Page 56 of Ride or Die

I nod. “Yes.”

“Well, my name’s Pip and this is my place.” She waves a hand in the air, indicating our surrounds. “And all newbies get their choice of complementary pie with ice cream.”

With a gasp so big Billie almost passes out, she gazes up at Pip like she’s Santa Claus incognito. I stifle a laugh, trading a knowing glance with the woman.

“Y’all give me a holler if you need anything.” Pip winks and spins on her white sandshoes, moving about the diner like she, well, like she owns the place, I suppose.

“She’s nice.” Tommy smiles.

“Everyone here is nice, Tommy,” Billie adds, matter-of-factly. “I really love Mama Joy. Do you know she said I can visit her at her house any time I want,andshe has a horsey.”

“Mama Joy lives at the ranch,” I say. “Where Cole works.” I realize as soon as the words leave my mouth that I shouldn’t have brought him up, because suddenly the topic of conversation is all Cole.

“Where is Cole?” Tommy asks.

“I miss Cole.” Billie sighs.

“He said he’d take us to a rodeo some time,” Tommy adds, his face lighting up in a way I’ve never seen it light up before.

“He did?” I quirk a brow.

He nods.

“I wanna go to a radio,” Billie says.

“Rodeo,” Tommy emphasizes. “It’s this place where cowboys like Cole ride bucking bulls in the middle of an arena and they gotta try stay on for, like, eight minutes or something, and at the end, whoever stays on longest wins money.”

“Real bulls?” Billie’s eyes go wide. “LikeFerdinand.”

Tommy nods.

“Can we go, Mommy?” Billie bounces in her seat all excited.

“Well, I-I don’t—” I don’t know what to say because I haven’t seen Cole since he rushed out of Meow’s on Saturday night like his ass was on fire. With the kids looking at me hopefully, I’m at a loss for words, and all I can do is play dumb. “I-I… we’llsee. Cole might be busy. I haven’t seen him in a few days, so I don’t?—”

“There’s Cole!” Billie exclaims so emphatically she attracts the attention of almost everyone in the diner.

Turning my head so fast I feel my neck crack, I’d assumed Billie was wrong, mistaking one of Summer’s many cowboys for Cole, so when I see him walking casually through the door to Pip’s, removing his cowboy hat as he enters, I can’t say I’m not surprised, and more than a little hurt.

“Hey, Cole!” Tommy yells over the music, waving excitedly.

Looking our way, Cole’s eyes flare a touch like he’s just as surprised to see us, but I don’t miss the way his smile falters. It happens so quickly I almost didn’t clock it, but the uncertainty’s there and it causes my stomach to knot.

“Oh, h-hey you guys,” Cole says, crossing the diner toward us.

And, that’s when I see it. Or,her, rather, and suddenly the last few days of silence make total sense. Following Cole is a beautiful woman with long, glossy auburn hair that falls almost to her waist, amber eyes, and a smattering of freckles dotted across her nose. Dressed in a light-blue sundress and tan cowboy boots, she’s jaw-dropping, and as she sidles up next to Cole, I have to admit, the two of them are a perfect match.

“Who’s that?” Billie asks, pointing at the red head.

“Billie, don’t point,” I chastise quietly, flashing the woman a rueful smile yet unable to meet her eyes.

Cole’s gaze flits to me before turning to his friend. “Oh, this is… um…” he croaks, seemingly lost for words. “This… this is?—”

“I’m Bailey.” The woman smiles, and of course she’s even more beautiful when she smiles, dimples and perfect teeth, and all. “What’s your name?”

“I’m Billie.” Billie smiles obliviously.

“Billie and Bailey?” Bailey laughs. “Did we just become besties?”