Page 67 of Crash into me

We drank way too much.

He laughs, shaking his head. “Skyler, I don’t think it’s cheating if I watched.” His hand trails up my sides, sending shivers all over. “You’ve lived a sheltered life; I want you to live a little,” he assures me.

Then his face falls into a scowl.

“Not with guys, though. I’ll literally kill if that happened.”

“Obviously.” I chuckle. “So …” I run my hand through my hair, waving when I see Kate pulling into the parking lot. “What’s going on with you?”

He turns his face, his jawline sharp as a knife. “I’m just pissed off for Warren. I thought I hated the guy, but man do his parents fucking suck.”

“Yeah, they do.”

Kate saunters over, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. “Good morning!” she chimes, and I cover my ears to stop the pain from her high-pitched voice.

“You’re way too chipper.” I hold my head. “It was so stupid of us to go out the night before our first practice since …” I trail off. Since the crash.

She reaches in her bag, plucking out an electrolyte drink. “Trust me.”

I take a long sip, hoping this miracle liquid will ease my bad decision making.

“Have a good day, Shadow.” Foster winks, planting a kiss on my cheek.

I watch him take off on his bike, and Kate does too. “Gag me.”

I bump her shoulder. “What?”

“Shadow?” she questions.

I shake my head, pulling my arm through hers. “You’re just jealous you don’t have a cool nickname.”

“True.” She grins.

* * *

I can’t believeI’m back here. My reflection smiles back at me from the floor-to-ceiling mirrors. It’s endless and all-consuming and just where I want to be.

“Welcome back, ladies,” Grace greets me and Kate, her walk like that of a swan as she enters into the studio space.

“Anything you need us to do before the girls get here?” I ask.

“Nope, just stretch.” She comes up to me, pressing her hands on my shoulders. I outstretch my arms as she instructs and she pulls down on them as I lift one leg. “Your balance is still immaculate; the wreck didn’t bring you down a notch. Just take it easy,” she reminds me.

Me and Kate spend the next few minutes familiarizing ourselves again with the balance bar, wanting to have a little advantage to match with the other girls since it’s been a while. I don’t want to hold anyone back.

Charlotte is the first through the door, and she barrels towards us. “We missed y’all!” Her thick southern accent smothers us both, as well as her hug. How I’ve longed for this.

Marie, with her honey-brown hair, casually walks in. She’s the calmest one of the group. But that doesn’t stop her from choking me out with a hug. “You better never do that again!” she scolds. She’s the mom of our little crew, and I don’t have the heart to tell them I’m racing for real this time.

I’ve kept in touch with all of them, and they all visited me while I was in a coma. This group of girls is like family to me.

Nat is the bombshell of the bunch with her sweeping beach-blonde hair and quiet voice. She reminds me of an LA surfer girl; she’s walking next to someone I don’t know. A new girl.

“Hey ladies!” She speaks with such a melodic, level tone. “This is Alea, and it’s her first day.”

Alea sends us a small wave, a shy one. “Hi.” She grins.

“I’m Sky, and this is Kate.” We greet her with a hug, wanting her to know she has a family now. This studio has made me understand Foster and his crew better. These girls are our chosen family.

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