Page 61 of Racing Hearts

“What’s that?” Ellie wracked her brain, but she honestly wasn’t sure what Sierra could be talking about. It sounded like a great plan to her.

“How am I supposed to control myself if I’m in your bed?”

Ellie’s whole body heated up. Thoughts of Sierra’s hands on her ran through her mind, and it was hard to breathe. So many sensations pulsed through her body, making her almost forget Sierra’s original question. “We did it over Christmas,” Ellie said, trying to keep her voice level so she could convince Sierra she wasn’t a walking container of hormones ready to explode.

Sierra groaned and put her hands over Ellie’s rapidly beating heart. “I know, but everyday I’m with you, it gets harder and harder to control myself. I’m pretty sure the only reason I haven’t jumped you yet is because we spend most of our time in public places.”

Was Sierra trying to turn her on? Because, if so, it was working. “I guess we’ll just need a lot of cold water to cool us off.”

Sierra nodded slowly as if she was honestly considering this as a viable option. “That could work. I don’t want you to get sick of me though.”

Ellie couldn’t control the boisterous laugh that bubbled out of her. Sierra didn’t really believe that could happen, did she? “Every time I’m not with you, I’m wishing I was. I literally count down the minutes until I get to see you each day. Every time we say goodbye, I’m pretty sure part of my heart goes with you.”

“That was so sweet, but also incredibly cheesy.”

“What can I say? You bring out the softie in me.” Ellie inched closer to Sierra so there was no space left between their bodies. She didn’t care that they were outside. She wasn’t worried about anyone else seeing. All that mattered was that she had the girl that she was falling harder and harder for every day wrapped in her arms.

Sierra laid her head against Ellie’s chest, making her heart beat even faster. “It’s scary how hard and fast I’m falling for you.”

Ellie understood that feeling all too well. “If it makes you feel any better, you’re not alone.”

Sierra wrapped her arms around Ellie, bringing their bodies even closer. “You don’t know how good it feels to hear that. I was so lonely before I met you.”

Ellie chuckled when she thought about what it was really like when Sierra met her. “Technically, you were lonely after you met me too, but luckily, the snow gods were on our side.”

Sierra shivered against Ellie, and even that made Ellie crave more of her. “Why are we still out here? It’s freezing.”

“I hadn’t noticed.” Ellie wasn’t kidding. With the warmth of Sierra’s body against hers and the way being close to her melted her insides, it could have been summer as far as she was concerned. “But you’re right. We should get back to my place.”

Sierra pulled back slightly and looked deep into Ellie’s eyes. “And you’re sure you won’t get sick of me?”

“Never,” Ellie answered honestly.

***

After two weeks of sneaking Sierra in and out of her apartment, Ellie had fallen even harder for her. There was something about falling asleep and waking up with Sierra in her arms that made the whole world seem brighter.

Ellie was in so deep, she found it harder and harder to hide her affection when they were around other people. She found creative, secretive ways to show Sierra how she felt, like quick winks or tapping her with the relay baton when she walked by her at practice. Whenever they studied together, whether it was in the library or the privacy of Ellie’s bedroom, they passed each other sickeningly cute notes that Ellie totally would have made fun of if she wasn’t one of the people involved.

Ellie stroked Sierra’s arm as they spent a lazy Sunday in bed after another tiring track meet. Chris had apparently planned a date for Juniper that was going to last most of the day, so there was luckily no reason for her to race out after they woke up. “I can’t believe the conference meet is only two weeks away.”

Sierra groaned. “Don’t remind me. My stomach hurts every time I think about it.”

“Nervous?” Ellie tickled Sierra’s side.

Sierra giggled as she tried to wiggle away from Ellie’s attack. “So nervous. Aren’t you?”

“Are you kidding me?” A weight settled in Ellie’s gut. “I’m so fucking nervous. This is my last chance to win a team championship for indoor track. We’ve come so close before and could never get it. I feel like everyone is expecting us to do it this year, and I feel so much pressure. I’m ranked first in two of my three events. I can only go down, and if I do, that could be the difference between the team winning and losing.”

Sierra sat up slightly and stared down at Ellie, the furrowing of her eyebrows causing the cute crease between her eyes that Ellie loved. “You do realize that’s not true, right? A conference championship isn’t won or lost by one person. It takes the whole team.”

“Logically, I realize that, but I can’t actually get myself to believe it.”

“I completely get that. I feel the same way. I know I’m only a freshman, but I was one of the biggest recruits this year. I don’t want to do anything to make the coaches think they made a mistake.”

Ellie laughed. The fact that Sierra would actually think the coaches would ever regret recruiting her was so insane it was humorous. “That won’t happen. Coach Kraemer isobsessedwith you. If I didn’t feel the same way, I’d be very jealous. Hell, I was jealous at the beginning of the year.”

“You were?”

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