Page 26 of Racing Hearts

Rich Boy: Then this will shock you—I’m pretty much always naked when I text you. Now sleep.

Idiot.

Alek: Night.

Rich Boy: Night, Anders, don’t dream about me too much.

Putting my phone down, I bury my face in my pillow to hide my stupid grin, but I know I’ll dream of the boy with the icy hair and the sunshine smile.

THIRTEEN

Last night, I might have realized that Evan lives far from campus, but that has nothing to do with what I’m doing.

Nothing at all.

I woke up early, packed Alice some breakfast, and dragged her out earlier than we usually leave. I use the excuse that I need to be at work, which she falls for. She doesn’t notice the different route we are taking either. It’s purely to see the scenic view, nothing else.

We pass the park, and then I slow down, looking for him since he has to take this road to school. What if he went a different way?

“Hey, that’s Evan! Pull over. Let’s give him a ride,” Alice demands, smacking my side.

“No,” I mutter, my gaze tracking him.

“Alek,” she warns.

Grumbling to myself, I pull over right next to him. He’s oblivious, looking down at his camera, so I roll down my window to call out, but Alice beats me to it. “Evan, hey!”

His head jerks up, and he blinks into the early morning sun. When he sees us, a bright smile curves his lips. “Anders duo.” He nods. “What are you doing here?”

“Going to school. Get in, we’ll give you a ride,” Alice calls as she grabs her bag and climbs into the back, leaving the passenger seat open for Evan.

He spares me a look, and I roll my eyes. “You heard her.” I sigh, pushing my shades down to peer at him. “Get in, rich boy, before I run you over.”

He grins, dropping his camera to the strap and lifting his bag higher, then he steps off the curb, looking both ways before opening the door and sliding in.

He looks good in my passenger seat, which only pisses me off. Despite the fact I came this way, I’m annoyed and glare at him as he straps in.

“Isn’t your house the other way?” he asks, confused. “That’s the way you headed last night.”

Shit.

“Last night?” Alice asks, appearing between the seats with a grin.

Double shit.

“Sit back. Seat belts or I’ll leave you both,” I snarl.

“He’s not a morning person,” Alice warns.

“Or an afternoon person,” Evan teases, making her laugh as she sits back. It’s nice seeing her joke with him. She can be super quiet sometimes, but she seems to open up around him.

“Don’t expect me to pick you up again,” I snap as I pull out into early morning traffic and purposely ignore him. It’s childish, but true.

“I didn’t today,” he replies, and when I glance over, he’s frowning at me.

He’s right, he didn’t. I came this way to see him, so why am I so angry?

It’s because I went out of my way to look after him, and I don’t understand why.

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