Page 19 of Racing Hearts

“That sounds about right.” Mrs. Stone laughed. “It’s so hard for me to keep track anymore.” She winked at Ellie then walked away without saying anything else.

Ellie’s mom pulled her closer and whispered in her ear. “Fun fact. Mrs. Stone’s daughter-in-law owns the barn where your mama and I got married.”

“Huh. Small world,” Ellie said as she watched the woman disappear into the front.

“More like, small town,” her mom said with a laugh. “Should we go find your mama?”

“Sounds great.”

Ellie’s mom kept her arm around Ellie as they made their way down the hall together. They were almost to the end when Ellie’s mama, Annalise, came around the corner. Annalise’s eyes lit up as soon as she saw Ellie. “My baby!” she said as she rushed over to her and pulled her into a tight hug. “How’s school? How’s track? Have you figured things out with your new teammate yet? I want to hear everything.”

Ellie knew that her mom meant well, but her head was spinning from all the questions. She had come home to getawayfrom school. She didn’t want to have to think about it now. “Any chance we could talk about all of that later? I could really use a break from school.”

“Of course, sweetie.” Annalise placed a kiss on Ellie’s head. “Let’s just enjoy each other’s company for now. I’ll wait for another day to grill you. Deal?”

“Deal.” Ellie gave her mama another hug. She was so happy to be home.

***

By Wednesday, Ellie thought she might actually get through break without being forced to talk to her moms about what was going on at school. Unfortunately, her brother ruined that for her within minutes of getting to their parents’ house.

“Where’s my favorite sister?” he asked as soon as he walked into the house.

Ellie ran down the stairs from her bedroom and wrapped her brother in a tight hug. “Hey, bro, what’s up?” she asked as he picked her up off of the ground and twirled her around.

“Not much. Happy to be home,” he said before placing her feet back down on the ground. He punched her shoulder playfully then gave her an incredulous look. “What’s this I hear about you letting some freshman brat beat you at time trials?”

Kaya slapped Nate on the arm. “Be nice to your sister.” Kaya hugged her now too. “Ignore your brother. He’s just jealous you’re a better athlete than him.”

“Damn right, she is,” Nate said with a laugh. “Which is why she shouldn’t be letting a little punk from her team beat her.”

Ellie sighed. Clearly, her brother wasn’t going to drop this. “It won’t happen again. I promise.”

“It better not.” Nate puffed out his chest. “Mom and Mama told me there’s a chance she doesn’t like the gays. You know I won’t stand for that seeing as how all of the women in my life are queer.”

It was true. Even Kaya was pansexual. Why she chose Ellie’s meathead brother when there were so many hot women in this world was something Ellie would never understand, but she was glad she had. She loved Kaya.

Before Ellie could say anything else, her moms walked into the hallway to greet her brother and Kaya. “We told you about that so you would be extra nice to your sister,” Mama scolded him. “Not so you could tease her about it.”

“There’s someone homophobic on your team?” Kaya asked. “She’s not mean to you, is she?”

Ellie shook her head. Her mind flashed back to what Sierra said about not meeting your heroes and a pit formed in Ellie’s stomach once again.I think I might be the mean one.“In a strange turn of events, she might not actually be homophobic. There’s a chance I completely misjudged her.”

“What makes you think that?” her brother asked, his chest still puffed out as if he was getting ready to fight someone.

Ellie shrugged. “Apparently, she has two moms.”And gives off gay vibes if I’m going by Chris.

“Interesting.” Nate looked over at their moms. “Maybe you two know them.”

Every woman in the house glared at Nate, but it was Ellie who spoke. “Not every gay person in the world knows each other, asshat. That’s such a cis white male thing to say. I expected better from you.”

“Chill out,” Nate said with a laugh. “I was only kidding. MaybeIexpected better fromyou.” He shook his head. “You can’t just go around assuming every single person hates gay people.”

The smile on his face told her he was kidding, but his words still hurt. Mostly, because they were true. Ellie had made so many assumptions about Sierra that were completely wrong. It made her wonder what else she didn’t know about her.

“Take it easy on your sister,” Mama said as she wrapped an arm around Ellie protectively. She smiled down at Ellie and squeezed her side. “I’m just happy, because I take it this means you took my advice and actually had a talk with her.”

Ellie cringed. “Not exactly. Sorry, Mama.”

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