Page 31 of Ride or Die

I look up, my eyebrows tugging together.

“To look after the kids,” he says, answering my unspoken question.

“Oh.” I shake my head. “That’s okay, I can figure it out.” I don’t know how I’ll figure it out exactly, but I’m sure there’s a responsible teenager in town, looking for some babysitting hours. I can’t expect Cole to be here every Friday and Saturday night. I don’t know if he has a girlfriend, or a boyfriend. Or maybe he just wants to go to the bar and spend his weekends being single. He’s entitled to that.

“I’m a bull rider.”

I jolt back, confused by his declaration.

“I’m usually riding on Friday nights, the occasional Saturday too.”

Blinking, I consider what he’s just told me, realization dawning. “You mean like… real life bulls?”

He deadpans. “Yeah…”

“Like at a rodeo or something?”

“Yes.” He sniffs another laugh, hiding his smile behind his beer can.

“Oh… wow,” I say on a breath, allowing my eyes to rake over him from his strong shoulders and arms, down his body tohis long legs, finally landing on the big, calloused hand clasped around his Pabst can.

When I look up, I find him watching me from the corner of his eyes, the hint of a knowing smirk curling his lips, and I quickly avert my focus, thankful for the darkness to hide the flush that heats my cheeks. He’s hot, but he knows he is.

“So.” I begin small talk because when I’m nervous, I’m either a runner or a rambler, and right now I’ve got nowhere to run. “Did you grow up here? In Summer?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Cole takes another swig from his beer.

I can’t help but smile at thema’am, looking down at my can. “Are your folks still here?”

Cole shifts next to me, clearing his throat. I don’t know why, but I can feel the energy that surrounds him turn heavier. I glance at him from the corner of my eye, watching as he stares straight ahead, a muscle ticking in his jaw.

“Nope.” His answer is curt, tight, and final, leaving no room for questioning, so I keep my nosy mouth shut, looking out at the darkness, at the imaginary shadows that move through the thicket of bushes.

“You like riding bulls?” I ask after a few moments of loud silence.

“I love it.”

I roll my lips together, thinking of something else to talk about just for the sake of it. But before I can decide on a safe topic, Cole speaks first, shocking me with his words.

CHAPTER 11

COLE

“Billie’s daddy the one who gave you them bruises?”

Clara sits upright, her spine stiffening in the wake of my question.

She doesn’t look at me, just stares down at her beer can, her fingers skating over her skin where those bruises have since faded. I can almost see her fight or flight starting to kick in. Thing is, she ain’t got nowhere to run. Sure, she can cuss me out, tell me to fuck off, but somehow, I don’t think she will.

Long moments stretch between us, but I don’t push her. I wait. I don’t gotta be up at the crack of dawn come morning, so I’ll wait all night if I have to. Hell, there’s another six pack of beers in the fridge to keep me company while I do.

“How…” Her voice is so soft, so broken, it’s almost lost to the breeze.

I say nothing and she finally glances at me, her eyes glassy and reflecting the muted light of the stars overhead when they meet mine.

“Tom?”

I nod once.