Page 34 of Fast Lane

“Are the two of you really going to stand there all night? It’s a date for a reason. In case you were unclear about the concept. You actually leave the house,” Baylor tells us.

We laugh and Roscoe reaches for my hand and pulls me out the door. He leads me out to his car in silence, but before he opens the passenger side door he spins me around, pins me against the car and kisses me until my knees are weak and I’m breathless. “Let’s go, sweetheart.”

First on the agenda is grabbing some food before heading down to the strip to see a live band at one of the local bars. It’s great. The band is amazing. They’re a rock band that does covers of songs from all genres and turns them into rock. Afterwards, he drives us out to the ice cream stand and we head for a walk on the beach.

“So, what did you think of the band?” he asks.

I smile. “I loved them. A lot of those songs I’m not normally a fan of but change them to a rock song and apparently, I’m sold.”

His head falls back in laughter. “Brownie points for Kosi.”

My shoulder knocks into his. “I’m shocked by your choice of ice cream flavor.”

“Why?” he asks with his eyebrows pulled together.

“I don't know. I just had you pegged for a chocolate kind of guy, not butter pecan with caramel drizzle.”

He shakes his head. “I’ll leave the chocolate to you.”

I gasp in dramatic fashion. “You have no clue what you’re missing out on. Cherry cream chocolate with pecans is something out of this world,” I tell him while sticking a huge spoonful of the ice cream in my mouth.

Suddenly, I stop walking because hello brain freeze! Roscoe stops along with me. I swallow the ice cream as quickly as possible but I don’t have time to think before he pulls me into him and kisses me. When we break away from one another he smiles at me. It’s kind of wicked. “You were right, I was missing out,” he tells me with a shrug of his shoulders.

After we finish the ice cream the night is still pretty early so we take a seat on the sand and just stare at the ocean. “This was nice.”

“Did I live up to the standards of the infamous Kosi Scott?” he teases.

I know he’s just teasing and he means well but his words hit home. The image and reputation I tried so hard to create. I could play this off or I could get real with him. Then again getting down to the nitty gritty with Roscoe seems dangerous. It could make him run for the hills but I guess I might as well find out. “Honestly, I didn't have a lot of expectations for this date.”

Roscoe looks over at me. A flash of hurt crosses his face before he says, “Ouch, you really didn't think I could live up to your standards.”

“No, that’s not it at all.” He stands up, dusting the butt of his jeans off. Now I can see where that could come across like that.

He runs a hand through his hair. He mumbles, “Whatever.”

I jump to my feet. “You misunderstood me.”

“I’m pretty sure I didn’t,” he bites out.

For a moment I wonder if we’re better off like this. Maybe, we should end here before we ever begin. I mean, we always end up here, bickering like some old married couple. As I watch him walk away, though, I realize I’d rather bicker with him than anyone else so I bite the dust. “I didn’t have expectations because I’ve never really been on a date like this. I’ve only ever been with Colby and we were so young when we got together. His mom took us to the movies and dropped us off before picking us back up. I never had this with him.”

Roscoe pauses. Slowly, he turns around. “Colby is your only boyfriend ever?”

My head nods. “Yeah, and we can see how well that ended too. I don’t have a good track record lately, Roscoe. This is scary. I feel like I’m lost and not good enough.”

He marches back towards me. No distance is between us when he comes to a stop. His eyes search mine, for what? I have no clue. “You are a lot of things Kosi, but not good enough doesn’t make the list.” His mouth crashes down on mine like the waves crash into the shore. For the first time in a while I feel like there might be some hope.

Thirty

Kosi

Things between Roscoe and I are still on the down low but it works for us. I think a lot of people in our lives suspect something is going on but no one is really sure. Being with him brings out a different side of me. I feel like I can just be where I am and accept that. Free Fall is almost completely done. Creed has got the website finished and is just waiting to make it go live. I’ve organized a big grand opening and Bowie is going to come out and broadcast his show from it that day. Hopefully, it’ll all be good for business.

However, for now I’m still working at Rowdy’s and applying for every open position in marketing on the local job sites. Marketing may not be my passion, but I’m hoping I can get back into it. It’s great money and hopefully in the down time I can start setting up my own design business. Or at least that’s my ultimate goal, but for now I’m just a waitress. Every night I work Roscoe meets me and walks me to my car. It doesn’t matter what time I get off, he’s there, ready and waiting.

Tonight is going to be a long one. It’s game night and we have a huge birthday party booked. I’m already dreading it but hopefully the tips will be great. As I head inside my phone rings. Assuming it’s Roscoe I pull it out of my back pocket but see an unsaved number on my screen. It’s local so I go ahead and pick it up. “Hello.”

“Hi Kosi, it’s Riverlyn,” her voice wavers like she’s nervous.

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