Page 36 of Fast Lane

She stands up to leave. “Hey Bay.”

“Yeah?”

“Why don’t you come with us?” I ask her.

Baylor shakes her head. “If she only asked you I doubt she’d want me tagging along.”

I turn around and give her a smile. “I’m sure she wouldn’t mind at all. Just don’t tell her dad or Roscoe for now. Besides, you’re like some fashion guru. We could use you.”

“Do you really think it would be okay?” I nod and reassure her it will be. Once it’s decided that Baylor will join Riverlyn and me, we head out the door. Baylor offers to take her Jeep and I’m thankful because at least her Jeep has a decent radio. I shoot a text to Riverlyn to let her know we are on our way. At some point our plan to pick her up at school got changed to picking Riverlyn up at her house. Somehow, I manage to get us lost a total of two times on the way to Roscoe’s childhood home. Eventually, we make it. Riverlyn is sitting out on the porch steps waiting for us. Her caramel colored hair is pulled up into a high ponytail and her pastel green sundress looks comfortable and easy enough to try on clothes.

As we pull up along the curb I roll my window down. “Hey Riverlyn, I hope it’s okay that Baylor joins us.”

She smiles. “Yeah! It’s great.” Riverlyn slides into the backseat. “I’ll pay for the gas as well. I forgot to mention that yesterday.”

“It’s no big deal. Save your money for prom. Do you have any music requests?” Baylor asks her.

“No, anything is fine with me,” Riverlyn replies.

We drive in silence for a bit until we reach Drink Up. Baylor pulls in, cutting off the car in the other lane. For a moment I hold my breath because, to be honest, Baylor is a good driver but her technique scares the hell out of me. “What does everyone want to drink?” Reluctantly, Riverlyn and I give her our drink orders. “Okay, now we can shop! I needed caffeine.”

Baylor slows down as we reach the area that is our first stop. Lots of little boutiques and secondhand stores are on the next few blocks. We climb out and Baylor pays the meter as we head down the street. The first three secondhand stores are a bust. They have some pretty evening gowns but nothing in the right size for Riverlyn. We’re going to head to Finders Keepers which is probably where we should have started. It’s the biggest thrift store in the area. As we make our way back to the car Riverlyn pauses to look at a window of a bridal boutique. With prom being just around the corner the bridal boutique has traded their wedding gown windows for prom inspired windows.

Standing there on the mannequin is a beautiful emerald-green mermaid gown with a beaded bodice, strapless and sweetheart neckline. I can picture Riverlyn in this dress. Her hazel eyes would shine like a million dollars. By the look in her eyes right now, she can picture it too. I glance over at Baylor and I know she’s thinking the same thing. Riverlyn’s shoulders rise and fall with a heavy sigh before she turns towards us. When she realizes we’ve been watching her she blushes. “It’s a beautiful color but so not my style.” Riverlyn speed walks past us back to Baylor’s Jeep. I stand there a moment longer looking at the dress. It really is gorgeous. When I turn around I see that Baylor and Riverlyn have been waiting on me.

Finder’s Keeper’s is packed. Wall to wall. However, they do have a nice selection of evening gowns. Riverlyn manages to find five in her size. We wait as she tries each one on. Finally, she decides on a cream colored skirt and top with a slit to the knee. It’s simple but for whatever reason it just doesn’t give me the same feeling as the emerald green one. However, I keep my opinion to myself. We find a pair of shoes and some jewelry then stand in line for almost forty minutes to pay.

Once we’re back in the car Riverlyn thanks us. “Thank you so much for taking me around today. It took so much longer than I had anticipated but I can’t thank you enough.”

“Any excuse for shopping is good with me,” Baylor says with a big smile on her face. She’s not wrong based on how many bags are in the back of her Jeep. The girl has more than enough of everything but she bought something in every single thrift store we went into. I laugh to myself.

“Can I at least buy us all dinner? It’ll have to be McDonald’s or something like that but it’s the least I can do,” Riverlyn offers.

I want to decline but one look in her eyes makes me realize that she feels bad for taking up our day and she feels like this is something she can do. It’s totally unnecessary but if it makes her feel better. “Girl, I will always go for some chicken nuggets,” Baylor replies.

Baylor pulls us into the next McDonald’s and we all grab something small to eat. Riverlyn pays and her smile is proud which makes me feel so much better. As we head back to Riverlyn’s house I ask, “So, you said you got asked to prom, who asked you?”

“Ohh, is he cute?” Baylor chimes in.

“Josh asked me actually,” she replies quietly.

My heart sinks. I was really hoping she’d say Urban or really any other name than Josh but it’s not my place to but in so I simply say, “That’s nice. I’m glad that worked out for the two of you.”

The rest of the ride is quiet except for the music. When we pull up to the house, Riverlyn gathers her stuff and climbs out of the car. “Thank you guys so much for today. It meant the world to me.”

“We had so much fun,” Baylor reassures her.

I nod my head. “Yes, call me anytime you need anything.”

“I will. Thank you.”

We watch to make sure she gets back inside her house safely. Once the front door closes Baylor turns to me. “We don’t like Josh, do we?”

I close my eyes and shake my head. “Not even a little bit.”

Thirty-Two

Roscoe

---