Page 51 of The Fake Date Deal

We’ve got our revenge, so we can enjoy this.

And enjoy it we had, all night. This morning. My body was still singing to the tune of her touch. I couldn’t lose like this, that much was true. I was honed, sharp with anger and mounting frustration. Not at Eve — she’d held up her end — but at myself. I’d let myself think somehow she’d want me. Somehow she’d need me for more than revenge.

I paced outside the drivers’ rooms, through the last of the puddles. Splashed through them on purpose, spattering mud. Laughter rose from behind me, and I spun around.

“Eve! What are you doing here?”

She picked her way over, avoiding the puddles. “You ran out before I could give you this.” She leaned up and kissed me. “For good luck.”

My heart swelled and beat harder as her lips met mine. She pressed up against me, a perfect fit. Like her body had been made to lie against mine. Two spoons from the same set. For now, at least.

“Why were you stamping around in the puddles?” She toed at my pant leg. “You’re covered in mud.”

I grinned, feeling sheepish. “Blowing off steam.”

“Save that for the race. I’ll be waiting after.”

Someone whooped from within and we both looked around, but we couldn’t see anyone lurking in the windows. Still, Eve pulled back from me and took my hands in hers.

“I should get out of here. Let you get ready.”

I drew her in closer. Stole one more kiss. But she was right. I needed to focus.

“I’ll see you after,” she said. “We’ll celebrate.”

Then she was gone, and I trudged back inside. Danny waylaid me halfway down the hall. He caught me in a headlock and dragged me into his room. A few other drivers were in there already, lounging around on the plush chairs.

“Hey, Greg,” I said. “Hey, Sandro, Chet. Was that you guys hooting at me and my girl?”

Greg whooped again. Yeah, it’d been him. Chet rolled his eyes at me and kicked his legs up on the table.

“So, are you coming out with us after, or are you fully whipped?”

“He never comes out anymore.” Danny clapped my back. “He’s a ‘we’ now. Domesticated.”

Chet and Sandro both groaned. Sandro pushed back his hair.

“It’s weird there’s no middle ground when guys settle down. It’s like this switch flips, and they go full boring.”

Outside, a cloud passed over the sun. I narrowed my eyes at it, wary of rain. Behind me, Chet and Sandro were in full swing.

“Remember Rich Waters, used to party his ass off? He was a legend, then he met whatzername.”

“Shelley,” said Chet. “Or, no. Maria?”

“Whoever she was, it was bang, overnight. One night he’s out partying, the next he’s too tired. What do they do to us, girlfriends, wives?” Sandro shook his head. “It can’t just be nagging. I’d just go out more to get away. It’s gotta be, I don’t know. Hey, Marco. What does Eve do?”

I shrugged off the question. “Nothing. I’m good.”

“Then you’re coming out later? The Viper Room?”

“No. Not tonight.” I turned to go.

“See? What’d I tell you? Totally whipped.”

Sandro made a whipping sound, a cheesy wah-tchhh.

“I’m not whipped. I just?—”

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