Page 28 of Ride or Die (The Shores #1)

CHAPTER

TWENTY-EIGHT

WINTER brEAK

LAYLA

December passed quickly, and we are just over a week out from Christmas. I’m so excited to have Colton this year. After what happened with my sister and Bruce, I have been staying at his place. His mom, Jen, doesn’t really care what he does, which works perfectly for us.

I get along with his mom when I do see her.

She’s a very sweet woman, but has had mental health issues for years.

She works overnight shifts as a cleaner for a company with corporate contracts.

It’s routine and gives her purpose, so she gets up every day and manages to do it regardless of her issues.

She hates being home ever since Colt’s dad left them.

He says she’s still waiting for him, even though it's been eleven years. Apparently, he promised he’d be back for her.

His dad was all she knew, but it’s Colt who pays the bills, buys the food, and cooks it.

He is an amazing man and takes care of the people he loves.

I always knew there was so much more behind the bad boy exterior, but it’s even better than I could have ever imagined.

He let me decorate his room with some of my stuff to make it feel like home.

I also got a small Christmas tree and placed lights around the window and above the bed.

He says he loves it, but I think he just loved how excited I was to buy and decorate for the holidays.

It felt like a small step towards starting our forever together.

We finished exams earlier this week, and I was transferred to a local coffee shop since the campus location closes over the holidays, so I have been working most days.

Colt has been teaching me basic self-defense techniques and how to maneuver quickly with a knife.

I never thought I’d be in this position, but I have to learn in order to protect myself.

This place is shifty to begin with. Of course, our physical training sessions always end up with us tangled in the sheets, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I used to love that no one noticed me, which made it easier to hide from the drama, but now that I’m with Colt, I have a huge target on my back.

It’s a fucked up situation. I’ve avoided The Shores’ influence for longer than most, but I’d do this all over again to be with Colt. He makes me feel alive and loved.

Colt’s friends and street racing crew have accepted me, and I am finally building friendships with them. Drai and Adam are hilarious and easy to be around. Their girlfriends Gina and Krissy are the same way, and Daya and I have grown closer, too.

Since the garage incident, Simone, Serena, and Nate are no longer welcome at his place, which means others aren’t either. People have chosen their sides.

I’m lying in bed after we made love, watching him get ready to go out. I know what he has to do, but it frightens me, so I don’t ask much about it. I have to buck the fuck up and deal with it, and I find I do that by knowing less.

Colt throws on his leather jacket and walks over to where I’m sitting on the edge of the bed.

“I’ll be back soon babe, then we will have everyone over?” He cups my cheek, eyes searching mine for any signs of distress. I smile and nod.

“Stop looking at me like that,” I whisper.

“Like what?” His eyes flit between mine.

“With all that guilt and worry. You have to do this, so don’t make it more dramatic,” I tease, and he sighs.

“You’re right. It’s almost over.” He pauses to caress my face. “I just love you so much. I hate being away from you, so I always try to memorize your face before I go anywhere,” he whispers, looking between my eyes and lips.

“So romantic.” I poke at him with a smile, making him smirk. I lean in, pressing my lips to his. It’s soft, gentle, and full of love.

“I love you,” I say against his lips.

“I’ll be back soon. Love you.” He winks and gives me another peck before he gets up.

He looks back one last time before exiting. It’s like this every time he leaves for jobs, always a dramatic departure. He has a few more after this one, so I just have to hang in there and stay positive. All will be fine and go according to plan. At least, that’s what I tell myself.

I finish cleaning up from dinner, then I shower to distract myself, getting ready for his return.

As much as Colt loves my little sundresses, it’s too cold now, and I can’t wear dresses anymore, so I went on a little shopping spree and got some new clothes.

He gives me so much confidence, and I love looking good for him, so I wanted to expand my wardrobe.

Change it up to reflect the new me. The badass me.

Pulling on my distressed jeans and a red off-the-shoulder sweater, I curl my hair and leave it down over my shoulders, finishing the look with a pair of chucks. Cute but sexy, my new kind of style.

I head down to the garage to meet up with Daya and wait for the others to show up. We had a blast when she came shopping with me, so now we get together before parties.

I am so happy we’ve become friends. Daya has taken me under her wing and has been showing me the ropes around here. Plus, she’s street-smart and has shared some great tips to make life easier. She’s been super helpful and has made me feel way better about starting this new life.

“Looking good, girl!” Daya smiles, walking into the garage, looking gorgeous in her skin-tight leather pants and green crop top. She throws her purse onto the workbench and hugs me.

“Thanks, you too! Drink?”

She nods, and I hand her a vodka soda.

“God, I’m so over the holiday rush, and we still have a week to go. So many work parties,” she says with a huff, rolling her eyes and opening her drink. “How’s work for you?”

“Busy like you, everyone wants all the specialty holiday drinks, treats, and gifts. It's crazy.” She nods, feeling my pain.

“Are you guys doing your own little Christmas, or will you go back to your parents’ place?” she asks, taking a sip.

Daya doesn’t seem like the holiday type. She was raised in The Shores by a single mom and her grandma. Her dad died when she was a baby.

“Nah, we’re doing our own thing. I can’t wait.

I haven’t been excited for Christmas in years.

My entire family has always worked, so we’ve never celebrated it.

Gotta earn that holiday pay, right?” I don’t remember Christmases when we were all together, and the faint memories I do have aren’t your typical commercialized happy family with tons of decorations and presents. “How about you?”

“Like you said, we all work for that holiday pay. I’ll be at the restaurant pulling a double,” she says, waving her hand dismissively. “You know what you’re going to get Colt?”

“No idea,” I chuckle.

“Lingerie? When in doubt, go with lingerie,” she suggests with a coy smile.

“Not a bad idea, but everything is always off me in seconds. Maybe a sexy dance?” We both giggle. “I’ll go tomorrow to get something. You want to come?” I ask. She nods in agreement.

“I’m in. I don’t celebrate Christmas. I don’t even know if Axel does. He lives with a bunch of guys who share rent and never talks about his parents, but maybe I should get him something.”

“I hope this doesn’t come out wrong, but…what is it about Axel for you? You guys seem so…?”

“Different?” She laughs, throwing her hair over her shoulder. She’s gorgeous, and Axel is a little greasy and shady around the edges. Plus, he’s an asshole.

“I’m a woman who likes control, Axel is a man who possesses control every single day, but when it comes to sex, I run the show.” She winks.

“I love the way Colton throws me around. I don’t think I could dominate him.”

She laughs again, grinning. “Yeah, you can tell just by looking at Colt he wouldn’t be down with that. But ya never know. Sometimes we can bring it out in them.” She nudges me with her elbow.

“What is going on with you two, anyway? You’re so hot and cold. One day you’re making out at a party, the next you’re fighting? Just fuck buddies or more?” I ask.

Daya shrugs, taking a sip of her drink, giving herself time to come up with an answer she’s willing to share. Just as she is about to tell me, we hear the rumble of Colt’s car.

“Saved by the rumble,” I mutter. “We’re not done having this conversation.” I wave my finger at her. She shrugs, her face reddening.

I’m enjoying my friendship with Daya and am happy she’s around. It’s nice to have a female friend other than my sister, especially since that relationship has gone to shit.

Colt’s car shuts off in the driveway, and he and Axel strut towards us. Clearly their night resulted in a job well done.

Axel nods at me as he passes and immediately buries his face into Daya’s neck, taking her in his arms. Her eyes widen, and she wraps an arm around his back.

Colt’s grin widens as he approaches. He lifts me up, and I wrap my legs around his hips. I love being so small in comparison to him.

“Hi,” he says sweetly, looking me in the eyes. I lean in and gently kiss his lips. He puts me down and goes to the fridge, grabbing a beer before coming back and wrapping his arm around me, pulling me into his side.

Axel sits on the stool and pulls Daya between his legs, holding her hips. I watch them curiously, trying to work out their dynamic. She’s avoiding eye contact, and he is all about the PDA.

I clear my throat. “So Ax, we’re friends now…” He nods before I continue. “What is this?” I ask pointing back and forth between them.

He shrugs. “Daya’s the shit. I like her, she likes me. The sex is incredible. So, we’re dating. Exclusively. I see how happy you make Colt, and he's right. If I like her, why not make it official?” he explains coolly, whereas she’s bright red. His response makes my heart swell for them.

“Well, that settles that. So we are definitely shopping tomorrow, for the same thing, I imagine?” I raise my eyebrow at Daya.

She chuckles and nods. This is the first time Axel has acknowledged their relationship, even though at every party lately, she’s the only one he’s kissing and taking home. It’s about damn time he admits it.

We continue chit-chatting while the boys watch the hockey game and other people start to show up.

Krissy and Gina arrive with Drai and Adam.

They are good friends with Daya, so naturally, we get along as well.

They all waitress at the same family restaurant, and we share stories and laughs about terrible customers.

I always avoid talking about school because no one else but Axel and Colt go, so it’s not the vibe of this crowd.

Drinks and joints are flowing, and I look around at the group I’ve seemingly been adopted into. It was rough at first, but somehow I managed to make friends.

It’s amazing what can happen when you open yourself up to others.

Less than a year ago, I’d be judging all these people.

It’s fucked when a perceived image of you is put out there and you can’t shake it, despite it not being the defining thing about you.

But you’re still titled as such. For me, it was the bookworm loser.

For Colt, it’s the bad boy car thief. For his friends, I'd considered them sluts and asshole misogynists.

But deep down, we are people with so much more to us once you take the time to get to know us.

We are all making decisions in order to survive in this fucked up place. To get from one day to the next. To get somewhere. The actions we choose aren’t always the smartest and don’t necessarily represent us, but it’s survival.

The party ends around two a.m., and we pass out hard. The next morning, Colt wakes me up around ten.

“Come on, babe, get in the shower. I’ve got a surprise for you.”