Page 35 of Fast Lane

I gave her my number the day she didn’t show up for school in case she ever needed to have some girl talk. At the time I didn’t think she’d ever use it, but I’m glad she feels comfortable enough to call me. “Hey Riverlyn, how are you?”

She sighs. “I’m good. I kind of have a favor to ask you.”

“Sure,” I reply.

“Prom is coming up and I got asked but I was kind of wondering if you could go thrift store shopping with me. I’m a pretty average size and I have a small stash of money saved up from chores, birthdays, and Christmases. I’d ask my dad but then he’d try to pay for it, and I don’t want him to spend even more money on me, especially on a dress that I’ll only use one night. The same thing with Roscoe so I thought maybe if you have free time you could take me. It’d also be nice to have a girl's opinion, but if you’re busy I totally understand.”

My head is spinning from just listening to her. She literally said all that in one breath. I take a moment to digest. “Of course, I’ll take you. I’d be honored. I’m off tomorrow if that would work for you.”

“Yes, that’d be perfect. If you give me your address I can ride the bus to you,” she offers.

“Nonsense. I’ll pick you up from school,” I tell her. Riverlyn gives me the time she gets out and what parking lot to pick her up in. After that we say goodbye and I head into work.

The night is so busy I don’t even have a chance to look at my phone until we are closing up and heading outside. There’s multiple missed texts from just about everyone Jaxx, Roscoe, Baylor, and Riverlyn. I open hers first in case she’s had a change of heart. She didn’t but she doesn’t want me mentioning it to Roscoe or her dad right now. I’m not sure I’m comfortable with that but ultimately she’s not doing anything illegal and she’s not in trouble so I decide it’ll be our little secret for the time being. As I step outside there’s a smell of rain in the air. The humidity feels different now and the sky, from what I can tell, looks darker than normal. My eyes find Roscoe waiting by one of the wooden pillars, one ankle crossed over the other, arms crossed over his chest, leaning back. I’m almost to him when the thunder roars through the night. My body jerks with startle but luckily Roscoe has some quick reflexes. His arms wrap around my waist and steady me. “My hero,” I tease him in my best southern accent.

He smiles so large dimples appear. “It’s about to be one stormy night.”

“It is,” I tell him as my hand reaches up and runs through his hair.

His eyes close and he hums in approval. “That feels nice.”

“It always amazes me how soft your hair is.”

When he opens his eyes they are more intense than I’ve ever seen. Without warning, his mouth is on mine. His arms pull me as close to him as possible. We don’t break away until a bolt of lightning so bright that it lights up the night sky strikes. “I should get you to your car before it starts pouring.”

“The queen of hell doesn’t melt from a little water. That’s the Wicked Witch of the West. Are you saying I’m a witch now?” I tease.

Roscoe shrugs his shoulders. “Well, you do have some kind of unknown power.”

I laugh. “How so?”

His forehead comes to rest against mine. “I can’t seem to resist you.” My heart stutters in my chest. No one has ever said something like that to me. No one has ever done the things that Roscoe has done for me. That may not be a fair thing to say about Colby because we were just so young there was no way for him to do these things for me. We were too immature for him to say things that leave me as a puddle of water on the floor. Roscoe’s hand closes around mine as the thunder rumbles once more. “We need to go now.” He drags me across the parking lot. We’re halfway to my car when the sky opens up and larger raindrops unleash on us. Within seconds we are soaked to the bone. I quickly unlock the car and we scurry into the back seat. “Damn, I shouldn’t have gotten caught up in kissing you for so long.”

“I made you waste all that time with my powers of non-resistance,” I tease him.

Roscoe turns to look at me. His hand comes up and cups my cheek. His rough thumb caresses my skin over my cheekbone. Eyes locked on mine. One lonely parking lot light sneaks through the window giving us a warm golden glow as the storm beats against the car. Ever so slightly he shakes his head. “There’s no amount of time with you that could ever be a waste.”

An unfamiliar flurry sets off in my stomach. For a moment I wonder if this is how he feels when he jumps from a plane to skydive. I’ve never been the girl to make the first move but suddenly I’m across the backseat, straddling his lap and kissing him as if he can tame the wild flurry taking over my body. His hands and mouth roam and I get lost in the darkened night, in the raging storm, and most of all in Roscoe Langston… the thing I never saw coming.

Thirty-One

Kosi

I’m getting ready to go meet Riverlyn when a very distracted looking Baylor comes into the apartment. “Is everything okay?” I ask her.

She waves her hand dismissively in the air before running it through her long red hair. “Yeah, it’s just been one of those weeks.” She comes in and sits on my bed and takes a look around. “Do you have plans with Roscoe today?”

I shake my head. “No, I actually have plans with Riverlyn.”

“Roscoe’s little sister?”

“Yep,” I tell her as I nod my head up and down. “We’re going thrift store shopping to look for a prom dress for her. She called yesterday before my shift and asked if I would be willing to take her.”

Baylor gives me a small smile. “It’s really nice that she feels so comfortable with you. Will her dad or Roscoe not take her?”

“They would but she doesn’t want either of them to pay for it.”

“Aww, that’s so sweet. I hope she finds something.” Baylor looks away and as I study her profile I realize she looks a little sad. It’s an unusual look for her.

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