Fast Lane Read Free Page A

the garage, I stop in the kitchen to grab an extra bottle of blue dish soap from under the sink. Derek’s still trying to clean his hands off with his shirt, which is as dirty as the rest of him.
    “Here.” I say handing the soap and kitty litter to him. “Thought you could use the soap too,” I say with a snicker. He takes it from me, careful not to touch me with his dirty hands, and chuckles.
    “Thank you, Lexi. Sorry again for bothering you. Have a good night,” Derek says, and jogs back across the street.
    I lock up the door and head back to bed.

 
     
     
    I FEEL LIKE A HUGE weight has been lifted off my shoulders, not having to deal with Patrick anymore. As much as he loved me, I feel like he hated me that much more. Today is going to be all about starting over. A new me. I’m no longer going to let a man dictate my life. I’m going to have a kick ass day with my best friend, and swear off men forever. Okay, maybe not forever, but for a long time.
    I just called a taxi to take me over to Brea’s since I left my car there last night. When I arrive she’s already waiting on her front porch. I hop out of the cab and meet her over at my car so we can leave right away.
    “Hey, Brea, have you been waiting long?” I ask as she gets in.
    “Nope. Just walked out of the house.” She slams the door hard.
    “Hey! What did my car ever do to you?” I snap, giving her the stink eye.
    “Shit. Sorry, Lex. I’m not used to these heavy doors,” she apologizes while putting on her seat belt. “Anyways, spill the beans. How did Patrick take the break up?”
    “It was kind of eerie, actually. I was expecting him to have a huge freak out and go all spazz at me, but instead he was kind of quiet and seemed really crushed. I think I may have actually broken his black heart.”
    “Don’t you go feeling sorry for that asshole. There is no excuse for any of his freak-outs at you, Lex. You don’t deserve that kind of treatment. You need a man that is going to worship the ground you walk on. He should build you up and make you feel like a queen, not tear you down and make you feel like you’re smaller than a grain of salt.” Brea was always there to build up my self-esteem every single time that Patrick would crush it.
    “You know, Bre, I think I need a break from guys for a while. I need to focus on me. Besides, why would anyone want me anyway?”
    We arrive at the Stoplight Café and go inside to find all the tables full, except for one in the very back corner. The Stoplight (as we call it) is just very cozy little diner with spots to sit all along the bar. The entire dining area, which again is not all that big, has a perfect view of the grill and the fryer. You can actually watch your meal being made. It’s kind of fun and has a fifties feel to it.
    We order our usual: cheeseburgers and cheese fries. Brea orders an iced tea and I order a Pepsi. It doesn’t take long before our food arrives. As the server sets our plates down, I hear the bells on the door as someone walks in. I don’t think anything of it. I’m too excited about my cheese fries. These things are amazing . And they’re probably going straight to my ass, but who cares. I’ve never been one to worry about things like that.
    Brea and I are chowing down and discussing our tattoo appointment when I feel a shiver. You know that one you get when you think someone is staring at you? Yeah, that one. I turn around quickly, expecting someone to be standing over my shoulder, but there’s no one there. I must be paranoid after what happened with Patrick. Just then, my eyes wander toward the barstools to find the most beautiful man I have ever seen. He is giving me a delicious smirk.
    I realize that he’s caught me staring at him, and my mouth is full of cheese fries. I quickly finish chewing and direct my gaze out the window. My face feels flushed.
    Shake it off. You just got out of a shitty relationship. Men just complicate your life. Maybe you have some