After the crowd died down, I went to James, the guy who arranged the race tonight. I got my money and got out of there as fast as I could. Thank God the cops didn’t show this time. I’m sure it was a result of Seth spreading the wrong location around, while at the same time letting others know where it was really being held.

Seth texted to let me know they were heading to Campus Karaoke and that’s where I was headed next, after I dropped off Seth’s dad’s racecar at his shop.

Alexandria

I didn’t know what to make of Elijah’s kiss, but I couldn’t stop thinking about his lips on mine, or how he made me feel. If I felt like that from a small peck, I wondered how I would feel from a real kiss. It made me think about my feelings toward Liam.

The clapping when Elijah entered broke me out of my trance. Sliding into our booth after he waved, he quickly looked my way, but that was it. Suddenly I was shy and didn’t know how to act around him. After we all ordered the drinks, his group of friends took turns singing.

“What the hell happened?” Seth asked.

“I’m sorry about your car. I don’t know, but I’m going to make that f**ker pay for the damages. That was way out of line,” Elijah replied.

The racecar belonged to Seth?

Seth seethed in anger. “Forget about it. That ass**le is not going to give me a penny. I can help my dad fix it. Don’t worry about it. I’m just happy you won. You should have seen the look on Nolan’s face. I wish I would’ve taken a video of it and put it on You Tube. Now that would have been epic.”

“Don’t do anything to stir him up,” Lexy intervened. “If he’s crazy enough to pull that stunt, who’s to say what he will try next? Don’t add more fuel to the fire. Well…anyways….” Lexy looked at her watch. “It’s midnight. Happy Birthday, Elijah!” Lexy shouted.

His group of friends were already on stage. The music came on and everyone started to sing “Happy Birthday.” Right on cue, the waitress brought out the cake. I didn’t know it was his birthday. There was nothing I could do at this point, except sing along and get him something tomorrow.

Elijah had his face in his hands while he shook his head, and then looked up. “It’s not a big deal, but thank you.” He lit that shy sexy grin I loved so much.

After the song was finished, Elijah flashed a quick glance at me, and then blew out all the candles. Someone from the stage spoke into the mic. “Come on, birthday boy, you’re on next.”

Elijah gave a wicked grin. “I’m not going up there alone.” He tugged Seth, and Lexy, and since I gave him the biggest struggle, he picked me up.

“Elijah, put me down.” That is what he did, right onto the stage.

Holding on to me so I couldn’t break free, he punched in the numbers and the music came on. The excitement grew when I realized which song he chose. I was trembling, but I couldn’t help myself. I wanted to sing and having Lexy with me helped big time. Shaking our asses to the rhythm, we started to act crazy.

Elijah and Seth sang first. Then Lexy and I sang the female parts. It was “Summer Nights” from Grease, and I was having the time of my life. I looked at Lexy, who was looking back at me, smiling and laughing as we took turns singing. The song ended and just as I was about to get off the stage, Elijah held me back. “Not so fast.”

I found myself being dragged back on the stage and another song began to play. Elijah started singing the song. I realized it was a duet from Grease again, “You’re The One That I Want.” My favorite song. He remembered.

Elijah started singing Danny’s part. Holy shit! Could he have made singing that song any hotter? I’m pretty sure every girl in the room was drooling. That boy was sexy as all f**k.

When Sandy’s part came on, I sang.

As we both sang together, we couldn’t help but stare into each other’s eyes, smiling and dancing. I was really having fun. It was as if it was just the two of us in this room singing that song to each other. It was electrifying and just then I knew my heart was set on him.

I gave Elijah the biggest smile when the song ended. He knew how much that song meant to me. Somehow, Elijah took that sad memory and replaced it with a happy one.

“Happy Birthday to me,” he said, draping his arm around my shoulders and planting a kiss on my forehead. “That was the best present ever. Thanks, Alex.”

I had no idea why he thanked me, but I didn’t want to read too much into it. He was on a high from his win and his birthday.

Chapter 20

Alexandria

Whiteboard:

Sorry! Didn’t have time to take laundry

out of the dryer. Will tonight.

-E

“Liam? What are you doing here?” I asked, seeing Liam at the door, huddling from the cold with his arms crossed.

“Didn’t you get any of my messages?” His tone was cold, gazing first at Lexy, then Seth. Elijah dropped the arm that was lazily draped on my back. Liam didn’t bother to say hello to my friends. He just looked at them as if they were nothing.

“How long were you waiting?” I was in shock to see him unexpectedly. Not knowing what to do, I just stood there. Elijah opened the door. Lexy and Seth followed him inside.

Liam didn’t answer my question. “Looks like you were having too much fun to check your messages.” He sounded upset, but I dismissed it.

“Do you want to come in?”

“Not really, but I don’t want to talk out here. I guess we need to go inside.”