Page 60 of Racing Hearts

“So, thatwasyou that I saw sleeping on the common room couch the other day.”

What the hell?

“Yeah, that was me,” Sierra said so quietly that Ellie could barely hear her.

“I thought it was. I was going to text you to ask, but I didn’t want to seem like a total creep. It was really early. I had to meet up with a girl from my Psych class to finish a project due that morning. Why were you sleeping there? Is everything okay?”

“Roommate problems.” Sierra used the tone she always did when she was trying to sound chill about something when she was actually freaking out.

Ellie took her phone out of her pocket and leaned over it against the window so it was hidden from view.Can you wait for me after we get back?she typed to Sierra.

She was surprised by how fast a reply came from Sierra.Of course. Is everything okay?

I miss you ;)Ellie knew if she said anything other than that, Sierra would spend the rest of the bus ride freaking out.

“Yo, Ellie.” Juniper poked Ellie’s back, causing her to fumble with her phone as she tried to shut off the screen.

“What’s up?” Ellie asked when she sat up.

Juniper scooted closer to Ellie and pulled her into her arms. “I know I’ve been a sucky roommate lately, but would you hate me if I spent the night at Chris’s?”

“That would be great,” Ellie said way too excitedly. “For you two. That would be great for the two of you, so I’m okay with it.”

Juniper snorted. “So glad we have your blessing.” She squeezed Ellie even tighter. “Thanks for being so cool about this.”

Ellie felt guilty about accepting that compliment when she had ulterior motives, but she didn’t have any other choice, so she said, “You’re welcome.”

When they got back to the school, Juniper sprinted off of the bus to meet Chris. Ellie stood off to the side as she waited for her teammates to drift away in different directions.

“So, you missed me, huh?” a sweet, soft voice said from behind her.

Ellie turned around and rested her hands on Sierra’s hips. “Just a little bit. I also need to talk to you, though.”

As Ellie expected, the smile immediately dropped from Sierra’s face. “What’s wrong? Are we okay?”

Ellie brought her hand below Sierra’s chin and used a finger to push it up and force Sierra to look at her. “Weare great, so don’t you dare worry about that. I did catch some of your conversation on the bus, though. You slept in the common room?”

Sierra nodded and dropped her eyes back down toward the ground as if she were ashamed. “Sometimes I just need to get away. Teresa is impossible to live with.”

“Times? Like you’ve done it more than once?”

Sierra nodded again, still looking guilty as if this was somehow her fault. “I sleep there more than I sleep in my room.”

Ellie’s heart broke from Sierra’s confession. What hurt just as much was the fact that Sierra didn’t feel comfortable coming to Ellie with this information. “You’re not going to do that anymore.”

Sierra shrugged, her shoulders dipping in defeat. “I don’t really think I have a choice.”

“Of course you have a choice. You’re going to sleep at my place.”

When Sierra looked back at Ellie, her eyes were wide as if she couldn’t believe what Ellie had just said. “How would that work? I’m pretty sure Juniper would start to suspect something if she saw me coming out of your room every morning.”

Ellie smirked. “That’s why she’s not going to see you.” She moved her hands back to Sierra’s hips. “We’ll sneak you in and out. It’ll be super sexy.”

“It sounds risky.”

“That’s what makes it so sexy. Plus, it’s not actually that risky. Most nights, Juniper is at Chris’s place, or he is at ours, and even when they’re at our place, they are too disgustinglyobsessed with each other to take notice of another body in the house. It’ll be all good.”

“There isoneproblem,” Sierra said softly.

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