Page 41 of Fast Lane

Lane and Bowie exchange a look. “You don’t know that, and I’m willing to bet she’d be okay with the girlfriend part of it. Stop acting like you know what’s best for her. She’s an adult and she can decide that for herself,” Lane lectures to me. “Life is too short to go around wondering what if. Or to look back and regret that chance you didn’t take. What are you going to do? Go through life alone just you and Mushu? Don’t tell me you want that because I know you don’t. You want Kosi and you could have her… if you’d just try. This sulking needs to stop. If you’re going to let her go then be man enough to do it with some damn pride and dignity. Otherwise, get off your ass and go get your girl.” Lane stands up, grabs her burger, and stalks off to the bar where she sits to finish her burger.

There’s nothing like a good Lane lecture to get you thinking.

Thirty-six

Kosi

I look around at what was once my room. Everything is boxed up now except for the furniture, of course. Rome is coming down with his truck to take my furniture up to San Francisco. Baylor sits on the floor in an oversized t-shirt, pj shorts, bunny rabbit house shoes, and her red hair pulled up in a ponytail. Her face looks so sad. “I can’t believe you’re really leaving.”

“I know.” I’ve been putting on a brave face all week but I’m really sad to go. All of my friends and family are here. Everything I’ve ever known is here. Leaving just feels so wrong.

Baylor shakes her head. “You’ve become one of my best friends. I loved having Summer as a roommate, obviously, but at least when she moved out I knew I’d see her again. She still lived in Los Angeles. You’re going to be in San Francisco. I feel like I’m never going to see you.” She gets up and comes over to me. Her bottom lip pouts at me. “I don’t want you to go.”

She’s literally saying what I’ve been thinking. “Baylor…”

“I know, I know. The job is a great opportunity. It’s in your field of work and you can work your way back up to marketing, and I know almost anything is better than working at Rowdy’s, but I don’t want you to go.” Baylor is full of dramatic flair during her speech.

Baylor is right, though. We barely knew each other when I moved in and now, I can’t imagine not having her as one of my closest friends. I had been on my own since college with the exception of my time with Colby, but somehow, I felt like I found out more about myself in these last few months here with Baylor than I had in all my life. Leaving isn’t something I want to do but I also feel like I have no other choice. It’s what my dad wants and really, I don’t have anything keeping me here. For one fleeting moment I had allowed myself the freedom to truly consider opening an interior design business. Everything I did at Free Fall had reawakened the sleeping beast for design that had lived dormant within me for so long. It was a freeing experience and one I wanted to continue, but now… it feels tainted. My heart is sad and I’m convinced that any other design project will just shred at it because it’ll always remind me of Roscoe. It was a short-lived romance, but I felt it all a hundred times more than anything I had ever felt before. We had so much potential and now it’s just gone. “If I had a good enough reason to stay, you know I would.”

“Good enough reason, meaning a certain stubborn boy.” Baylor raises her eyebrows at me.

I shrug my shoulders. “Maybe, but more like if I could find a job here.”

She shakes her head. “You know what I think. I think you should stay, open a design business and work at Rowdy’s until you get a big enough client list.”

Little does Baylor know, that was my plan before Colby showed up and Roscoe blew up on me. Now it’s not a possibility. The doorbell rings and Baylor gives me one more sad look before going to answer it. My brothers, Jaxx and Rome, enter with Ace James following behind them. Rome lets out a low whistle. “Is it too late to head back to the vineyard?”

“I don’t know how girls accumulate so much shit,” Jaxx comments.

Ace laughs. “You’re both being drama queens. Kynlee has double this.”

“You just need to remember that you love me.” Rome turns at the sound of my voice and I bound into his arms. He smells like fresh air and grapes. It’s become normal for him. He traded his cowboy hat for a baseball cap today. The navy blue t-shirt hugs his tanned skin. Jeans and cowboy boots complete him. His blue eyes smile into mine. “I missed you, Rome.”

“I missed you too, little sis.”

For a moment we all stand around and talk. Finally, Jaxx gives me a sad look. “I guess we should start loading. I don’t want you to get into town too late and I know Rome has to get back to Napa.”

“Yeah,” I reply quietly. Within a couple of hours the five of us have everything loaded up in the back of Rome’s truck and in my car. Every material thing I have left to my name sits there. I almost feel like a hundred eyes are on me. I check the time and realize I have to be somewhere. “I want to get everyone dinner but I need to be somewhere real quick. Can I meet you guys there?”

They all agree to meet at JamesTown and I head for my car. Driving with my life in boxes surrounding me feels odd. Luckily, traffic isn’t too bad. When I turn onto the street I hold my breath until I reach the house. One truck sits in the driveway so I feel like it’s okay. I head up the porch steps and knock on the door. When it swings open I feel like the air has been knocked out of my lungs. Roscoe stands there looking as good as ever. My heart stutters as my eyes roam over him. “Kosi,” he says quietly.

I was so dumb to think I could sneak over here to see Riverlyn before prom like she asked and not run into Roscoe. Words fail me at this moment, but luckily I don’t need them because a squeal comes from behind him. “Oh my gosh! You came!” Riverlyn pulls Roscoe away from the door and there she stands looking like a queen. The emerald green dress fits her perfectly. Her caramel colored hair is curled to perfection and piled on top of her head. A black crystal tiara sits in the midst of it along with black crystal jewelry. “I was so worried you wouldn’t show up.”

That makes two of us. When Riverlyn had first texted and asked me if I’d be willing to come by and see her before prom I had hesitated. Not because I didn’t want to see her but because this was Roscoe’s family. As much as I wanted to take a tiny part in Riverlyn’s prom, I’m glad I came. But seeing Roscoe is throwing me for a loop. I’m not sure what to say or how to act so I do the only thing I can. Ignore him. I ignore his existence because I don’t have any other choice. It’s the only way to get through this situation. “You look so gorgeous, Riverlyn. Just like a queen.”

“Thank you so, so much for the dress.” Her hand closes around mine and she drags me inside.

Mr. Langston greets me with a proud smile on his face. “Hello, Kosi. It’s so good to see you again.” Guilt churns in my gut. The conversation we had the last time I was here comes back to me. He told me to be careful with Roscoe’s heart. It was pure gold but it had suffered a lot and because of that he didn’t let many people in. At the time, I thought I could make my way through some tiny crack in the wall of defense, but I had been wrong.

“It’s good to see you too.” I fidget with my hands because this is so awkward.

“You did some great things for my kids. I can’t thank you enough,” he tells me.

Despite the guilt I feel, I look up into his eyes because I think he just said kids. A small nod of his head is the only confirmation I need to know I did hear him correctly. He’s thanking me for Roscoe and Riverlyn, but I feel like I failed Roscoe. I didn’t do enough for him. “There’s no need for thanks. I was happy to do it. Riverlyn looks stunning.” I turn to her. “I hope you have a wonderful night.”

“Thank you, Kosi.”

I nod my head. “Well, I can’t stay. I have to get going but keep in touch, Riverlyn. It was really nice to see you again Mr. Langston.” I turn towards Roscoe and his eyes are blazing. For a moment I forget anyone else is in the room, but instead of saying anything I turn and head for the door.

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