Page 22 of Fast Lane

“I thought he loved me.”

My hand reaches out and squeezes hers. “Maybe in his own way he did, but I’ve learned that no two people love the same. It sucks and it hurts a lot but it’s true. You’re both still very young, try to remember that. I highly doubt that any boy you meet now will be the one you end up with, but if you are lucky enough to find that one, you’ll know. You’ll feel it in your bones, in every fiber of your soul. It’ll be so worth it, I promise. But for now let this hurt, let it settle, and then move on.”

“But how?” she asks with a sniffle.

I give her a small smile. “You’ll know. You’ll wake up one day and It won’t feel like such a big hold in your heart and each day from there gets a little better.”

“Thanks Kosi. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare anyone. I just couldn’t face going to school.”

“You don’t owe me an apology but I do know you didn’t mean to scare anyone. How about I go find that food Roscoe is supposed to bring?” As I get off the bed I hear footsteps in the hallway. When I enter the kitchen Roscoe is standing there with an odd look on his face. “She’s better.”

“Thank you,” he says quietly.

I raise my eyebrows at him. “You’re welcome. Did you have fun eavesdropping?”

His cheeks flame red. “I didn’t mean to. I just didn’t want to interrupt the moment and then the next thing I knew my feet wouldn’t work.”

My shoulder bumps into his side. “It’s okay.”

“You sounded like you knew what you were talking about?”

Memories of Colby flash through my mind but land on the engagement announcement in the paper that Baylor showed me. The wound is still fresh. I shrug my shoulders. “I have some experience.”

Silence falls between us. I look at everything besides him while I feel his eyes on me the entire time. My skin heats and I’m about to start fidgeting when he says. “I’m sorry.”

“Why? Did you break my heart and I didn’t know about it?” I ask, forcing a laugh that sounds as fake as it is.

Roscoe slips a finger under my chin and urges me to face him. When I do I’m knocked over by the amount of emotion there. He shakes his head, his hair moving with him. The scent of a man’s body wash fills the space between us and intoxicates me. “No but I’m sorry anyone broke your heart. You deserve better, surely you know that.”

My heart beats erratically in my chest. “I’m not sure I know anything anymore.”

“That makes two of us,” he admits. His mouth inches closer and closer to mine. I’m lost in this moment, a moment I was certain would never happen, especially with him. I forget how to breath. When his mouth is just a breath away from mine when we hear Riverlyn coming down the hallway. At the sound of her footsteps we jump away from one another.

For a moment we stand there, awkward and confused before I finally say, “I should go. I’ll see you later.” As I head for the door I catch Riverlyn. “It was great meeting you. If you ever need anything, I’m around.” She looks as confused as I feel. I rush outside and I’m almost to my car, to my escape, when I hear the door open.

“Kosi, wait,” I hear Roscoe. “Mushu is in the car,” he reminds me.I nod my head and unlock the car. Mushu is napping away but Roscoe scoops him up as he shuts the passenger side door and I slide behind the wheel. I don’t give him time to say anything else. As fast as I possibly can I start the car and back out of the driveway, heading for any place but here.

Twenty

Kosi

This past week has been odd to say the least. Originally, I had planned to start work at Free Fall, but after the way things played out the last time I saw Roscoe… well, I haven’t been able to shake it off. So, instead of going to work there I’ve been planning and creating lists of all the things I need to do the job. The rest of my time has been filled with actually working at Rowdy’s and, of course, job hunting for a marketing position, but it’s like my name is tarnished. It makes me wonder if someone hasn’t been spreading rumors around in that part of the world. Blaming me for the fall of the company. It’s depressing really. I worked so hard for Curve Tech. Literally, I gave them everything and it wasn’t me that caused it to fail. Thomas, the head of marketing, was egotistical and self-centered. If it wasn’t his idea then he’d never pitch it. Ultimately, he caused it all to sink faster than the Titanic. However, with as many marketing positions open, all of which I have applied for, you would think I would at least get an interview, but no. It’s like Thomas has damned us all for his misgivings.

I’m working tonight… it’s a Friday night, and Baylor’s birthday. Luckily, I kind of get to spend it with her because she convinced Summer to host the first half at Rowdy’s before moving it to the races and JamesTown.

From inside my bedroom, I hear Baylor squeal in delight. When I got home last night, I stayed up late hanging banners, streamers and placing balloons all over the living area, kitchen, and dining room. Guessing by the sounds, she has found them. Suddenly, my bedroom door is thrown open. Baylor stands there for a moment in her Gossip Girl t-shirt and leggings before she bolts onto my bed. “You are the bestest ever!”

I laugh. “That doesn’t make sense.”

“It’s my birthday, nothing has to make sense if I don’t want it to,” she tells me before sticking her tongue out at me.

“Okay, okay,” I tell her as I hold my hands up in surrender. “Happy birthday.”

“Thank you! That was a great surprise.” Baylor points out towards the living room area.

I hug her. “I’m glad you like it. I was so worried you were going to wake up while I was trying to blow up the balloons last night. Three of them popped and I just knew I was going to get busted, but luckily you sleep like the dead,” I tell her.

Baylor puffs out her bottom lip. “No, teasing the birthday girl.”

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