Page 29 of Race to Me

We stop at a red light, and she gives me a ‘come on, Sky’ look. “I would sleep in his shirt.”

“Would?”

She nods, and the light turns green. “Yeah, I’m not staying the night... We’re having girl time. We’ll just chill for a while and then head back to the dorms.”

I sigh. “You don’t have to worry about me, I don’t mind staying at the dorm alone.”

She nudges my elbow as we zip down the road. “You won’t have to stay at the dorm if you just stay with Ghost.”

I laugh nervously, glancing at her before turning back to the steering wheel. “He hasn’t texted me all day. He might not even want to see me.”

“After what you told me, I bet he’s dying to see you. Maybe he’s asleep?” she suggests, which doesn’t help my nerves at all. But it’s college, and this is a party, so it’s not like you need an invitation.

∞∞∞

Beer cans litter the front yard when we step out of my car. I try to avoid getting my brand-new shoes dirty, and luckily, we hit the sidewalk right before a rush of black hair speeds by and tumbles into a puddle.

“Do you need help?” I ask, trying to extend my hand. She giggles, shaking her head but thanking me anyway. Everyone here is shit-faced.

I pan the yard for Foster or Ryder, but I don’t see them.

The front door is wide open, and from the moment we enter, red solo cups are pushed in our faces by strangers. We know better, and instead, I walk with Kate to the fridge to get her a can of beer.

I opt out of drinking unless by some miracle Foster wants me to stay the night. I really want to, but I’m also unnerved that I want him so badly.

It may be confusing to some, but I’m drawn to him. Magnetic, pulled, fucking cosmic alignment ... I don’t know. Maybe it’s the fact that I know he’s as messed up as I am.

“Where is he?” I gesture to the mass amount of bodies dancing through the house. Now that I can take a moment to take it all in, it doesn’t really remind me of a frat house. There’s a keg, but that’s about the only similarity.

I’m so used to that kind of scene—not that I go to the parties—but just the football lifestyle in general. If I were to have been the frat party type, this is how I could explain the differences.

Instead of jerseys, leather jackets.

In exchange for painted faces, inked bodies.

In lieu of beer pong, it’s ... what the hell is that?

I nod my head to Kate, and she grins. “If you had to!” She says excitedly. I quirk my brow, and before she can explain, Ryder swoops in and slings his arm over her shoulder.

I can get a better look at him now that it’s not dark and I’m not whizzing past on a motorcycle. He’s handsome. Tall too, which is good considering Kate’s height. He has a friendly smile. “You’re Ghost’s girl, right?” Ryder asks.

He extends his hand, and I can’t shake the stupid smile on my face. “Sky, and no.”

“She wishes she was.” Kate tells him, which earns a playful slap from me.

Ryder throws up his hands, signaling innocence. “Your secret’s safe with me.” He pretends to zip his lips and throw away the key before kissing Kate on the cheek, which makes me happy. I check my phone once more before finally shoving it into my back pocket and asking what I really want to know. “Do you know where Foster is?”

Ryder looks around. “Haven’t seen him all day.” When I frown, he changes his pace. “He may be in his room?”

I nod, not knowing where to go and feeling foolish that I even thought of walking in his room, at night, during a party.

“Go find him!” Kate says with a wink, lightly pushing me. “Where does she have to go?”

Ryder points up the stairs, and before I can change my mind, I steel myself to move forward. “Black door!” he yells over the thumping music while I ascend the staircase. People are everywhere, and cups riddle the ground.

I pass a couple of closed doors, a bathroom and a washer and dryer that’s tucked into the wall as I walk down the hall. It’s so loud that I can barely hear myself think.

I find the one black door on the entire floor and turn the knob. It’s dark, but I’m instantly hit with the comforting scent of Foster when I step inside. I feel for the switch, but something soft is in the way.

---