Page 107 of Ride or Die

Tugging on the back of his neck, Cole makes a point of looking out the window. “I don’t like the look of those clouds on the horizon.”

I follow the direction of his gaze, brow furrowing with confusion because, maybe it’s just me, but I don’t see anything more than the permanent haze that hangs over the mountains in the distance.

“Come on, darlin’,” Cole says, touching my waist. “Let’s go.”

Grabbing my purse, I follow him out of the house, to his Rattlesnake truck where he opens the passenger door for me, ever the gentleman. I heave myself up into the lifted vehicle and nestle into the leather seat, smiling despite the weight of everything that’s happened today. It’s probably dangerous of me to put so much stock into one person, but with Cole in my life, it really does feel like everything will work out.

“How long will we be here, Mommy?” Billie asks as I tuck her in.

After picking up the kids from school, they were confused that we weren’t going to Cole’s house, but excited to be coming to the ranch. It didn’t hurt that Cole had a surprise in store for them when they got here; a ride in one of the ranch Gators, where he took them down to the stables to meet the horses. They were gone for almost two hours, and by the time they got back to the house, both Billie and Tommy were convinced the ranch life was for them.

I take a seat on the edge of Billie’s bed, smiling from her to Tommy lying in the bed across the loft.

“I don’t know,” I answer honestly, shrugging. “I guess it depends on the weather.”

“I like it here,” Tommy says.

“Me too.” Billie grins.

“You guys get some sleep.” I lean in and press a kiss to Billie’s soft cheek before walking toward the steps.

“Mom?” Tommy says, causing me to stop at the top of the steps.

“What’s up, babe?” I meet his eyes.

“I like that Cole makes you happy.”

More than a little taken aback by his words, it’s the genuine love in his eyes when he says them that causes tears to bite the backs of my eyes. Sometimes I forget just how mature Tommy is for a ten year old, how much he’s seen and heard over the years, the horrible things that caused him to lose so much of his childhood.

I cross the loft and stop at his bed, sitting on the edge and cupping his cheek with my head. “I like that Cole makes you and Billie happy, too.”

“He’s my best friend,” Tom confirms, his eyes flicking with something.

“I love that,” I whisper, smoothing my hand over his cheek.

“What about me?” Billie pipes up, her face fraught with concern as she gapes at her brother.

“It’s always gonna be you and me, Bil,” Tommy says, looking over at his little sister. “Promise.”

Seemingly satisfied by that, Billie rests her head back against her pillows with a contented sigh.

I wink at Tommy. “Love you.”

It’s dark downstairs, the only glow illuminating the space coming from the light over the stove. The front door is open, and I walk out to find Cole sitting on the porch steps looking delicious in just a pair of black boxer briefs, his broad muscular back on display, a can of Pabst in his hand, another unopened by his side.

Turning to look over his shoulder, his gaze meets mine, eyes shining in the muted light, and I move to sit on the step next to him, but at the last second, he wraps his arm around my waist and guides me to sit on his firm thigh instead.

“They okay?” he asks softly, lips brushing against my shoulder.

“Yeah. They like it here.” I cast him a sidelong glance. “I think it was the horses.”

“Always does the trick.” Cole’s grin is smug.

I sniff a laugh, looking out over the darkness. It’s eerie. Nothing but fields as far as the eye can see, the night sky stretched out high above. I glance up at the sky then, noticing the stars and just how clearly they sparkle here where there are no city lights to dull their shine. And it’s only then that it occurs to me; the weather sure doesn’t look inclement.

“When are these storms expected?” I ask.

“Any day,” Cole answers without missing a beat. “It’s… unpredictable.”