Page 15 of Fast Lane

“Beer, whatever is on tap. For starters that is.”

I give him a thumbs up and walk away. As I scan the area, I see at least four tables that need attention, so instead of going to get Roscoe’s beer right away, I turn and head to the tables to take care of them first. He made me fall behind so he can wait. The odds of him tipping me are slim to none anyways.

Fourteen

Roscoe

As I enter Rowdy’s, I literally feel like I stepped out of California and into Texas. This is the last place I expect Kosi Scott to work. She was always such a perfectionist and so freaking smart. Being a waitress just sits wrong with me. My eyes instantly find her as I wait for the hostess to seat me. When I lean into the girl named Sara, I purposefully ask to be seated in Kosi’s section. Sara is completely flustered and trips over her own feet at least two times. The second time I catch her by the elbow so she doesn’t hit the ground and her cheeks grow an even darker shade of red, which I didn’t think was possible.

Once I’m seated, my eyes find Kosi once again. She looks amazing even if I’ve never in my life seen her dressed like this. Then again it was never her looks that were the problem for us. Her toned, tanned legs look amazing in the cut off denim shorts she has on. They are slightly distressed, frayed around her thighs and so short the pockets hang out from under them. I’ve never been one to think cowboy boots are sexy, but on Kosi, that’s a different story. The tied up red plaid shirt should definitely be illegal. Her abdomen is showing and a tiny belly button ring glistens under the lights. It shocks me because Kosi has never striked me as one for body piercings, but she has convinced me that the belly button ring is my new favorite. As she approaches me, I see she has enough cleavage to keep them coming in. Her long blonde hair hangs in loose curls once again with half the front in some kind of braid, twist thing. Kosi has on more makeup like she did last night at the races. I am fully convinced that I don’t even need a menu right now because Kosi is reason enough to be here.

When Kosi is standing in front of me, I can see how exhausted she is. She hides it well but it’s hidden in her eyes, and I’ve also known her long enough to know that the smile on her face is a forced one, it’s still beautiful but it’s not real. A new set of determination fills me. When she says she’ll probably be here until closing I’m half tempted to take the pen and pad and start helping her take orders, but I resist and just order a beer. If she’s not leaving until closing, neither am I. I need to talk to her now more than ever.

I have to laugh to myself quietly. She is purposefully making me wait while she tends to other tables. No matter what, she is always feisty. Eventually, she brings me the beer. “So, are you ready to order?”

Surely, she knows I haven’t even opened the menu. “What’s the best appetizer?”

For a moment she thinks. “The sampler.”

“What comes on it?”

Kosi groans. “You know the answer to that question is actually in the menu if you’d read it.”

I take a sip of the beer before sitting back in the chair. “Where’s the fun in that?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. My mistake. I assumed you could read.” she gives an award-winning performance at acting as if she is sorry. “The sampler includes the Texas toothpicks, BBQ queso and homemade chips, and fried pickles.”

My nose scrunches up. “Fried pickles?”

“Yes, fried pickles. They’re a thing.” She tosses her hands in the air in frustration. “Do you want the sampler or not?”

I smirk. “I’m still deciding.”

“Well, decide faster.”

“Kosi, this isn’t a decision to be taken lightly.”

She scoffs. “Oh, ordering food isn’t a decision to be taken lightly but what women you spend time with is a rash decision?”

Kosi just gave me the perfect way to get under her skin. “Are you jealous?”

“Yeah, that’s it,” she replies while rolling her eyes. “Do you want the sampler?”

“I have another question.”

Her head falls back and she groans. “If I wanted to be quizzed on the menu I’d ask my boss to do so, not you.”

“I’ll quiz you… but not on the menu.” I wag my eyebrows up and down at her. A look of disgust crosses her face.

Kosi turns away from me announcing, “You’re having the sampler.”

I chuckle to myself as I sit there. Slowly sipping my beer, I take in some of the football games playing on one of the TVs. I’m not much for football but it’s something to watch until Kosi comes back. As soon as that thought pops into my head she reappears from behind some wooden swinging doors that remind me of the ones you used to see in old western saloon movies. She’s completely oblivious to how all of the eyes gravitate towards her as she enters the dining area. After dropping off two checks and grabbing drink orders from a few more, she heads to the bar. While she waits, I watch as she sways her hips to the music playing. A heat forms over my skin and suddenly it feels like I need a drink of ice cold water.

After she drops off the drinks she catches my eye. Kosi makes her way towards me. “Are you okay? You don’t look so good.”

I nod my head. “I think I just need some water. I’m not sure what happened.”

She holds up one finger. “Hold on, I’ll grab some water.” A few moments later she returns with a glass of ice cold water and I quickly grab it from her and start gulping it down. Her hand comes to wrap around mine and I lower the glass of water. “Easy Roscoe. You’re going to make yourself sick if you drink that water too quickly.”

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