Page 39 of Racing Hearts

That was that.She said it as if it were the simplest thing in the world. As if it wasn’t some huge secret that Sierra had been carrying around for over two years.

“My lie was the number of girlfriends. I’ve actually had five, but two of them were very short-lived middle school flings.” Ellie knocked her shoulder against Sierra’s. “Your turn.”

Sierra could feel the nerves taking over her body before she even opened her mouth. There was so much she could say, but she wasn’t ready, so she kept it simple. “I grew up in Woodbury. My favorite color is blue. I have a sister and a brother and about a million fiblings.”

“I don’t know what a fibling is, but I don’t know many people who have a million of anything so I’m going to say that one.”

“Okay, so thatmighthave been an exaggeration, but it actually wasn’t the lie. Fibling is the word Sienna and I came up with for our foster siblings who weren’t adopted by our moms. My moms were always taking in kids temporarily while we were growing up, so there are a ton of them.”

Ellie watched Sierra, unflinching, as if she was hanging on every single word Sierra said. It made her feel seen for the first time in months. “Do you still talk to any of them?”

Sierra had to look away, because Ellie’s intense gaze was too much to handle. “Almost all of them. With my moms, once you’re family, you’re family. It doesn’t matter if you lived with us for one month or five years. There’s always a place in our home.” Sierra knew she sounded like a Hallmark card, but she had heard that so many times growing up, it was ingrained in her mind.

“I love that. But, what was your lie?”

“My favorite color. It’s actually green.”

Ellie brought her hand to her mouth and faked a yawn. “So boring. You better come up with something better for the next one.”

“Oh yeah? Well, what’s your favorite color?”

Ellie waved a finger at her. “Ah, that’s classified. I need to know I can trust you before I disclose that type of information.”

“Whatever. Your turn.”

“All right.” Ellie rubbed her hands together. “There are so many family members on my mom’s side, I can’t even remember all of their names. I was named after my two great grandmothers. I have two tattoos.”

“The tattoos?” Sierra answered quickly. Their track uniforms were pretty skimpy. She would have noticed if Ellie had a tattoo.

“You’re right. I only have one.”

Even though she was covered from head to toe, Sierra’s eyes instinctively ran over Ellie’s body to search for the tattoo. “Where is it?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know?”

Sierra’s face turned red as she imagined what that might mean, and Ellie threw her head back in laughter. “Get your mind out of the gutter. It’s on my foot.”

Sierra wanted to ask to see it, but something about that felt intimate, even though it shouldn’t. It was a foot, goddamnit. “So, what’s your middle name?” she asked instead.

Ellie shook her head. “That’s another one you’re going to have to earn. It’s awful. I swear my moms must hate me.”

“How do I earn this wealth of knowledge you’re dangling in front of me?” Sierra joked.

“You could start by giving me a juicy two truths and a lie.”

The first thing that popped into Sierra’s head both exhilarated and terrified her. By the time she got herself to say the words, her heart was practically beating out of her chest. She wasn’t even sure if Ellie would be able to hear her over how loudly it was beating. “I’m a homophobic bitch. I have two moms. I’m gay.”And I can’t believe I just said that out loud.

“I knew it!” Ellie snapped her fingers. “Youarea homophobic bitch.”

Sierra was so surprised and overwhelmed (in a good way) by Ellie’s reaction that she broke into a fit of laughter. The more she laughed, the harder it came out, and soon, she couldn’t stop herself. But damn, it felt good to laugh. And not just any laugh—a full belly laugh.

“Was it really that funny?” Ellie asked after another minute of non-stop laughter.

Sierra shook her head as she tried to calm herself down. “Sorry. I’m just so relieved. I haven’t told many people, and it was so much easier than I expected.”

Ellie’s face suddenly became serious. “Wait. You haven’t told many people, but you told me? I’m flattered, but why?”

“Why did I tell you?”

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