Page 64 of Ride or Die

I don’t miss the way her words tug at something in my chest, but I also fully understand and respect her decision. So, with a nod I hoist myself up into the driver’s side and give the girls a wave. “We’ll be back in a few.”

I proceed down the driveway, the truck jostling over the bumps. As I turn onto the country road, the truck picks up speed and the dusk breeze blowing in through the open windows whips against my face, warm and thick, bringing with it the hint of summer.

“This is so cool!” Tommy shouts.

I glance at him from the corner of my eye, his smile and excitement infectious and warming me through to my chest. Aswe coast along the road, I find myself feeling connected to this little guy in a way I never have before, almost like this ten-year-old kid might just be my next best friend.

“How’s school?” I ask after a few beats.

“It’s okay.” Tom nods. “I like school.”

I sniff a laugh. “I hated school when I was a kid.”

“Why?”

I shrug. “I don’t know. Just never been a fan of people tryin’ to tell me what to do.” Glancing sideways I meet Tommy’s eyes. “Never been good at sittin’ still in a classroom. The only thing I was ever good at was playin’ football.”

“I’m the opposite.” Tom shrugs. “I hate sports, but I’m good at math.”

I grin, glancing at him again. “Hey, can I ask you somethin’?”

He nods, looking across the cab at me and meeting my eyes.

“That night in the barn,” I start, looking ahead at the road. “You were gonna tell me somethin’ about… Billie’s daddy.” I glance at him again quickly, noticing the way he stiffens at the mention. “Tommy, did he ever lay a hand on you?”

There’s a long silence and it causes my gut to clench, my mind reeling.

“No.”

I look at him and he meets my eyes again, and I can tell by the way he keeps his chin held high that he ain’t lyin’.

“I swear.” Shifting in his seat, he clears his throat. “He used to… scare me. Like, pretend he was going to hit me, just to make me flinch. He used to think it was funny. But one time he was drunk, and he got so angry he… he punched the wall right by my head, put a hole through it.” Tommy looks down to his hands in his lap, his shoulders shrinking a touch.

I heave a sigh, scrubbing my chin as I stare out the windshield, relieved but still so fuckin angry I can barely even see straight. “If you ever need to talk, I’m always here,” Icontinue, flashing him another look and nodding. “We’re pals, you and me.”

Tentatively, I hold my hand out between us, knuckles up and with a tight smile, Tommy nods, touching my fist with his, and I release another breath, the tension in the air easing.

“There was somethin’ else I wanted to ask you,” I say after a silent pause, suddenly awkward and nervous as hell, my palms sweating as I grip the steering wheel like it’s all I’ve got anchoring me to earth.

“What is it?” Tommy’s words shake, like he’s suddenly nervous too.

Swallowing hard, I clear my throat. “Well, I was… I was gonna ask you for your p-permission.”

“My permission?” he repeats. “What for?”

I drag a hand over my face, huffing a hard exhale. “I wanted to… ask your mama out… on a… a date.” Shifting in my seat, I cast him a quick glance, meeting his eyes and thankfully he has the decency not to outright laugh at me because I already feel like a jackass.

“A date?” He arches a brow.

I nod. “I mean, only if it’s okay with you?”

Tom lifts his shoulders. “It’s okay with me.”

“Yeah?” I can’t even try to fight my grin.

He nods and I release the breath I’ve been holding, sagging in my seat as we continue following the country road.

“Cole?” Tom says after a few silent moments.