moved the things Sloan couldn’t bear to part with.

Cheyenne had helped her list it.

And Penny had taken care of everything else.

For the first time in a long time, she had felt like a part of a real family. Supported and loved by people who accepted her for who she really was.

She took another swallow of coffee before anxiety wore away at her, but her brain felt fried by the amount of noise in the kitchen and adjoining living room. She wasn’t a morning person to begin with.

Isla seemed to catch Sloan’s expression as she passed her. “You doing okay?” she asked, lowering her voice.

Sloan breathed out, trying to keep her anxiety in check. “Yeah, I just”—she fanned herself—“I think I just need some air.”

Isla nodded, then looked over her shoulder toward the crowded kitchen. “Meet me out by the driveway in five minutes. I’ll grab Cheyenne.”

Taking slow, measured breaths, Sloan went to the mudroom and grabbed her coat, gloves, and boots. She smiled as she pulled the coat on, remembering when Kyle had given it to her in Vail last year.

Crazy to think how he was right there when I needed him.

She couldn’t imagine anyone more perfect for her—or the job.

And hopefully, today, she’d make it up to him. Even if things went perfectly with the race and this led to more sponsorships, he deserved this from her.

But please, please don’t hurt yourself today, Kyle.

She hurried for the side door, the cool outdoor air helping ease the pressure on her chest—but not by much.