Page 29 of Fast Lane

Roscoe chuckles. “These old things?” I nod my head and he reaches around me, getting into my space once more, and turns the music back on. “Please, tell me you have some Cheap Trick on your playlist.”

I’m surprised he knows Cheap Trick. I guess I shouldn’t be considering he grew up with the James brothers and 80s rock bands are their specialty.“Of course, I do. I’m surprised you know who they are.”

He looks back at me. “You might be surprised what you don’t know about me,” he tells me with a wink.

We've been working alongside each other for a while now. Suddenly, he turns to me with a playful smile on his face. “Are you hungry?” For a moment I just stare at him. If you know me then you know I eat all the time. “Right! Dumb question. How do you feel about Chinese food?”

“I love it, but I don’t think they’ll deliver this far out.”

Once again, he winks. “I have my ways. Any requests?”

“Egg rolls!” He disappears for a few and I’m thankful for the time to collect myself. I feel like my body has been on hyper drive since he walked through the door. I can’t help but get sucked into the Roscoe vortex, but I’m really starting to like it there.

Twenty-Six

Roscoe

I call a friend of mine, Dereck, who works at one of the local Chinese restaurants. We met a few years ago when he took skydiving classes. Dereck is a great guy and one of the head cooks over there. It takes a few before he comes to the phone. “Roscoe!” he says with excitement when he picks up the phone.

“Hey man! How’s everything?” I ask.

Dereck got married a couple of months ago. He’s still in the honeymoon phase, lucky for him. “It’s great man. You should wife a girl up already.”

I love Dereck but the way he talks sometimes makes me want to slap him. I’m pretty sure I’ve never heard ‘wife a girl up’ before and I hope I never do again. “I’ll see what I can do. So, a friend of mine and I are working late at Free Fall. Is there any chance that you can pull some of those strings of yours.”

“Give me the order. You know I got you covered,” he tells me. I give him the order. The bad thing about me and Chinese food is that I always order way too much, like half the menu. I never know when to stop. “Are you sure that’s all?” he asks with a laugh.

He’s such a smart ass. “Yes, that’s all.”

“Give us a bit and it’ll be there.”

“Thanks man,” I tell him before I hang up the phone. When I head back into the main office area, I stop as the music becomes audible. I Want You To Want Me by Cheap Trick. I don’t know if she already had it in her music library or she put it on for my benefit but either way I couldn't be happier. For a moment I hang back and just watch as Kosi dances and jumps around, singing along to the song. I wish this side of her was around more often. Once she notices me she stops.

“I didn’t realize you were done.” She looks bashful. Her blue eyes dart to everything but me.

My head bobs up and down. “Yeah, I caught that.”

“So, did you manage to sweet talk some girl into bringing food out here for you?”

It almost sounds like there’s a hint of jealousy in her tone but I can’t be sure. “Yes, I got the food ordered and it’s being delivered but the only sweet talking I did was to a buddy of mine named Dereck. He’s really funny and chill but not exactly my type.”

Kosi’s eyes meet mine. “I’m sorry.”

I wave off her apology. “No big deal. It’ll take a bit before the food gets here.”

She fidgets with her hands. “Then I guess we should continue painting.” We both go to the opposite sides of the room. The back wall is finished, now it's time to get the rest. Music plays and I’m surprised to hear the different genres and artists in her music library. I’m shocked by most of them.

“You know, I never thought you would listen to rock music,” I comment.

She turns around and looks at me. She’s perched on the ladder, near the top step. A teenage me would have been over there trying to see up her shirt, then again the adult me probably would be too, but I know she’s got shorts on. I caught a glimpse of them earlier. “What did you think I listened to, country?”

“Nope.”

“Rap?” she asks. I shake my head. “Okay, pop?”

“No, not really pop,” I admit.

Kosi studies me before climbing down the ladder. As she makes her way to me I decide to meet her halfway. She shrugs her shoulders. “Okay, I’m out of musical genre ideas. What did you think I listened to?”

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