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Ella

"So is this what you used to do all the time?" Lila relaxes back in the lawn chair "Just sit around and watch them work on cars all day? God, that must have been nice"

I slurp onon the car on the opposite side of the garage They’re trying to work too fast and it’sme nervous "No, I used to work on the cars with the of M&M’s into her hand "Do you want to go help the out here with you," I say and stick outmyself"

She dumps some candy into my hand and I pour the chocolate into my mouth

"I know you are" She sets the candy on the floor and picks up her soda "You’re practically glowing"

I rest"This makeswhen the car’s not running good"

Lila pulls her hair out of the ponytail and tousles it with her fingers "Why? Can soo wrong," I say,Micha into this mess

Micha

I kick a tool box out of the way and step up onto the buine "So what do you think?"

Ethan wipes his hands on a rag as he shakes his head "I have no clue if this quick fix is going to hold up or not and we don’t have tih, they’re probably bent and your whole steering is going to be fucked up"

"I guess we’ll find out e get it going" I glance over at Ella and Lila, laughing in the corner of the garage

"You’re not going to take her with you when you race, are you?" Ethan rounds the back of the car and starts checking the tire pressure

"Not with the car running like it is"

"And what if she gives you a hard time"

"She won’t" I check the oil "At least I think she won’t"

Ethan wipes his hands on his jeans "I think that all depends on which Ella you’re dealing with The nice, polite one or the one who got you into this ain as she bends over to get a soda from the cooler behind the chairs Her short shorts ride up and the botto a drink, she drops back in her chair and opens it up, laughing at so Lila said I adjust ht be a little of both"

"Why are there soat the cars parked up and down the road "It wasn’t this bad the last tiirl is scared shitless and I kind of feel bad for her "Mikey likes to draw a crowd"

"To watch hi Ella with her elbow

"Maybe," I say with a heavy sigh, psyching myself out as I climb out of the car

The three of theh the crohere Mikey’s talking smack to some skater dude who drives a Honda in theoff for everyone There’s a bonfire burning over near The Hitch and people sitting on tailgates, drinking beers, waiting for the race to start

I pusha hold of Ella’s hand When we step out into the open, everyone looks at us and gossip starts flowing

Mikey stops talking and claps his hands loudly "Holy crap, I didn’t think you’d actually show up"

"Do I ever not show up?" I say "You’re the one that backed out the last tiround and crosses his ar? The little one with the big onna race me yourself?"

Ella starts to move forward "I’ her behindI can handle it"

I shake et this over with"

Mikey grins, rubbing his hands together "What? You eager to get your ass kicked?"

"No, I’er for you shut up" With that I turn away and head back to the car with Ella in tow

"Micha Scott," she says, tugging on et

Ethan and Lila are a ways back and Ethan’s trying to explain to Lila the rules of racing I keep walking forward, dragging her along withto let her have her way this ti all noble and just let me drive," she says hotly "It’s much better foryou about it for the rest of your life"

I stop just in front of the car and turn to her and brush the pad ofabout losing?"

She gathers some strands of hair out of her face and stares at the front end of the car The glow of the fire highlights the worry in her eyes "I know Ethan and you didn’t get everything fixed You orking too fast and I’reat of a job"

"The car’s fine," I assure her "But you need to sit this one out"

"No way," she argues, folding her ar to at least sit in the passenger seat and ride with you "

I shake irl" She starts to fuht in front of everyone, cupping the back of her head and grabbing her ass, letting people know she’s mine Her body trembles as she kisses me back, even when solazed look in her eyes "Now take Lila and go sit over by the finish line"

She opens her mouth, then seals her lips shut and nods Ethan and her trade places and she walks off with Lila over toward the line

Once they’re out of sight, Ethan says, "You sure you want to do this?"

I nod,the line of the road and the trees next to it "You sure you want to do this?"

"Absolutely," he says "I have nothing better to do"

We buine a few tih the croard the lineup area in front of The Hitch

"How’s the steering?" he asks rolling down the , and letting the night air flow in

I veer it fro it "It’s shaky"

"Left or right?"

"To the right"

"Make sure you do your turnaround to the left then"