Page 62 of Racing Hearts

“Of course I was. You scared the shit out of me. I was so scared you were going to knock me from my throne. Then you beat me in time trials, and I was so butt-hurt over it, which I’m sure you noticed. Definitely not my best moment.” It still hurt to think about how she treated Sierra that day knowing everything she was going through.

“You clearly had nothing to worry about. You’ve been smoking me in the four this season.”

“I thinksmokingis a very strong word.”

“Fine, but you have beaten me in every race, and I’m definitelynottaking it easy on you. I’d rather piss you off and lose a night of kisses than let you win.”

Ellie’s whole body reacted to Sierra’s confession, down to her core.Why is it such a turn-on knowing that she wants to beat me?“Just for the record, I would never withhold kisses if you beat me. That would be awful. It’d be like losing twice in the same day. Also, I find it incredibly sexy how competitive you are.”

“Oh yeah?” Sierra rolled over so half of her body was on top of Ellie’s. “How sexy?”

“Mm.” Ellie rolled them over so she was now on top and kissed Sierra’s neck. “I could tell you, but I’d much rathershowyou.”

Sierra purred in response to her kisses and the sound caused Ellie to moan. She continued to kiss Sierra up her neck and to her jaw. When she reached Sierra’s lips, Ellie immediately opened her mouth to Sierra’s and moaned again from the first touch of their tongues. The sound of her apartment door opening caused her to shoot up.

Sierra stared up at her with wide eyes. “I thought she wasn’t coming home,” she whispered.

“Honey, I’m home!” Juniper yelled from down the hall.

Sierra hopped off of the bed and looked all around the room. “Should I hide in your closet?”

Ellie couldn’t help but laugh at the ironyof Sierra hiding in a closet. “Absolutely not. I’m not forcing you into the closet.” She got out of bed and tossed a sweatshirt at Sierra. “Put this on and fix your hair.”

As Sierra messed with her hair, Ellie quickly put on a sweatshirt and looked in the mirror to fix herself up as well. She could hear Juniper getting closer, so she had to think fast. She grabbed an old notebook from the bottom of a pile on her desk and came up with a plan just as the door to her bedroom was opening.

“Hey!” Ellie looked from Juniper to Sierra and then back at Juniper, who was now staring at Sierra. When she moved her gaze to Ellie, she gave her awhat-the-fucklook.

Ellie held up the notebook. “Sierra just stopped by to borrow notes from me. She has the same professor I had for General Psych.”

“Oh.” Juniper scrunched up her nose. “That was Dr. Aspen, right?” Juniper moved her focus from Ellie to Sierra. “I’m sorry. He’s such a bad fucking professor. That man should not be teaching.”

Sierra giggled nervously from Juniper’s attention. “Yeah. Definitely.” She walked over to Ellie and grabbed the notebookfrom her, her fingers grazing Ellie’s in a way that couldn’t have been an accident. “Thanks for this. I really appreciate it.” Her eyes told Ellie everything she wasn’t saying. She wasn’t thanking Ellie for the fake notes. She was thanking her for how she had handled that encounter.

Ellie had to force herself to pull her eyes away as Sierra walked out of her room. Both she and Juniper were frozen in place until the door of their apartment opened and closed.

Juniper pointed toward the hall. “Okay, I knew you two were friends, but I didn’t know you were share-old-class-notes level friends.”

“We tend to go to the library at the same time, so we study together sometimes.” That was mostly the truth. The only thing Ellie had left out was that theyplanto go to the library at the same time. Oh, and the little detail about their study dates often ending with a very steamy makeout session. “I thought you had a big date with Chris today,” she said, trying her best to change the subject so she didn’t have to tell more lies to her best friend.

“We do. It turns out I apparently need a bathing suit for said date. Chris is such a guy. He acted shocked when I told him I didn’t have one with me.”

Ellie had to force a laugh since she was still shaken up over almost getting caught. “I really hope this date is inside. Not exactly bathing suit weather out there.”

“It is. Don’t worry. That was the first question I asked him.”

“Thank god.”

“I actually have to grab it and run. Chris is waiting in his car for me. Sorry I can’t stay longer. I hope you have something to keep you entertained today.”

I did until you interrupted.“I’ll figure something out.”

When Juniper was almost out of her room, Ellie said her name to stop her. “Thanks for being so nice to Sierra. I know she hasn’t always been your favorite person, but I promise if you two spent some time together, you would actually like her.”

Juniper shrugged. “I figure if she’s good enough for you, she can’t be all bad. Plus, it’s important we act like a team with the conference meet coming up.”

“I couldn’t agree more.” Ellie was just surprised Juniper felt the same way. She still hadn’t gotten used to her taking track so seriously.

“Yeah, yeah.” Juniper waved a hand at her. “Enough of this kumbaya shit. I’ll be nice to her. Just don’t expect me to go falling in love with her or something.”

---