This time my seatbelt doesn’t give me any trouble. The other two cars loop back around to the center and a girl gets out of the passenger side of the Trans Am and climbs into the winning car. The driver of the Trans Am jumps out and yells at the other guy but Rusty is shoving him back to his car.
“Why is that guy mad?” I look to Killian and he smirks.
“He lost his ass.”
“What?” I gape at him, but he doesn’t answer me. His focus is straight ahead as he lines his car up on the right next to a Camaro. The redhead stands in front of us between the two cars. “Do you mean he bet his girlfriend?”
Killian winks at me and cranks up his stereo. Thunder Kiss ’65 by White Zombie blares out the speakers. Killian has his hand on his gearshift and his eyes locked on mine. My breath is caught in my throat as he presses on his gas making the car vibrate and growl. My insides go warm at the sensation. A weird feeling settles below my belly. One I have never felt before, but it feels good. Exciting.
The other car shoots off the start line, and Killian grins at me. Then we take off following after the competition. I can’t take my eyes off the taillights of the Camaro. I am freaking out inside. Did Killian bet me? If he loses will I have to go with the other guy he is racing against? I can’t see anything other than the taillights in front of us. How does Killian even know where to go? I clutch the seatbelt scared of what’s next.
I steal a glance out the side of my eye at him and his face is hard and masked with pure determination. We are gaining on the Camaro and eventually we shoot past it. I let out the breath I have been holding. Killian loops back to the clearing and we arrive first. The Camaro pulls up next to us and the driver rolls down his window. “Gas or ass, man?”
; Killian looks at me then back to the car where the woman with this other driver looks ready to pounce on him. “Gas.” He chuckles and holds his hand out. The guy looks irritated but pulls his wallet out and shoves a wad of cash into Killian’s hand. He doesn’t count it and hides it down in the console.
I’m in shock as we leave the same way we came. “What the hell was that?” I demand.
“I never lose,” he tells me.
“There’s a first time for everything,” I snap at him and fold my arms across my chest.
“The women have a choice. No one does anything that they don’t want to.” He looks at me like I am a total prude and maybe I am, but where I come from girls don’t hop in cars with random guys and offer up their ass or gas in a race. “Don’t be mad. It’s all in fun.”
“Fun?” I scoff.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but I would never send you off with anyone unless you wanted to go with them.” He looks sincere, but I’m still pissed. I spend the ride back to campus glowering out the window. I don’t even know this guy, and I basically had my life in his hands. My pulse is still ringing in my ears.
We pull up to my dorm, and I dash out of his car. “I’m sorry, okay?” I hear him call out after me, but I don’t look back.
I get all the way to my room before I realize I left my wristlet in his car. It has my cellphone too. Great. I sink to the floor with my back to the door. I doubt Hayley will be back anytime soon. My first day here and I have practically crossed out everything on the list of my mother’s don’ts. The elevator pings, and I look up to see Killian stomping toward me clutching my wristlet.
“You forgot this.” His voice is angry as his eyes narrow on me. He holds his hand out to help me up. I don’t know why I feel emotional, but I feel ready to cry any second now. I accept his hand and his fingers squeeze around mine, pulling me to my feet.
“Thanks,” I mutter.
“Don’t mention it.” His gaze softens as his dark eyes zero in on my lips. “Did you at least have fun?” His dark eyes sear right through me. I look up at him and part my lips. So many words hang on the tip of my tongue. Where do I even begin with all the things I should say to him? His finger tucks my hair behind my ear. My breath catches in my throat as I start to tell him that it was terrifyingly the best experience of my life.
I don’t get to answer him. His mouth comes down to meet mine. Our lips press together, and I haven’t a clue what I am doing. I haven’t kissed anyone since tenth grade. It was a dare at summer camp. The soft tip of his tongue traces the outline of my lips, and I move my mouth against his, but he pulls away, and I feel like maybe I suck at kissing.
“I shouldn’t have done that,” he states short of breath and presses my wristlet into my hand.
I stand here speechless watching him as he goes down the stairs for the emergency exit instead of taking the elevator. I touch my fingers to my lips feeling dumbfounded. He kissed me, and I have this crazy feeling that kiss was merely the beginning of more to come.
Chapter 4
Liri
I pull my key out and unlock the door. The lights are all off and Hayley isn’t here. I go into the bathroom to remove the makeup or what is left of it and change into my pajamas. After brushing my teeth, I check my phone to see if Hayley as tried to text me, but I have a few missed messages and one call from my mom. It’s too late to call or text now. I don’t want her knowing I was out till three am with some guy I don’t even know. God only knows what she’d think of the night I’ve had. She’d probably drive down here and force me back home.
I collapse on my twin bed and am so exhausted I pass right out.
The next morning, I awaken to Hayley bouncing on the end of my bed. “Wake up. I have coffee,” she coos.
“What time is it?” I mumble wiping the sleep from my eyes.
“Someone was up late.” She tickles the bottom of my foot, and I kick my legs.