Page 106 of Ride or Die
He stops, looking down at me with the sweetest smile. "Because we're checking into a hotel and I'm taking you out for a night on the town."
"A night on the town? What does that even mean coming from the ‘bad boy’ of The Shores?" I raise an eyebrow at him
"Yeah, we just graduated, baby! It's time to celebrate, so we're going to eat some incredible food and then I have a couple of surprises for you." He rubs his hands up and down my shoulders.
"But Colt, I don't have any clothes."
His smile widens. "Don't worry, I packed a bag for you. Threw in my favorite little sundress of yours." I tilt my head and look at him with amazement. We live together, and I had no idea he planned any of this.
"So come on, let's go!" He starts pulling me again, and I can't help but giggle. His excitement is contagious.
When we get into the car, Colt drives us straight to the hotel. Once we’re checked in, we get ready for dinner, where we eat steak and lobster at a fancy restaurant. And then, to my surprise, Colt tells me he booked us a spot at a poetry reading and paint night.
My heart is full as we drink wine and paint portraits of a sunset over an ocean. This night has been so special because it is perfectly me. Colton really cares for me and wasn’t the least bit affected that he looked so out of place at a poetry reading and paint night. He was just happy to see me happy. It is fucking adorable seeing my big tattooed man so soft. The ladies at both events swooned over him.
Sorry ladies, he’s all mine. And even I still can’t fucking believe that he is. How this guy chose me is beyond me.
Later that night, we lay in the hotel room, just talking about how no one has messed with us since Colt has been better, and that we haven’t talked to Axel or Daya since he was released from Williams.
We have no clue what kind of bender he’s on, and she’s read my messages but hasn’t responded to any of them. She's probably mad at me for being part of the reason his income got taken away. But Colt’s right, Axel worked for Williams as long as he did. He had every opportunity to show his worth to him, and all he did was get by on Colt’s hard work and risk-taking.
We are just happy to be leaving this sort of drama behind in two days.
CHAPTER
FIFTY-TWO
LAST DAY
LAYLA
A couple of days later, and I am finishing my last shift at the campus coffee shop while Colt is at home getting things organized for our drive across the country. He rented a PO Box in Honolulu and wants to mail all of the cash from different places in the country, so he is getting all those ready to go. He wants to leave as soon as possible, hopefully by tonight or tomorrow morning, so he said he will have everything ready for me when I get back from work.
I can’t believe that we are finally here.
We fucking did it.
My last shift was exciting yet sad at the same time. As much as I hated this job, it has been a sanctuary for me for years. It has paid my bills and fed me, and I have grown accustomed to my routine here. It’s going to be a little hard to let go.
“Girl, I’m gonna miss you so much. I’ll call if I ever make it out to LA. My broke ass could use a couch to crash on.” Elliott pulls me into his arms and gives me a big hug. I squeeze my eyes shut, and my heart twists in my chest, knowing it will never happen once we toss our phones, and the fact we are actuallygoing to Hawaii not LA. I’ll probably never see Elliot again, and that hurts.
“It’s been amazing working with you and seeing you become this badass bitch that you are! You have that sexy man to thank for a lot of things!” He winks.
“Thank you for being a good friend, Elliott. I know, I’m lucky to have him and you. You take care and be good to Tim, I think he’s the one for you.” He waves me off, blushing. He has been dating this Tim guy for the past couple of months, and they seem quite smitten. Sadly, with all the work I’ve missed and the drama in my life, I haven’t been a good friend.
“I think you’re right. All the best!” He waves me off again and gets back to work.
My heart is heavy as I make my way to the bus and onto the train for the trip home. Everything about the finality of this is bittersweet. It’s home, it’s what I know, and tomorrow, everything is changing for us.
I’ll never see this life again. I will never return to The Shores.
I walk from the train in about ten minutes, making sure to avoid the park, and as I’m rounding the corner onto my street, I get a text from Colt.
Mysexycarman : Hey babe, I’m at your parents’ place getting the rest of your stuff before we leave. Meet me here. Love you xox
Layla: Ok, see you there! Love you xox
I look up and see his car parked in front of their house in the distance. My heart races with excitement. Ready to see my man after a long, emotional day, I run up the steps to my parents’ place and burst through the door.
