She sighs. “I know. Iwantedto win, but I didn’t think I would.”
I smile, unable to stop myself before I lean in, and press my lips to her forehead. “You should always believe in yourself, pretty girl.”
She looks up at me when I pull back, and our eyes lock together like a magnet.
“I can’t believe you’re leaving tomorrow,” I hear Rosie say.
I tear my eyes off Gabi, looking at all of the guys, staring back at us. I meet Aiden’s eye, and the guy is smirking.
“Actually, we need to leave right now,” Gabi says, glancing up at me. “We still have to pack, and the drive there is quite far.”
“You’re not packed?” Madi asks, her eyes widened in shock. She shakes her head. “Why am I even asking? Of course you’re not.”
Gabi rolls her eyes. “There’s plenty of time,” she says. “Besides, Chris already volunteered to help me.”
I blink, looking down at her. “I did?”
“Of course,” she says with a sweet smile that melts my insides. “You know I’m hopeless without you.” She tugs on my hand, pulling us out toward the exit. “Let’s go.”
I wave the guys goodbye as Gabi walks on ahead of me, and Aiden nudges me when I approach him. “I saw that,” he says.
I furrow my brows. “Saw what?”
He gestures toward Gabi. “You slowed down at the finish line.” He breaks out into a grin. “Why did you do that?”
I can’t even deny it. I just let out a laugh and look at Gabi seeing her smile at her friends. I knew I could have won back there, but… “Look how happy she is.”
Chapter 19
Road trips and dangerous dares
“Look. No hands.” Gabi lifts both hands from the steering wheel, grinning at me.
“Jesus,” I curse, quickly grabbing the steering wheel. “As much as I’d love to die with you, I’d rather live a few more years first.”
She laughs, dropping her hands back onto the wheel. “You’re being dramatic. We won’t die.” But then her smile falters, and she glances at me. “You’d want to die with me?”
I blink, meeting her gaze.I want to do everything with you. “I mean, if Ihadto die, then yeah, I’d want you by my side.” Ipause, swallowing all the other words I want to say to her. “You know how terrified I am of death.” I chuckle nervously. “But I think it’d be a little less scary if I was with you,” I admit with a shrug.
Gabi smiles, her eyes twinkling in the night sky and she shuffles in her seat, glancing back at the road, as the music fills the car. The silence hangs in the air, and a twinge of worry crosses me. Gabi’s never quiet.
“Are you okay?” I ask, glancing at her. “It’s getting pretty late. Do you want me to drive for a little while?”
She shakes her head, a smirk playing on her lips. “No. I like having you as my passenger princess,” she teases.
I let out a scoff. “Dick.”
“Where?” she says, craning her neck to look out of both windows.
I shake my head, chuckling. We’ve been on the road all day, taking turns driving, and I can tell she’s getting a bit delirious. “I don’t know why the hell I agreed to spend a whole day in a car with you,” I say with a sigh.
“Because you can’t say no to me,” she replies, her grin mischievous.
No, I really can’t. I have a feeling I’d do whatever she asked me to.
I have done in the past.
Raindrops begin to patter against the windshield, one after the other. The sound of the rain grows louder as it picks up speed, coming down hard onto the glass. Gabi reaches out and flicks on the wipers, trying to focus on the blurry road.
