Page 6 of Ride or Die (The Shores #1)

CHAPTER

SIX

THE COFFEE SHOP

LAYLA

It's a typical Friday morning for me. I love the atmosphere of working in a coffee shop.

The smell of coffee and fresh baked goods always kicks my ass into gear first thing.

It's quiet when we open, so I can make myself a drink and breakfast between customers.

It starts getting busy around 8 a.m. when I find my groove and sink into my shift.

I work with Diane, who is a total bitch I barely talk to, and Elliot, a tall skinny guy with blonde hair and glasses. He is fashionable and fun and is taking an art history program here.

We get along great at work, but because of our busy schedules, and living on opposite sides of the city, we never socialize outside of it. It sucks, but at least he makes these three shifts a week more bearable.

By ten, every seat in the place is taken by students preparing for class or working on projects, and I’m pumping out beverage after beverage like it is second nature, because it is now after three years of working this gig. And, because I don't do anything half-ass, I learn a skill and master it.

I grab the next cup and make a large Americano order but notice the name on the cup says Colton. When I look up, there he is, charming me with that gorgeous smile again.

Fuck me, he looks so damn good in his hoodie and leather jacket. Bad boy casual done perfectly.

I can’t help the small smile on my lips thinking back to the text I woke up to this morning, followed by the feeling of heat creeping up my chest and into my face when I realize he’s watching me. It’s distracting.

I shake my head. Focus Layla .

“Hi,” he says gently as I put the finished drink on the counter and start preparing his breakfast sandwich.

“Hey,” I respond casually, busying myself with work. He stands off to the side of my workstation and continues to watch me with a smile on his face.

“Is there anything I can help you with?” I ask, annoyed. I hate when people watch me work, even if it is Colton. It's like when someone reads over your shoulder.

I see him shrug in my peripheral vision. “Just enjoying the view. You look cute.” My head snaps up and I look directly at him, confused.

He chuckles and leans a bit closer. “When are you off?” he asks quietly, staring at my lips before making eye contact again.

“Noon?” I squeak out nervously, placing the completed sandwich on the counter for him.

“Noon,” he repeats, knocking on the counter. “I’ll see you then.” He winks and grabs his food, then takes off. I stand here completely puzzled. He’s coming back?

The next two hours are excruciating because I’m nervous the entire time.

My hands haven't stopped trembling since he left his cologne lingering at my workstation.

I swear to god I'm obsessed with it. It's like the scent molecules cling to the inside of my nose for hours, torturing me with longing for the man I can't have.

When my shift ends, I hurry to get out of here as fast as I can. Hoping he will be late and we will miss each other, I practically run out of the restaurant, only to find him there waiting for me with an iced coffee in hand.

He smiles and walks over, handing me the drink. It’s the second time he’s done this and gotten my favorite. How does he know what I like?

“Thank you,” I mumble shyly.

“You’re welcome.” He grins.

“So, why are you here?” I’m still confused.

“We’re in the same classes, so I figured we could go over some stuff for midterms at the library before we head to the lecture together?”

“Of course, that’s why you’re here. What else would it be? Gotta use the bookworm to help you study, right?” I roll my eyes and start walking away from him.

He figures he may as well use my obvious attraction to him to his advantage to get better grades. Nuts to that. I won't let him use me.

He catches up to me. “Well, it’s not just that. I wanted to hang out. I don’t know, I like being around you. I’m calm when I’m around you,” he admits. “Calm is what I need in this life of chaos I live. I thought maybe we could be friends.”

I stop in my tracks and look at him pointedly.

“Okay? But we're never around each other, so how would you even know you’re calm around me? And another thing, Colton, I don’t want to get dragged into that type of life.

I’m taking business classes so I can leave The Shores and open a business.

I don’t want to lose everything I've worked so hard for just because I'm associated with a thief,” I say curtly.

I almost feel bad seeing the hurt flicker in his eyes, but it’s the truth. I can’t jeopardize my future by associating with a thief.

“I’m sorry, it’s just how I feel. Being your friend lines me up for trouble,” I say, looking down, feeling ashamed that I am judging him.

I have no idea why he decided to steal cars or what his life is actually like. And I should know better. It hurts to feel judged when people haven’t taken the time to get to know you. Yet here I am doing that to him.

He is trying to be friendly, and I’m shutting him down. Like I have people waiting in line to be my friend. Newsflash. I don’t. I have longed for some form of companionship, so why am I being so hard on the guy for wanting to hang out with me? Am I afraid?

“No, no. It’s okay, I understand. I’m just a fucking lowlife, right?

A criminal. What was I thinking, a girl like you being friends with a guy like me?

” He snorts and shakes his head. “I’m sorry.

I’m an idiot. I’ll, uh, I’ll leave you alone.

” He looks away, and I watch him swallow his pride as he turns and starts walking away from me.

I let out a huff of air, and a sickening feeling enters my gut.

“Colton!” I call after him. But he just keeps walking.

I look down at the iced coffee in my hand and immense guilt washes over me.

Before I think about what I’m doing, my legs move and I run after him, grabbing his elbow.

His large arm muscles twitch under my touch.

“Colt, I’m sorry. I’m a jerk. You just...you intimidate me, and I have this guard up because people are assholes. And that’s not your fault. You’ve never actually been mean to me. I’m just introverted and anxious. I don’t know how to do this or associate with people like you…” I ramble nervously.

He smiles, listening to me go on and on before putting his hand on my shoulder to stop me, as if he can see the panic rushing through me. “Layla, Layla. It’s okay. I forgive you. Now, let’s go to the library and prepare for these midterms before class, shall we?”

His gorgeous smile beams down at me, and I can’t help but blush. And when he wraps his arm around my shoulders, I nearly melt. Turning around, he leads us towards the library, but I’m not quite sure my shaky legs will make it with this amount of physical contact from him.

Sure, hanging out with him might cause more trouble than I ever could have imagined, but, it’s also exciting as hell. And I’m not sure if that’s a good thing, or a bad thing.