40. Harden
T he next couple of weeks follow the same pattern.
We go to class, go to practice, and then spend our nights with Aurora in tow.
She’s still staying with us, even though her door was replaced two days after the incident, and Everest has her in his bed every night.
It makes him act like a smug dickhead every day, but Griffin has still managed to sneak around and fuck her a few times.
Just the thought of that has me hard as fuck, which means I’m basically a walking erection these days.
It’s strange, not just having sexual feelings for them both, but having the urge to want to act on them.
It’s something I never thought I would experience.
Griffin still sleeps in my bed every night, and we’ve made out almost every single one of them.
Some of them have led us to either jerking off or me sucking his dick again, but I still haven’t let him touch me.
I don’t know why, I mean I do, but I thought now that my mother is dead that I would feel better, freer, and I do, but apparently my body hasn’t got the full memo.
I hear a creek on the stairs and I shift slightly, preparing for Aurora to join me for our movie night.
She has been sneaking out of Everest’s room almost every other night, so we can watch old movies like we used to.
Everest of course knows, she always falls asleep on the sofa curled up next to me, and he comes down and carries her back up to bed.
He’s even started faking falling asleep earlier so she isn’t staying up too late, so despite him being smug, he’s also sweet when it comes to her.
Tonight is different though. It’s Saturday, and when he saw her lingering beside me in the kitchen earlier, he asked Griffin if he wanted to go work out.
Griff looked completely bemused at first, until he followed Everest’s gaze to Aurora and me, and then reluctantly agreed.
We still aren’t letting her go or stay anywhere alone, apart from when she is in class, so me staying behind with her wasn’t exactly unusual.
When she floats into the living room I can see she is only wearing an oversized shirt, and shorts that are so tiny that the shirt hides them completely.
I grind my jaw at the sight of her, wishing I was just fucking normal and that I could tell her how I feel.
Why do I find it easier with Griffin? It’s not like I want her any less than him, if anything I want her more.
I’ve longed for her for as far back as I can remember, and she doesn’t even fucking realize it.
“Did the guys already leave?” She asks, looking around and coming up empty, and I nod. “I’m surprised Everest didn’t accost me in the shower.”
The night is still young. I sign, and she smirks, dropping into the spot beside me on the sofa, as she eyes the TV. Casablanca, okay? I add, bringing her eyes back to my hands, and she nods.
“It’s my favorite and you know it.” She rolls her eyes playfully, reaching for the bowl of popcorn I made, before settling in so close to me that I can smell the sweet scent of her perfume.
We watch the movie mostly in silence, like we always do, just enjoying one another’s company, before my phone dings beside me. I ignore it at first, not caring about whoever it is, but then it goes off again and again and I sigh, reaching to grab it off the table.
The messages are from a new group chat I’ve been added to.
Bobby - Haze where the fuck you at?
Knox - Come on, baby boy, I’m itching for a race
Wilder - I’m itching for something else ??
Casper - Leave the poor guy alone, he has a life unlike you guys
**Caden left the group chat**
Bobby - Seriously, we’re throwing a party. Get your ass down here.
**Bobby added Caden to the group chat**
Casper - Did you even invite him before tonight?
Bobby - I forgot
Knox - You’re fucking useless Bobs
Beckett - Are we even surprised? I’m lucky I got invited
Bobby - I would have told you eventually
Casper - Just fucking get here, Haze, we miss your chaos
Wilder - And I’ll make it up to you with my mouth, don’t worry
I read through the messages with a smirk, shaking my head, as Aurora looks over my shoulder. “Should I warn Griffin that someone else is vying for your affections?” she muses, and when I look up at her, she is watching me with a coy smile.
It’s just some friends inviting me to a party. I sign, dropping my phone to my lap, as she tips her head at me, probably wondering what friends I have outside of the guys.
“You can go if you want,” she shrugs, pausing the movie.
I’m not leaving you here alone. I sign, already shaking my head, ignoring my phone when it dings again.
“Well, I was actually thinking we could go together.” Her response surprises me, because despite our frequent movie nights, we don’t usually ever do anything else alone.
You want to go with me? My hands are steady as I respond, even though I feel anything but, and I’m not sure why I’m nervous.
“Sure, a night on the town with Harden Haze, what’s the worst that can happen?” She smirks, a teasing lilt to her tone, almost as if she is flirting with me, and it heats my blood.
At that, my eyes snap back down to my phone, scanning the new message there.
Caden - Come before I kill them all for pissing me off
**Caden left the group chat**
When I look back at her she is watching me expectantly.
If I were normal, this would be the thing to do, right?
I’d take the girl I want to a party, drink, have fun, introduce her to some of my friends, those are all things people my age do, so why can’t I?
She’s never been to The Underground before, and though I’m sure she remembers some of the guys from school, even though they are older than her, I think she’d have fun.
What would she think of that side of me?
She’s never even seen me drive, let alone race, and the thought already has adrenaline pumping through me.
Then you better get ready. I sign, and her entire face lights up in excitement, as she pushes off the sofa, already moving toward the stairs.
I follow suit, heading to my room and changing into jeans, a t-shirt, and a jacket, spraying some aftershave on, before grabbing my wallet and keys and heading back downstairs.
I linger by the door, not sure how long she is going to take, but she doesn’t keep me waiting.
It’s only ten minutes before she appears, wearing a maroon lace top that shows far too much skin, paired with a black mini skirt and knee-high boots.
She’s the sexiest thing I have ever fucking seen, and I swallow thickly as she approaches me.
“Well, don’t you scrub up nice,” she teases, erasing the distance between us and bringing her sweet coconut scent with her.
“You look beautiful,” I choke out, making her eyes widen in surprise, before her smile gets even brighter. She doesn’t make a big deal out of it however, just brushes past me and opens the door.
“Do we need to call a cab?” she asks over her shoulder, and I shake my head, as I lock the door before guiding her to the garage at the side of the house.
Griffin’s car is parked in the driveway, and Everest’s still hasn’t been replaced since he crashed it last year, mine is the only one that stays tucked away in the garage.
I only use it when I head to The Underground, and I’m almost certain Aurora has never seen it.
Still, she follows me to the garage, her eyes dancing with amusement, as I open the door and duck inside.
When I pull the cover off my car she freezes, staring at it wide-eyed.
“This is yours?” she asks to confirm, and I nod, moving to the passenger side to open the door for her.
“Harden, this car is worth a quarter of a million dollars, where the hell are we going in this?” Her fingers glide across the hood, as she moves toward me, rounding me and the door and stepping up to the open space.
To The Underground.
The drive here was mostly silent, Aurora cutting questioning glances my way every few seconds, as we glided across lanes and out of town.
I could tell she had a million things she wanted to say, but knowing my hands were occupied, she kept them to herself.
When we arrive on the deep outskirts of Havenswood, I slow the car down so I don’t miss the exit to the race course.
Aurora’s eyes are pinned to the window now, gaze bouncing around in wonder, as I guide us between the trees and down a long dirt track.
There are no signs up for this place anymore and when Caden took over, he didn’t clear up the surrounding areas.
He wanted this place to remain hidden, being known about as word of mouth only.
When we finally start seeing lights from some of the buildings, the deep base of music greets us too.
The parking lot is overflowing with cars, but I drive right to the front, knowing there will be a space beside all the guys' cars for me. I can hear the deep rev of engines letting me know there is a race happening, but tonight is different from race nights. Tonight won’t be high stakes and big bets like normal, it will be more fun among friends, and people getting drunk and gambling and fighting.
I spy the guys sitting across the VIP balcony in the center of the stands where Caden had some of the seating removed and reconfigured.
It holds a sort of semi circle of plush chairs now, perfect for watching the races while still being under cover, and has easy access to the bar on the inside of the building.
Turning off my engine, I slip out of the car and quickly make my way around to open the door for Aurora.
She steps out mindlessly, her eyes bright with wonder as she takes everything in, and I surprise her when I put my arm around her, guiding her in the direction of the guys.