Page 70 of You, Me, and Lucky Number 13

The road stretches out ahead, empty and inviting. Eleanor eats up the asphalt, hungry for more. I feel the familiar rush, the thrill of pure power under my control. But there’s something else now, a new electricity in the air.

Lola’s quiet, but I can feel her eyes on me. It prickles across my skin, heating up under her perusal.

“You gonna stare at me the entire drive?” I rasp, not taking my eyes off the road.

“Sorry,” she mumbles, rolling her eyes and looking away. I immediately want her watching me again.What the hell is wrong with me?

We hit the curves leading up to the hills. I take them faster than I should, pushing Eleanor to her limits. Showing off? Definitely. The force presses Lola into her seat, and I hear a little gasp escape her lips.

“Too much for you?” I smirk, finally glancing her way.

But she’s grinning, wild and beautiful. “Not even close,” she challenges.

Something hot and dangerous coils in my gut. I downshift, feeling Eleanor respond. The engine roars, and we fly around the next bend.

Lola whoops, throwing her hands up. The sound of her joy mingles with Eleanor’s growl, and for a moment, everything else falls away. It’s just us, the car, and the road ahead. I needed this.

We crest the hill, and I ease off the gas. The valley spreads out below us, bathed in golden afternoon light. I pull over at the lookout point, letting Eleanor cool down.

Silence falls as I cut the engine. I can hear Lola’s rapid breathing and see the flush on her cheeks. She turns to me, eyes bright.

“That was...” she starts.

“Yeah,” I agree, my voice rough.

We’re so close in the confines of the car. I can smell her shampoo again, mixed with the leather and a hint of sweat. My hands itch to reach for her.

Instead, I open the door. “Come on,” I mutter. “View’s better outside.”

As we step out, the cool air hits me like a slap. I know Lola and I said we’re in this for the long haul. But, somewhere in the back of my mind, I’m worried that now that Eleanor is done, maybe we are, too.

But when Lola comes to stand beside me, looking out over the valley, I can’t bring myself to regret a second of our time together.

“Thank you,” she says softly. “For helping me with Eleanor. For… this.”

I grunt, not trusting myself to speak. Because right now, with the sun turning her hair to fire and that smile on her face, I want to give her a different kind of joyride.

One that has nothing to do with roaring engines or winding roads. One that involves tangled limbs and whisperedconfessions and the kind of intimacy that terrifies me more than any high-speed chase.

The silence settles again, but this time it’s different. It’s not strained, not filled with unspoken accusations or the weight of expectations. It’s comfortable, easy, the kind of silence that speaks volumes without a single word uttered.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Lola says softly, breaking the silence, her voice echoing the awe I feel inside.

“Yeah,” I manage to choke out.

It is beautiful. The view, the setting sun, the woman standing beside me. It’s all a bit too perfect, a bit too close to something I’ve always craved but never believed I could have. And maybe that’s what scares me the most. Now that I have it, I’m terrified of losing it.

I glance at Lola, her profile outlined against the setting sun, the wind whipping strands of golden hair across her face. She’s breathtaking, even in her worn jeans and grease-stained T-shirt. My gaze lingers on her lips, remembering the way they felt against mine, the taste of her, the way she makes me forget everything but the heat of the moment.

I want to kiss her again. Right here, right now, with the world spread out before us like a promise.

And this time, I don’t hesitate.

I take her hand, my calloused fingers intertwining with hers, and lead her back to Eleanor, the warmth of her hand a current that runs straight to my heart. I lean against the hood of the car, pulling her gently towards me, and she comes willingly, her body molding against mine in a perfect fit.

“Beautiful,” I murmur, my voice rough with emotion, my gaze sweeping over the vista before us, then settling on her face, her eyes reflecting the golden hues of the setting sun.

She leans into me, resting her head against my chest, the weight of her a comforting pressure. I wrap my arms around her,holding her close, the scent of her hair filling my senses, a heady mix of citrus and something uniquely her.

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