Racing Through My Thoughts

Chapter Thirty-Three: Last Night

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--Evelyn's POV--

I lift my head up and widen my eyes when I realize I'm in Lando's bed. The helmets on the wall are a dead giveaway as I sit up and see he's not beside me. My clothes are folded on his desk and I'm wearing one of his t-shirts. My favorite t-shirt I would steal when I stayed over. There is a light knock on the door and he peeks his head in to see if I'm awake, "Hey," he whispers walking over and seeing the confused look on my face. He immediately hands me meds and water telling me to take them.

"Why am I here?" I ask not remembering much after the last couple of shots I took with Tristan. When he takes the empty water glass from my hand I see cuts along his knuckles making me widen my eyes, "Looks like you've had a good night," I tease figuring he fell and scrapped his hand up. 

"Do you not remember?" He asks making me look to meet his eyes. They have a soft look to them. The morning light coming in makes them hazel with larger flecks of green. The suspense is killing me and I'm scared I made a fool of myself last night.

"Please...just tell me," I tell him as he drops his head and focuses on the pattern on his shorts.

"You and that guy were drinking all night long and then he tried to get you to another club. And I know you said not to bother you but I followed you just to make sure you were safe," he says making my mouth go dry, "You kept telling him you had to go home and he wouldn't take no for an answer and then he said he would drive you back to his place. I intervened and even Max stumbled outside seeing you practically passed out against him. He took you away as the guy tried to go after you," he says picking his hand up with a light laugh as it explains the abrasion. 

I wrap my arms around myself as I lean on my knees that are pulled into my chest, "You protected me," I whisper as I look up at him seeing how worried he is showing in his eyes. I close my eyes and feel like crying but I don't even remember anything from last night. Just the thought of what could have happened if he wasn't there. His hand touches my shoulder and I collapse into his embrace, his hands running through my hair as he lets me rest my head on his chest. He kisses the top of my head making me miss the way his arms feel around me.

"You're okay," he whispers, "Sorry about the shirt. I just knew you wouldn't be comfortable sleeping in that dress and you left some makeup wipes here as well. I tried copying your nighttime routine as much as possible last night but I might have forgotten a few steps," He says making my heart beat out of my chest. I lift my lips pressing them against his as his thumb wipes tears from under my eyes. He pulls away and I know he wants to continue but he's looking at me like I'm fragile and I am. I keep my body attached to him like a koala bear as his hands massage my back. I wouldn't dream of moving. I don't know how much time has passed before he stops moving. His body tenses a little as I lift my head looking at him.

He takes a deep breath as he moves his lips agonizingly slow against my own before pulling away. His thumbs are pressed into the skin showing from the shirt being hitched up from how I'm laying on him, "I owe people money," he whispers making me pull away fully to look at him, "In my rookie season I didn't know what they were capable of...but I was handling it. The crash ruined a deal and I owe the money I lost them," he tells me as I look at every inch of his face looking to see if he's telling the truth.

I try to think of something to say, "I have been racing in drag races through the city. That's how I afford trips, and clothes, and the lifestyle other drivers had. I was jealous of not being able to keep up and they took advantage of that. I didn't want to tell you because of how ashamed I am for falling for their stupid scam," he says as he holds my hands.

"When does it end?" I ask. 

"I don't know. Every time I'm close to leaving it once and for all, I'm dragged back in again," he says looking like a lost kid. It breaks my heart knowing he's been dealing with this alone for years, "I want to tell someone but it will ruin my career".

His hands run down my legs as I try to take everything in, "We will figure it out," I assure him seeing the slight relief from my statement, "Promise," I whisper holding my pinky out for him. He smiles as he locks his with mine and kisses our hands.

"Take me to one," I tell him and his face hardens as he sits up with me in his lap.

"Absolutely not. It's dangerous and they are not the kind of people you should be around. I won't let you walk in there alone while I'm racing," he tells me.

I suck in a breath, "How do people not know it's you racing?" I ask. He points to the helmet that's on the top of his shelf with the number 6 on it. I stand up from his bed and see a casino design on it and it stands out against the yellow ones. It's bright red with black accents.

"I hide under the helmet. Nobody can tell when I'm in the car and it's a different car every night. Sometimes it's a motorcycle...wherever they can make money they send me a text," he tells me as I feel his hand on my waist as I stare at the helmet. 

"I wish you told me earlier. I was such a dick to you while you were struggling wit-" I ramble before he cuts me off.

"Stop. You had every right to drop my ass I didn't make it easy for you to deal with me. The look on your face as we argued was like someone was punching me in the stomach over and over again," he says 

"Did you actually think I was interested in Max?" I ask turning around in his arms as he looks down at me without moving his head.

"Maybe...but I was worried about the wrong driver," He says as I smile happy we can all make jokes about it now.

"I'm going to the next drag race," I tell him as he tightens his grip on me, "Even if you don't take me with you...I'll find it".

"If you're going then we need to go shopping cause nothing you own will have you blend in. I hate this but I know you won't give up until you are there," he says subtly smiling at how stubborn I am, "But you can't go alone. I don't trust that crowd...so I'll I'm planning on telling Oscar about everything," he says.

"What made you tell me?" I ask.

"I decided last night when I was helping you get ready for bed," he tells me as I purse my lips, "You kept telling me you loved me as I wiped your mascara off and put your hair into a ponytail," he says making my cheeks burn bright red, "I figured you weren't in the right state of mind but I'd like to think on a friend level there was some truth to your words," he says making the butterflies in my stomach go crazy, "Do you want to order lunch and catch up on that show you were forcing me to watch?" he asks as I happily nod my head. 

"Sounds like the perfect day."