Page 20 of Fast Lane

“May I grab him for you?” Kosi asks. I nod my head and she opens the door. Mushu instantly goes for her. She picks him up and baby talks to him. “He has a leash?”

“Yeah, he likes to go for walks but I’m always worried he’ll get away so I ordered him a leash.” I explain as I grab the drink carrier and bag of food. “I have extra breakfast. I wasn’t sure what time you’d come by but I thought you might be hungry.”

Her eyes light up. “Starved!”

Kosi turns back around and jostles Mushu in her arms for a moment. He meows in protest. She’s leaning into her car, clearly trying to reach something. “What are you doing?” I ask.

“Trying to reach my laptop. I have some ideas I wanted to run by you so you can ask the owner if they’ll be okay.”

I walk around and nudge her out of the way, reach inside her amazing smelling car and retrieve the laptop carrying bag. “Come on,” I tell her. We stop so I can unlock the door and then we head inside. “By the way, you only have to impress me with the design idea.”

“Oh hell,” she mumbles.

A chuckle escapes me. “That bad, huh?”

“Considering it’s you and me… kind of.”

I put the food, drinks, and laptop bag down on the desk. “I promise to keep an open mind.”

“Sure…” she says, with a roll of her eyes. “So, the owner must really trust you.”

Thankfully, my back is already to her. “Yeah, I’ve been here for so long it’s almost like I own the place.” Kosi giggles. The lights come on as I hit the switch. When I turn around she’s got the smallest smile on her face as she nuzzles Mushu. This is a side that you don’t see often from Kosi. I like it.

“Would you like to sit and have some breakfast while we go over the design ideas?” I offer.

Her eyes move around the space. “Sure, as long as we won’t be in Annie’s way.”

I scoff. “We won’t be. She hasn’t bothered to show back up for work since the day you filled in for her.”

Kosi’s mouth forms in an O shape. “So, who answers the phone and books the people?” I raise my hand, like I volunteer. “What about when you’re out teaching a class?”

“They don’t get answered,” I admit. That familiar feeling of failure settles in again. “I’m looking for someone but no one has come in yet. So, we’re trying to manage.”

She nods her head before taking a seat. Kosi gives Mushu a moment to decide where he wants to be. He jumps down and comes over to my feet before deciding he wants to be in my lap. He settles in, and for a moment, Kosi just stares at Mushu and me before shaking her head. “I never would have guessed.” I shrug my shoulders. We eat in silence and then Kosi pulls out her laptop. “So, I have a couple of ideas but I’m going to start with my favorite.”

I watch as she shows me multiple sketches. All of them are amazing, but my favorite is her favorite as well. The idea is a mural across the back wall of the sky with tiny figures and parachutes floating in the sky too. A gray, white, and sky-blue color scheme for everything. Updating the counter and flooring. There’s a possibility of new light fixtures if it makes the budget. She’s already spoken with Drake James about doing what little construction needs to be done. The mural will be done by his younger sister, Dawsyn, who is really into painting and more talented than any of us know. We’re getting by cheap on those things she tells me. I sit back and scratch at the stubble coating my jaw. “I’m impressed. It was definitely the right move to hire you. Everything you showed me is perfect for this place.”

Kosi beams at me. “I’m glad you think so.”

“I do.” My phone begins to blare in my pocket, so I fish it out. An unsaved number flashes on the screen but it also seems familiar at the same time. “Sorry, I should get this.” She waves her hand in a gesture telling me not to worry. When I answer the phone it’s the last thing I expected to hear. I don’t know what my face looks like when I hang up, but Kosi must read something.

“What’s wrong?” she asks as she wraps a slender hand around my upper arm.

“It’s Riverlyn.”

Nineteen

Kosi

It’s easy to see the worry and concern in Roscoe’s eyes when he says his sister’s name. Without a moment of hesitation I step forward and wrap my hand around his tattooed bicep. I don’t know much about his family or his relationship with his sister because, to be perfectly honest, I don’t actually know much about Roscoe. We’ve always just been so opposite. However, none of that matters at this moment because he clearly needs help. “What about Riverlyn?” I ask.

He shakes his head. Strands of his sun-kissed blonde hair fall over the bandana rolled and tied around his head. My hand itches to move the stray strands but I know that would make it strange. It feels too intimate for us. “That was the high school. Riverlyn never showed up to school today.”

My heart sinks for him. There was a time when Rome went “missing”. Everyone was so worried, but I felt like my world had ended. I can’t even imagine how Roscoe feels right now. He’s the older of the two and by the look on his face, he protects Riverlyn no matter the cost. I don’t blame him but I can tell by the panicked look in his eyes he needs someone to help him keep his cool. Bowie or Lane would probably be best at this, but for now all he has is me. I take a deep breath. “Does Riverlyn have a phone?” Roscoe nods in reply. “Okay, how about you try to call it first?” Roscoe pats his pockets for his phone without realizing that it’s still in his shaky hand. My hand closes over his to stop his frantic patting. “Your phone is right here.”

Roscoe winces because I’m sure that made him feel embarrassed, but it shouldn’t. It makes perfect sense considering the situation we are currently in. He unlocks the phone and then presses Riverlyn’s number on the speed dial. It rings and rings before going to voicemail. In the meantime, I think we both hold our breath. “She’s not answering.”

I nod my head. “How does she normally get to school?”

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