Page 11 of Ride or Die (The Shores #1)

CHAPTER

ELEVEN

CHURCH GIRL

LAYLA

This week has been a whirlwind. Not only has school and work been busy as fuck, but now having Colton in my life, it feels like everything is shifting for me. To think, a week ago, how different things were.

For the remainder of the week, Colton drove me to work at 5 a.m., then met me afterwards to go to the library and class.

He even drove me home and studied with me at night a couple of times.

We’ve been getting looks on campus as we’ve been seen together more, but so far we haven’t done anything social in The Shores.

He has respected me and my lack of physical experience. He hasn’t tried to push anything physical since our rendezvous in the stacks, leaving it to simple goodbye kisses on the cheek and hugs. He has been such a perfect gentleman, which makes it even harder to resist him.

Whatever this is blossoming between us, it’s deepening by the day.

Right now, I’m nervous as all hell. I’m getting ready to go over to Colt’s place to hang out in a garage.

Simone sits on my bed watching me get ready, giving me advice on what to wear, even offering up some of her clothes, but her tastes are not on my level. I opted for a comfortable pink sundress for the unseasonably warm October we are having.

“Isn’t that outfit a little too...church girl for Colton?” she asks, looking at me with pity and disgust. I ignore her awful glare and try to shrug her off. She is not making me feel any better.

“He seems to like me the way I am, so I’ll continue doing what works for me.”

“I can’t believe Colton Hawthorne told you he likes you and asked you out.

” She snorts with disbelief. “And the fact he said he’d give up this lifestyle for you?

That's fucking crazy. I’ll believe it when I see it.

” She looks down at her nails with a jealous expression on her face.

She is being such a bitch tonight. Who am I kidding? She’s always a bitch.

“Like, you sure he’s not going to do something to publicly humiliate you? I mean, it’s Colton. You’re not really the type of girl he’s into,” she says in a catty tone.

I sigh in frustration. “And neither are you! You haven’t hooked up with him, have you, Simone? Maybe he doesn’t like the desperate slut look,” I snap, and she looks taken aback. Fucking thought so.

But then she scowls at me. “The desperate slut look is the only type of girl he wants, Layla. You’re naive to think you’re any different than all the other girls he’s put his dick into.

” Her eyes narrow at me and a devilish smirk pulls at the corner of her mouth.

The thought of him with other women makes me shudder.

She’s trying to get under my skin to make me anxious so I fuck this up.

“Can you stop Simone? Just because I’m not like you and all the other girls doesn’t mean I can’t get a man like Colton.

He asked me out and has been hanging out with me all week.

Stop trying to ruin it for me!” I yell. She scoffs at me.

I am trying to remain confident, but she is definitely whittling it away from me.

“Whatever, Layla. Don’t come crying to me when he fucks you over and moves on,” she says, leaving my room.

I try to ignore the nervous feeling in the pit of my gut telling me to abandon this plan.

But regardless of what she says, I feel like this isn’t him playing me. I feel like there is way more here.

Maybe she’s right. Maybe I am too naive.

My thoughts wander back to him, wondering what he will wear tonight.

Nervous butterflies fill my stomach whenever he crosses my mind, making me blush every time I replay him saying he wants me.

We were like two middle schoolers when he dropped me off earlier, smiling stupidly as we said bye over and over before I finally got out of the car.

Smiling to myself, I apply a light layer of makeup and throw on my jean jacket and white chucks to finish my look. I feel pretty, and I hope Colt thinks so too.

Just as I am finishing up, there is a knock at the door, and I hear Simone answer it.

“Hey, Colt,” she says, clearly flirting.

I roll my eyes at my promiscuous sister.

She’s just upset because she hasn’t had Colt.

He has always turned her down. For whatever reason, he never wanted my sister the way everyone else did.

And that’s a relief, given I’m going out with him.

I doubt I’d consider it if he had ever been with her.

“Uh, hey, Simone. Is Layla ready?” Colton asks cautiously, like he’s uncomfortable being alone with her. I wouldn’t put it past her to try to lure him into fucking her.

“Yeah, she’ll be down in a minute. So when’s the next race?

I’d love to drop the flag this time.” My stomach churns, listening to her tone, trying to sound sexy.

I can picture her flipping her long brown hair over her shoulder and batting her eyes at him as she talks.

To me, it just comes across as desperate.

I hop down the stairs, happy to interrupt her rant about who gets chosen to drop the fucking flag at illegal street races. Like it makes you royalty.

When I reach the bottom, Colt looks completely bored, then his attention turns to me.

He smiles when he sees me. His gorgeous, stormy eyes immediately find mine, cascading down my entire body.

My skin prickles under his gaze and my chest warms, the heat spreading to my neck.

I feel shy as he watches me, which only makes his smile grow wider.

His messy black hair is cleaned up and combed back like he’s fresh from the shower, and he looks so fucking hot in his simple black shirt, with dark jeans and white sneakers. His tattoos finish off the look perfectly.

“You look so pretty, Layla,” he says, walking right past Simone towards me.

My face gets even hotter, and he grins. “You’re so cute when you blush.

” He kisses my forehead and hugs me, his delicious scent enveloping me as he greets me.

Everything about this man makes me weak in the knees.

My first date with this stud. “You ready?”

I have no words, so I just nod with a shy smile, making him chuckle.

“Alright, let’s go. Bye Simone,” he says as we walk out, and she doesn’t say another word, watching us slack-jawed as we walk out the front door and step onto the sidewalk.

“I figured since it’s such a nice night, we’d walk over. I wanted to spend a little more time with you alone before we get there.”

“Sounds perfect,” I finally manage to squeak out.

Autumn leaves swirl around our feet in the warm breeze as he grabs my hand, lacing his fingers with mine.

It’s a simple gesture, but it sends a thrill racing through me, making my stomach flip with excitement.

He brings our hands to his lips, kissing the back of mine softly, and a gentle smile spreads across his face.

We take our time walking to his place, hand in hand.

It’s one of those perfect quiet moments in the company of someone you like, and I feel at ease with him.

I cherish the companionship he’s brought to my life this past week.

I never realized how lonely I was, and it's nice to feel the presence of another soul, especially one that appears so aligned with mine.

“Thank you for agreeing to do this with me. I know how uncomfortable this might make you. If at any time you feel nervous, want to leave, or have questions, just speak up. I’ll be by your side all night long.”

“Thank you. That does make me feel better since I don't do these sorts of things,” I say, looking up at him. He smiles down, licking his lips. My eyes track his tongue, and heat pools between my thighs. Despite my inexperience, I know he’s a good kisser, and it only makes me wonder… what else he can do with that tongue?

He stops on the sidewalk, turning towards me, and brushes my hair behind my ear. A small gesture he’s done multiple times now, a gesture that means more than he could possibly ever understand.

His eyes scan my face. “You are so incredibly beautiful, Layla. I’ve been trying to be respectful all week, but I haven’t been able to stop thinking about our first kiss and making out in the stacks,” he says quietly.

I smile softly, feeling warmth spread across my cheeks again, and a small smile pulls at the corner of his mouth.

The look on his face and the gleam in his eyes says he’s asking permission, so I give him a slight nod. His smile widens as he dips down, wrapping his arms around my small frame and lifting me off the ground.

Our lips connect, and he kisses me tenderly. My arms wrap around his neck and I pull him closer, deepening the kiss. I love the way I feel in his arms; his embrace is soothing, comforting, and thrilling all at the same time.

Our tongues play perfectly together as we moan into each other's mouths. The connection sends desire rushing through me, and I feel my panties dampen from the contact I have lacked over the years. When we finally pull apart, he rests his forehead on mine, giving me one last gentle kiss.

“Mm, perfect,” he mumbles, and I can’t stop the beaming smile that crosses my face. Placing my feet back on the ground, he laces our fingers again. We walk and chat like it’s the most natural thing in the world, like we’ve been friends for years, and it feels so damn good to bond with someone.

Now, I just have to get through this party without ruining everything.