Page 57 of Ride or Die

Billie’s cheeks flush.

Cole clears his throat. “Um, Bailey, this is Billie, Tommy”—he holds his hand up in Tom’s direction—“and their… um… their mama. Clara.” He nods at me.

“Howdy, y’all.” Bailey waves, her smile so genuine and infectious, it’s impossible not to immediately like her.

“Pip said we get free pie and ice cream ’cuz we’re new,” Billie boasts.

“Oh, girl”—Bailey gasps—“you gotta get the Texas trash pie, it is… better than heaven.”

“Trash pie?” Billie scrunches her face up.

“Trust me!” Bailey holds her pinkie up and Billie links hers with it, the two sharing some kind of sworn secret right in front of my face. I can’t help but feel more than a little rejected.

I shift in my seat, clearing my throat, flashing Cole a glance only to find him already watching me. I force a smile, looking past him and praying to whatever god will listen that our meals arrive sooner rather than later.

“You wanna eat with us?” Billie asks, staring up at Bailey in awe.

“Billie,” I chide quietly, my eyes flitting to Cole and his date. “Let them be.”

Billie’s little shoulders fall.

“Well, y’all enjoy your meal.” Cole nods.

“It was nice to meet y’all.” Bailey smiles looking around the table and as she walks off, following Cole to the lone booth in the far corner. I don’t miss the way she glances at me over her shoulder, an unreadable smile ghosting her lips.

Silence settles around the table and I glance at the kids, forcing a smile I know doesn’t reach my eyes. “So, what pie are you guys gonna have?”

Billie grins smugly. “Texastrashpie, of course.”

I turn to Tommy, noticing the way he’s suddenly so quiet, staring down at the paper napkin he’s shredding to pieces.

“You okay, Tom?”

He looks up then, and so much like me, he forces a smile that doesn’t meet his eyes. And because he and I are twin flames, I immediately know.

I have no right to be feeling the way I am right now. Sure, perhaps I read a little too much into things with Cole, maybe allowed my mind to get carried away, but there was nothing there. Aside from a few shared glances and the occasional touch, Cole is just a… friend, someone who was willing to help. It was stupid and careless of me to ever think it was or could have been anything more. God, I just left my abusive ex, for chrissake. I have no business worrying about men in that way right now, especially not men seven years younger than me. But Tommy doesn’t see it like that. And I can’t help but blame myself for allowing him to get closer to Cole than he’s ever gotten to a man before.

“Here we are, folks.”

I’m pulled from my thoughts to see Pip delivering our meals, placing the plates down onto the table.

“It looks delicious,” I say, snuffing out the awkward silence.

“I got extra fries out back if y’all want ’em, okay?”

“I think this is more than enough, huh kids?”

Tommy and Billie nod, chiming in unison, “Thank you.”

“Did y’all decide what pie you want?” Pip asks, looking to the kids.

“Trash pie!” Billie practically squeals.

“It’s a crowd favorite.” The lady chuckles, looking to Tommy. “What about you, handsome?”

He lifts a shoulder. “The same is fine, thank you.”

“Three trash pies with two scoops each comin’ right up,” Pip says.