Page 25 of Fast Lane

Chrissy appears at my side. I’m so close to getting an actual answer out of Baylor but then Chrissy messes it up. She looks down at me expectantly. “Are we doing something down here?”

“No,” I bite out.

A look of confusion crosses her face. “Then why are we down here?”

I’m about to reply when Baylor sneers. “Does this belong to you?” she asks me while waving her hand dismissively towards Chrissy.

Baylor has always been pretty welcoming to pretty much everyone, but I think whatever her problem with Chrissy is… actually has to do with me. I just don’t know why. I stand up and take Chrissy’s elbow and lead her back to our seats. The rest of the night goes by without a hitch for pretty much everyone else but me. Every time Kosi is anywhere in the dining area my eyes can’t seem to look anywhere else. She stops at our table so much but she is a pro at avoiding my eye contact. Admittedly, it’s driving me crazy. I want to catch her eye just once more to see what I can see there but I keep getting nothing.

By the time we decide to disperse with a lot of the group heading to the races and then JamesTown I can’t shake the feeling that Baylor’s attitude towards Chrissy actually has to do with Kosi and me. Is it possible that Kosi told Baylor about the almost kiss?

Twenty-Two

Roscoe

After we all leave Rowdy’s, most of us head to the street races. A lot of us are missing because they have kids to pick up from babysitters and whatnot, but some of us are able to go. Lane hangs with Chrissy and me. Thankfully, Lane is able to entertain Chrissy because my mind is anywhere but here. It’s busy running around in circles like a hamster stuck on a wheel. Baylor’s words and attitude, Kosi’s avoidance… it’s all driving me crazy. Once the races finished I planned on taking Chrissy home but Lane made the mistake of inviting us to JamesTown and now Chrissy is looking at me expectantly. Eventually, I give in.

So, here we are sitting at JamesTown. Chrissy is already on the tipsy side. I’m on the irritated side, and based on the look on Lane’s face, she’s on the apologetic side. She leans over, her fire engine red hair dancing under the lights. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you were wanting to call the date to an end. I feel horrible that I invited the two of you and now you’re stuck here.”

“You didn’t get me stuck. I could have come up with an excuse to take her home and I kind of wish I had. She’s tipsy as hell. Worst part is I can’t blame her. I’ve been a crappy date and she knows it. Please, don’t feel bad,” I assure Lane. It’s not her fault. This is mine. “I’m going to call it a night and get Chrissy home. Let me know when you make it home safely.” I stand up and make my way to the dance floor. After gathering Chrissy up, we head to my car. Once I get her home, I walk her to her door and help her inside. As I leave I make sure the bottom lock on her door is at least locked and secure.

As I slide behind the wheel of my car once more, I feel like I’m not ready to go home just yet. Instead, I drive around, music playing low, windows down so the fresh air can come in. Aimlessly I drive around, no destination, no reason. A little while later, without actually making the decision, I pull into the parking lot of Rowdy’s. I don’t remember even coming this way but here I am. Kosi’s car is still here. A quick glance at the clock on the dash tells me she should be getting off any minute now. I don’t know why but I park and wait.

About twenty minutes later she appears in the parking lot with a couple of other workers. The parking lot is really dark. These lights definitely need to be fixed. As she gets closer I climb out of the car. When her eyes land on me her steps falter for a moment. If I didn’t know Kosi better I’d think there is a flash of hurt in those eyes once more. She shakes her head and starts heading back to the car. “Kosi,” I call out.

She stops but she doesn’t look at me. Her hands pull the gray zipper hoodie she has on tighter around her. I don’t know why but she looks so vulnerable at this moment. Something I never thought of before. I’ve been so closed minded when it comes to her. Assuming I knew everything there was to know about her based on what she allowed others to see. I’m ashamed to admit I stereotyped her long before I ever knew her. Now, I want to know her but it might be too late to repair the damage that years of being enemies has left behind. Kosi sighs, “What do you want, Roscoe?”

My mouth opens and closes multiple times before I finally have to admit. “I don’t know.”

“That’s very helpful.”

We stand there for I don’t know how long. “Why are you avoiding me?”

Kosi recoils like she’s been slapped. “I haven’t been avoiding you.”

I laugh but it’s short and sarcastic. “Yes, you have.”

“I’ll be at Free Fall tomorrow to start working on the facelift. I still plan to fulfill my duties, so don’t worry. You can tell the owner that,” she says. She still hasn’t looked my way so I make my way to her.

Her body tenses as I approach but I don't let that stop me. “I’m not worried about the facelift.” That’s not completely true. Ever since Kosi pointed out the outdated appearance it’s all I've worried about, but right now Free Fall is the last thing on my mind. Once I’m close enough I slip one of my fingers under her chin and urge her to meet my eyes. Eventually, she gives in and it reminds me so much of the other day. It’s almost like I have Deja vu. “Why did you run away?” That’s the question that I haven’t been able to get off my mind the last few days.

Kosi’s eyes narrow and for a moment she bites her bottom lip which only causes my body to react. “I didn’t run away.” Her eyes dart away from mine and I realize I just found something that Kosi isn’t great at… lying.

“You’re lying. You’re actually not great at something,” I tease her with a raised eyebrow and a smirk.

For a moment she stares at me before she slightly shakes her head. “I’m not lying.”

I lean forward, the distance between our lips narrows. “You are. You bolted so quickly out of my dad’s house I thought it might be on fire for a moment. Why is that?” There was a fire but it wasn’t in the house. It was me. It was her. It was us. We were the fire. I suddenly understand the temptation of playing with it. Taking a chance on getting burned just to let it run rampant. I avoid true connection. Terrified of loss. Paralyzed by my own fear, but Kosi… she’s worth the risk, worth the hurt, worth the burn.

“Your sister had been found. All was right in the world. There was no reason to hang around.” Once again her eyes look at everything but mine. I inch even closer to her. Her cinnamon scented breath fills my senses.

I smirk, a slight chuckle joining the space between us. Her eyes whip to mine. Again, an unguarded emotion swims in the depth of her ocean blues. “Or maybe there was a reason to stay and that’s why you ran.”

Kosi scoffs. “Oh really? And what reason was that?”

“This,” I whisper as my lips crash down onto hers. For a moment she’s stiff as a board but her startled gasp gives me the access I’m dying for. My tongue brushes against hers and suddenly her body is pressed against mine. Space eliminated. Her hands wrap around my forearms. For a brief moment the world falls away. The fire rages wildly. Everything seems right for a moment. Kosi is everywhere.

Suddenly, a car horn sounds and Kosi jumps back. The fire raging inside extinguished. Her wide, shocked eyes meet mine. Kosi’s mouth opens but before anything happens she bolts. The sound of her car door closes puts the last burning ember out and I listen as she drives away. The taste of cinnamon still lingers on my tongue as I stand in the darkened parking lot, alone, my heart slamming against my chest, my breath heavy and quick. I’ve kissed my fair share of girls but never like this.

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