Page 11 of Ride or Die
“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.
CHAPTER
SEVEN
BRILLIANT AND BEAUTIFUL
LAYLA
We sit in the library for a couple of hours, setting up a study plan for our midterms. I wish I had found Colton as a study partner sooner. We really are on the same wavelength when it comes to our study style.
We draw pictures, do acronyms, and make up rhymes to remember things. I know having him as a study buddy will work out, and that makes me feel nervous and excited in ways I don’t want to acknowledge.
Thankful it’s a shorter one day, we head to our lecture afterwards. This professor drones on for two hours, acting like he couldn't care less to be here. Instead of listening in, we sit quietly beside each other and do some independent work on the essays due for this class.
Apparently, Colton reads ahead too.
I find myself constantly stealing glances at him, surprised by how organized and dedicated he is and the fact I am learning about this whole other side of him. I’m no longer feeling intimidated by his presence and am thankful I may have found a friend. Also, praying it's not a trick.
Once the lecture is over, we pack up and leave the building. Opening the doors, I'm greeted with a warm fall breeze that whips my hair all around. My eyes squint in the setting sunshine and I turn to head towards the bus stop to start my trek home.
Colton grabs my arm and looks at me, confused. The heat from his touch spreads through my body like wildfire, and I feel that usual knot that forms in my core when I’m around him.
“Uh, what are you doing?” He tilts his head as the wind blows his hair in front of his eyes, that beautiful blue-gray hue gazing through at me.
“I’m going to the bus stop,” I breathe out, pointing my thumb over my shoulder. The longer he holds my arm, the more my body vibrates with desire.
He chuckles and gives me his gorgeous, panty-dropping smile. In all the years I’ve noticed him from afar, I’ve never seen him smile this much, and it is incredibly sexy. I swoon every time he does it.
“No, you’re not. You’re riding with me from now on.” He starts pulling me towards his car.
“I…uh…I...what?” I stammer, confused.
I’m riding with him from now on?
He chuckles again. “You’re so cute and innocent.”
I try to think of something to say, but words fail me. That is the second time today he called me cute. Butterflies flutter in my stomach, and my head spins. I’m flustered, so many sensations and emotions swirling through me at once. All because of the boy I’ve crushed on for a decade. How pathetic am I? Am I so damn isolated from others that I can’t control these reactions happening in my body? I have an IQ of 133, and I’m acting like a freaking horny adolescent.
Oh my god, Layla, don't embarrass yourself.
“We’re friends. Study partners. You treat me more like a human than anyone else I know. Everyone tries to use me forsomething, so I’d rather give a ride to someone who is real with me than these other fakes.” He shrugs like it's no big deal.
If only he understood how big of a deal this is to me.
“Oh. Okay. Alright. Just let me know what I owe you for gas money.” He grabs my hand and interlaces our fingers, turning the head-spinning into full-blown body-whirling. I might fucking faint.
His large frame towers over me, his eyes twinkling as they look down into mine. “You don’t owe me anything, Layla,” he says softly.
