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Kade and I watch him leave and he lets out a long breath.
“Think that he’s going to get more or less grumpy now that she’s here?” I ask him, and he groans.
“More. Definitely more.”
With that, he claps me on the shoulder and heads to his own class. I sigh as I turn and head back to the Armstrong building.
SIX
Locklyn
“I can’t believewe’re back here,” Malia sighs, and I grin.
She wasn’t thrilled to come back to the racetrack with us, but when I told her that I might need backup, she didn’t hesitate to offer to drive. Maybe Hendrix was right. I do have people who care.
I’m not used to relying on people, let alone having them go out of their way to help me. I wanted a different life than what I left behind in New York, and I’m certainly getting it.
“Isn’t that your man?” Elodie asks, pointing over toward the starting line.
I glance over, my heart threatening to explode when I lock eyes with Hendrix. He’s climbing into his car, and I’m guessing we got here just in time for his race. I raise my hand, and he winks as he climbs into his car.
“Let’s go find some closer spots,” Elodie says, and I take her and Malia’s hands as we make our way toward the fence that lines the track.
Another race is about to start, and we lean against the fence as the cars rev their engines.
“Isn’t that Thorne?” Malia asks, and I glance at Elodie out of the corner of my eye.
“I think so,” she says, her voice void of all emotion.
Malia and I exchange a look, and she shrugs, sighing as she turns back to the race. The girl standing in the middle of the track waves the flag, and the cars both take off, sending dirt flying as they go.
My heart feels like it’s about to race right out of my chest as I watch the cars go. I don’t know how Hendrix or his friends do it. I would be scared to death to be in a car going that fast.
Thorne wins his race, and I cheer for him, but my eyes are already going to where Hendrix is lining up at the starting line.
“Are you going to go congratulate Thorne?” Malia asks Elodie.
“No, why would I do that?”
I ignore them, focusing on Hendrix as the girl with the flag walks back into the center of the track.
“Last call for bets!” comes the announcer, and I wonder briefly if I should place a bet on Hendrix.
I don’t want to miss the race though, so I stay put. The car engines roar and the sound almost drowns out the pop music that’s blaring over the speakers. My hands tighten on the wooden fence as the race gets ready to start.
When the flag is lifted, I hold my breath until it drops. Both cars take off but the other one doesn’t make it very far before a horrible grinding sound starts.
“Ugh, what is that?” Malia asks as we all cover our ears.
“The guy can’t shift,” Elodie says as the car sputters and appears to stall out.
Hendrix drives past slowly, giving me a wave and a smirk as he goes, and I laugh.
“Are we leaving now that the race is over?” Malia asks as Hendrix drives over the finish line. “I heard that there was a party at a frat house. We could check that out.”
“Sure,” I say, even though I’d rather stay here and hang out with Hendrix some more. I already have such big, confusing emotions about him that maybe it’s a good idea if I get some space. Was it really only a few days ago that we met? It feels like longer somehow.
I head toward the entrance with my friends and we stop next to Hendrix’s car.
