That was all I needed to see.
I swiveled quickly, stepping to rip the booth's door open and charge to the boys—when Asher stepped in front of me.
"What?" I demanded. "We need to go see them!" I tried to reach around him.
"It doesn't end here," He mirrored my movements, blocking my hand. "They have to collect their money, and then you can see them."
"How long will that take?" I tried not to pout.
"Not too long," He glanced through the window, back at the track. "It just...wouldn't be the best if you were seen with Everett or Grayson right now. Especially with that asshole on the track."
"How come?" I gave up trying to sneak around him to the door, trudging back to the stool in defeat.
"Because you could get hurt," He followed behind me. "You could become a target, especially if a competitor is that aggressive. It's just too risky, and if—"
"Asher!" We were both shocked to see Vera enraged as she removed her headphones. "What did Everett say about all of this?" She hissed through gritted teeth.
"Er..." He hesitated, trying to recall what she was talking about.
She slammed a finger to her lips, before pretending to zip them shut, her eyes bulging urgently.
"Oh...yeah," He hung his head, taking a few steps towards her. He stood between us, leaning on the control panel. "Don't say anything to him about this, please?"
"It's not me you should be worried about, dumbass," She put her headphones back on, returning to concentrate on the many buttons and switches.
Asher turned slowly, his ink black eyes horrified as he realized I wouldn't keep my mouth shut.
"Cel, please," My nickname I didn't know he knew of came out as a plea.
"No promises," I held my hands up. "I'll...try. Okay?"
"Thank you," He sighed, shaking his head before glancing out at the track again. "Let's go."
Asher was holding my wrist and tugging me out of the booth before I could notice. I called goodbye to Vera, who waved over her head.
I happily let him drag me through the diminishing crowd once more, anxious to see the boys quickly. I caught sight of the warehouse, and then suddenly, it seemed like I was the one pulling Asher along. He caught up quickly though, just as we entered the garage.
I broke free from Asher's grip with strength I didn't know I had when I saw the boys next to Everett's usual car.
I ran as quickly as I could, not realizing tears were forming along my water line. The two caught sight of me when they heard my chaotic steps approaching. They looked surprised by my expression, but they didn't have enough time to further analyze before I yanked them down by the neck into a hug.
Grayson laughed, and Everett caressed my back, before I unwillingly pulled back.
"That was...insane," I shook my head in disbelief. "Everett, you won! The crowd loved you! And your racing name, is that what they call it? Cool...! And you," I glanced to Gray. "You could've died! I mean, both of you risked your life's doing this, but you went out of your way, Grayson! I can't... I can't believe you would so carelessly put your life on the line like that...I could just—punch you, or slap you, or, I don't know!" I ran my hands through my hair as sudden irritation bubbled inside of me. "I'm just, glad you're both safe. That was intense."
Both of them had wide eyes, and I realized I just said every thought that passed through my mind instead of thinking first.
"I don't think I've ever heard you talk so much at once," Grayson chuckled, but his smile faded when he winced. He pushed back his golden curls, and I gasped to see blood trickling down his temple.
"Grayson, you're bleeding," I felt sick.
"Hey, a little blood never hurts me," He tried to smile. "I must've hit my head when I slammed into that son of a bitch." He grumbled as he rubbed the blood he touched between his index and his thumb.
I was shocked to hear sunshine cuss, but I was more concerned about the cut on his head.
"Is there a bathroom near here or something?" I spun in a circle, catching the eyes of Everett and Asher. "What's behind that door?"
I grabbed Grayson's wrist, about to take him wherever that door led—the one Everett had disappeared behind earlier—there had to be a bathroom, somewhere we could clean the cut. But Everett was ripping my hand away from Grayson.
"Where do you think you're going?" He held my hand in the air. I looked up at him and almost melted. His deep set eyes were intense as ever, a dark brow raised. His delicious hair was messy, his grip tight against my wrist.
"To, um, clean his wound," I blinked, my mind murky as I watched his gorgeous face. "Seriously, Grayson. You need to take care of that." I looked away before I was trapped in his fierce gaze.
"It's no biggie," He smiled, full heartedly this time. "I've got a first aid kit in my car."
I stepped after Grayson who was walking around to the drivers side door of the car he was leaning on, but Everett pulled me back.
"We should go," He murmured, his deep voice enthralling in my ear. "He can take care of himself."
I was distracted yet again by him, only managing a nod. Everett said his goodbyes and gave thanks to both Asher and Gray, and all I could do was weakly wave.
When I was safely buckled inside his car, Everett slowly drove out of the crowded maze of—what everyone assumed to be—the dead part of town.
I sat, tired, like a kid in a car seat on the way home after a big long day, dazed. So much had happened all in one night.
"Everett?" I began hesitantly.
"Yes, Cel?" His voice did something to me.
"I'm...sorry," I finally exhaled, twisting my fingers together in my lap.
"You have nothing to be sorry for," His deep voice was slightly rough, like it was in the morning before. He sounded tired.
"No, I do," I admitted, twisting in my seat to face him. "I know you asked for time to explain everything, and I tried to give that you, but I really failed. I'm grateful you showed this to me, especially when you said this was hard for you, I'm just so sorry—"
"Actually—you should be," He practically growled.
"...what?" My voice turned weak. He was right, but it felt like a slap in the face.
"You should be sorry," I hadn't realized he had sped almost completely back into town already, but he had stopped just where the street lamps began to function, parking alongside the empty road. "You should be sorry for me. You talked to Grayson so much tonight." His voice was seething.
"I don't...understand."
"What about me?" I could faintly see him manspread from what little light was being produced from the street light that fought to shine through the tinted windshield. Then I heard him unbuckle. "Why weren't you worried about me?"
"Everett, I was. It was just that—"
"Just what?" His breathing was suddenly labored. "If you were so worried about me like you claim, you'd celebrate with me."
"How?" I pleaded.
He didn't respond. I watched his silhouette get out of his seat, clamber over the middle console, before hovering above me in the passenger seat.
Woah.
I could feel the heat radiating from my face when he placed one hand above my heart, feeling its pace before slithering up past my throat, carrassesing the soft spot below my ear that led to my jaw, his thumb tracing my cheek. What was he doing?
I licked my lips frantically, his scent suddenly intoxicating as he breathed heavily above me.
"Kiss me," He merely breathed.
My jaw nearly dropped. This unbelievably stunning boy wanted me to kiss him?
He waited, his other strong arm holding him up as he gripped the fabric of the seat above my shoulder.
I nodded.
Before I could pant another shaky breath, Everett crashed his lips against my own desperately. He held me there against him, until I was sure I was going to pass out. I had never felt such a sensation, his lips were so soft against my own. He wasn't necessarily gentle, but not so rough it was unenjoyable. The kiss was perfect, he was perfect.
Then he pulled away.
I frowned, wrapping my fingers around the fabric of his shirt, trying my hardest to pull him back against me.
He caught his breath, after a few moments. I tugged on him again.
"Cel," He groaned, easily picking my hand off of his shirt. My heart did a little flip when I heard the way he pronounced my name. "I want to kiss you again, but if I do I'm not sure you'll be home as quick as you'd like."
"What do you mean by that?" I whispered, gazing up at the highlights I could make out of his eyes in the darkness.
"Nevermind," He raked a hand down his face before shaking his head. "Thank you." He kissed my forehead, then got back in his seat.
I must've gone into shock, because I wasn't physically freaking out the way I was internally.
"Oh, Everett," I started calmly, as if I didn't just kiss the boy of my dreams. "Actually...I told my mom I was going to have a sleepover tonight, what should I do? I could pretend I got sick...or maybe...hm..."
"You can come over to my house tonight," We were speeding back into town. "If you'd like."
"Well, I mean, if you don't mind, then..." I leaned my hot face against the cold window as I watched the town come back to life as we drove further.