Page 122 of Racing Hearts

“Deal.”

We quickly dress and clean up as best as we can so they don’t send out a search party.

Heading downstairs hand in hand, we both stop at the bottom, Alek’s cheeks heating while I grin when we see them all gathered at the bottom step with knowing looks on every face.

“Bravo.” Lally claps.

Alice covers her eyes, shaking her head, but she’s smiling.

“Big ending. Eight out of ten,” Sky says, nudging Bones. “Don’t worry, I can do better?—”

Bones simply smacks the back of his head and turns away, Sky following after him like a puppy.

“Come on, love birds, let’s celebrate!” Alice calls.

We rejoin our friends, all of us looking toward the future.

Leaning back in my lab chair, I sigh as I stretch. It’s been a busy few weeks. We had Tommy’s funeral, which wrecked me, and there was also a memorial held in the city for everything that was lost. Alek started at his new job, and I’m so proud of him, but it means he’s busy, so I use that time to focus on my work. The end of the semester is coming up, and I really need to crack down. I won’t waste the opportunities I was given, not because of what happened.

Speaking of, I heard yesterday that Clarissa is being sentenced soon. Luckily, they don’t seem to want or need our contribution, which I’m happy about. It truly is over.

Lally snores on her desk next to me, and I smile. The computer to my right is empty, as everyone knows to leave it like that for Tommy. It’s where he would always sit, and it remains like that. We will never replace him.

I haven’t been able to go back to my dorm as of yet. I can’t face it, but I know I will have to one day unless I take Alek’s offer and just move in with him. He’s been hinting at it since the attack, and I have to admit, it appeals to me. I don’t want to go back to an empty room filled with ghosts, even good ones. I don’t want to wake up in pain every day. I want to wake up happy like Tommy would want.

My eyes go back to my screen and what I’m working on.

If he asks again, I’ll say yes.

I’ll race toward my future with him, like I know I deserve.

A few hours later, I wake Lally up, and she heads off to who knows where. She’s been distant lately, and I know it’s her way of dealing with grief. When she needs me, she’ll tell me. Instead, I turn toward Alek, who is leaning against his car, newly fixed and shiny as ever—my name printed on his passenger seat.

He grins as he takes my bag and helps me inside, and when we are back at his place, he takes my hand and leads me upstairs. “I’m tired, maybe later,” I whine as he opens his door. “Fine, just a quickie?—”

I stop, gaping at his room which is now filled with suitcases and boxes, his drawers open and filled with my clothes. “I don’t have many, so I gave them all to you.” He turns to me as I stare. “Alice is gone, so I figured I could either keep hinting or could make it happen. We were never good at doing things the normal way, so I just moved you in. I paid off your dorm so they will keep it empty for now in case you want it, especially for Tommy. I heard his parents cleaned out his room, but you never know.”

“You moved me into your house?” I can’t help but smile. “You are such an asshole.”

“You know it, rich boy. Now, about that quickie—” I back away with a laugh as he lifts me into his arms and throws me onto our bed.

My boxes are spread around us, ready to be unpacked, but the message is clear—I’m here to stay, and I’m more than okay with that.

FIFTY-SEVEN

“Your boy sure is pretty,” Mackie teases from his position opposite my desk, his boots propped up on it. As the head driver, he’s a cocky fucker, but surprisingly, we get along well.

Noah laughs, taking the framed photo from him with a grin. I snatch it back without looking and place it on my desk, unable to stop my smile.

“Look at that smile. He’s the only one who gets the big bastard to grin. Have you noticed that?” Noah teases, and I simply roll my eyes. In the few weeks since I started working here, I’ve realized I fit in far too easily. They might be a famous, multimillion-dollar racing team, but at heart, they are all car junkies, and we get each other. Besides, we have a lot in common. It’s nice, and I really like working here. They were right, I fit, and everyone welcomed me, which was amazing. I still have a lot to learn, but I’m excited for it and the possibilities it holds.

“It’s your boy’s show tonight, isn’t it?” Noah asks conversationally. I don’t know why they insist on eating lunch in here when we have a kitchen, but they always seem to. Evan thinks it’s because I never join them and they are trying to include me. He’s been here a few times, enough to meet everyone and for me to warn them away from him. I’m not the least bit ashamed of that, and I know my smile turns goofy and proud when I meet Noah’s eyes.

“Yep, five.” I look at the clock, counting the hours. I need to shower and dress up before then—he’s the only person I will dress up for. “He’s going to kill it.”

“Look how proud he is.” Mackie laughs. “I don’t blame you. If I had someone like that in my life, I’d brag too. You’re a lucky man, Anders.”

Noah shoots him a glare he doesn’t seem to notice.

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