Page 58 of Ride or Die

“Actually”—I stop her, holding my hand up—“would it be okay if… if we took the pie to go?”

Pip’s eyebrows tug together, her kind smile remaining. “Well, of course hon. I’ll box ’em up and pop in a side of ice cream.” She winks at me again and turns, hurrying to a waiting customer across the diner.

At that moment, I look up and meet Cole’s piercing gaze across the space, finding something unexpected in his eyes. But before I can think too much, I turn away quickly, focusing on my food and offering Tommy and Billie a tight smile as I say, “Let’s eat.”

CHAPTER 21

COLE

Ifeel Bailey’s eyes on me as I stare down at the menu, not reading it, just choosing to look at it because if I don’t, my eyes will take on a mind of their own and wander right across the diner to where they have no business wanderin’.

“What are you thinkin’?” I rub my chin, scanning the fare.

Suddenly the menu is ripped right out from underneath my nose and I snap my chin up to find Bailey gaping at me like I’ve got two heads instead of the customary one.

“What am I thinkin’?” She guffaws. “Boy, this menu ain’t changed since before we was born.”

I refrain from rolling my eyes, instead shifting in my seat and averting my gaze to the window, to the nothingness of darkness as it settles outside.

“So, that’s her, huh?”

I don’t look at Bailey. I can’t. I don’t want her to see it. The truth. The truth I ain’t even admitted to myself yet. Instead, I grit my teeth and say nothing.

“She’s pretty, Cole.”

I exhale a bored sigh, forcing my gaze to her and deadpanning, “We eatin’ or what?”

Folding her arms across her chest, Bailey twists her lips to the side in some pathetic attempt to conceal her knowing smirk, but the smile is there sparkling in her eyes, and I’m about five seconds away from hoping up and walking straight on out.

Leaning forward and narrowing an eye, Bailey studies me. “How long have we known each other?”

I shake my head. “I don’t know. Fuckin’ forever.”Too damn long, if she keeps this shit up.

She nods. “And how many times do you think I’ve witnessed you, Summer’s ‘playboy’ Cole Dawson”—she rolls her eyes, using her fingers as air quotes as she says that—“stumble over his own damn words when talkin’ to a woman?”

Pursing my lips, I throw her a long, levelled look.

Bailey pinches her thumb and forefinger together, making a perfect circle. “Zero.”

I do roll my eyes this time because not only is she being ridiculous but, frankly, she’s startin’ to piss me off. I glance toward the counter wondering where the fuck Pip is and why she ain’t here to take our order and interrupt Bailey’s bullshit.

“You like her.”

I snap my head to Bailey, glaring at her. “Can you keep your fuckin’ voice down?”

Sitting back all smug, Bailey presses her lips together, biting them between her teeth to stifle her shit-eating grin. I cast a quick glance across the diner, relieved to see that Clara is well out of ear shot, and busy talking with the kids over their meals.

Fuck, seems like she gets prettier every time I see her. Tonight, she’s dressed in a sundress with daisies on it that shows off her smooth, sun-kissed shoulders and brings out the gold flecks in her eyes. Her honey-blonde hair is clipped up, a few tendrils falling loose down her neck, a delicate sandal dangles from her foot as it sways to the tune of the song playing from thejukebox. It seems she’s even more beautiful when she’s unaware. Effortless. Breathtaking.

Bailey clears her throat, and I close my eyes on a hard sigh, realizing she’s caught me staring. Fuckin’ogling. When I meet her knowing gaze, I’m met with anI told you sogrin, and I swear to God, this woman.

“It ain’t like that,” I start, shifting in my seat again. “I’m just… I don’t know… protective of her. Of the kids. I see myself in them. It’s… relatable, y’know?”

Bailey smiles around her straw as she sips her iced water, watching me.

I shake my head, shrugging a shoulder. “I don’t know. I ain’t ever felt this way about anyone before. I mean, yeah, she’s beautiful…” I glance at Clara once again, my gaze raking over her slowly from head to toe. “She’s kind, and gentle, and caring, but it’s not?—”

“Cole Dawson, will shut up and listen to yourself!”