Switching Lanes (9 page)

As
predicted, the boys show up an hour later with a huge Christmas tree. They put it in the corner by the fireplace it fits perfectly in there. The girls and I get busy decorating it and making it really nice and pretty while the boys enjoy a beer as they talk among themselves and watch us. We string the tree with lights, and pretty decorating balls, and colorful garland. I place a leafy strand along the fireplace and wrap lights around it. We place a few Christmas figurines and houses on the mantle and throughout the room.

Once we are finished, we step back and ad
mire our work, proud of ourselves. It’s Christmas Eve and Layne and I agreed not to get anything extravagant, since money is tight and he has a fine to pay from the stunt he pulled that got him arrested. So I just bought him a MMA shirt and a pair of jeans.

Later that evening
, I watch Heather and Thomas get engaged, and I’m so thrilled. I hug them both and congratulate them. Layne shakes Thomas’s hand and hugs Heather as well.

Layne and I exchange gifts
. I take the small box from him and I unwrap it while it sits in my lap. Uncovering it, I see a small jewelry box. Opening it, I watch as a ballerina dances in circles. “Oh my gosh! I love it so much,” I tell him with a smile. “You really shouldn’t have, though.”

“It was worth seeing your smile. And I remember you saying you always wanted one,” he says while he
unwraps his. He pulls the shirt out first and then he pulls out the jeans. “Nice! Thank you.”

He comes over to hug me for the gift. “Thank you so much,” I whisper in his ear.

“You’re welcome,” he whispers.

Chapter Fourteen

We still don’t have school for another week. And it’s been one week since Layne and I got back from the little weekend getaway we did. Nothing really happened; except for Layne dodging my question about what he was going to say that night we went to the theater. I wish I wouldn’t have told him that maybe he could tell me another time. Because I think he took it literal. Other than that, we did a lot of drinking and just lounging around watching movies and hanging out with the others.

It’s finally
Friday and I got my finals results, and I scored really well. Tomorrow Layne is racing since there is no snow on the ground and the weather has been fairly clear all week. And he is racing against Dylan. I’m very nervous about going and dealing with that. I haven’t seen or talked to him since that night Layne kicked his ass out of the house. Him calling me a bitch was so out of line. I should have slapped him.

Alexis and I are in the student lounge
, circling apartments in the newspaper we want to check out on Sunday when we go looking. She smiles. “It’s going to be so much fun being roommates.”

“I know, and we like each other and like simil
ar things, so I am excited, too,” I tell her while circling another available apartment. We are meeting a realtor first thing Sunday. “I think we’ll need a pair or two of strong arms to help us move.” I wink.

“Are you going to ask Cole and Layne to help us?”

“Um, yeah! We can’t move all our stuff ourselves,” I tell her.

“I just don’t want Cole to get the wrong impression of me. I mean, I’m no easy girl, and if he thinks I am, he’s got another thing coming,” Alexis says sternly.

“Well, I can tell you he is very interested in you and I highly doubt he is just out for a piece of ass. I mean, I did threaten him after all.”

“I know you did. And like I said
, no one has ever done that for me before. You mean a lot to me, and I don’t want to see you get hurt in any way either,” she says.

“You’re too sweet.”

“I better go; got to work at the Pizzeria tomorrow. I’ll see ya on Sunday.” Alexis waves, as she stands to walk away.

Cole will have his work cut out for
him, if he pursues her. I kind of even feel sorry for him.

I walk back to my dorm and lounge on my bed with a book in hand. It’s been so long since I read a book for pure enjoyment. I hardly ever see my roommate since school has been out.
It will be a nice change to get an apartment with Alexis.

~
~ ~ ~ ~

I wake early in the morning with the book on my chest from last night. I take a shower and gather my laundry to get caught up on it. I’m running low on clothes.
I gather the basket and my essentials and the book I started last night. I could use the school’s Laundromat but I go to one off campus. I hate running into people I know all the time. I hurriedly grab my basket and supplies and get a load started and then I take a seat with my book in hand.

“Fancy seeing you here
.” Cole smiles brightly.

“Jesus
; I didn’t even see or hear you come in. You scared me.” I hold my chest from it beating so fast.

“Shouldn’t you be out getting all fancied up for the New Year’s Eve party tonight?”

“Am I not fancy enough?” I ask, acting offended by his comment.

“That must
be an intense book,” he points, changing the subject.

“Oh,
it is. It’s a murder mystery. So you come here too?” I ask.

He walks to a washer and throws his clothes in. “Yeah, I’m not a fan of the campus one. I take it you aren’t either.”

I shake my head. “Say, Alexis and I are looking for apartments to rent. Would you be interested in helping us move, when it came time to do so? We could use a pair of strong arms,” I say with a smile.

“You don’t have to ask me twice. Give me your phone and I’ll punch my number in
.” He holds his hand out and I pass my phone to him. “Just text me whenever you want me to help. I have a truck, so I can even haul some stuff for you guys,” he says and his eyes twinkle.

“Are you doing this out of the goodness of your heart or because you want to see Alexis?” I ask, already knowing the answer.

“Well for Alexis, of course. Gosh, that girl drives me crazy.”

I laugh, as he sits next to me.

“I feel for you. You have your work cut out for you.” I look at his name, and his last name sounds familiar. “Are you related to Chase Vega by any chance?”

“He’s my cousin.
I transferred from my community college. I figured he could use some support, losing Amber has been rough on him, even though he doesn’t show it. I know he is hurting. I wish I could have met her.”

“You would have liked her, I’m sure. She was one of a kind,” I say fondly
. I stand to put my clothes in the dryer. “So are you heading to the race later?” I ask, while putting the change in to start the dryer.

“You’ll probably see me there at s
ome point. I need to check on Chase and then maybe I will be there. I’d like to check out the competition.” He smirks. That smirk could get all kinds of panties in a twist luckily I’m only into Layne.

“Have fun with that,” I tell him, sitting back down next to him.

Once my laundry is done, I fold everything and put it in the basket neatly. “I’ll catch you later, Cole,” I tell him as I approach the door.

“Don’t forget to text me when you are moving,” he says
, turning to me. “See ya at the party tonight?”

“I’ll be there
.”

“Will do,” I say
, heading out the door.

I smile at my little victory of getting Cole to help with the move. I head back to the dorm and hang some of the clothes that need hung and throw the rest into my dresser drawers.
I take out the dress from the back of my closet which I had been saving for a special occasion. I bought it on one of those shopping trips with Amber. She convinced me to get it since it was a steal. I set everything on my bed so I can change into it later, after the race. I’m feeling confident about everything, and I’m even happy to be having some fun later at the party. It’s not every day that the gorgeous Layne puts on a tuxedo. I grab my purse, throw my phone inside, and grab my keys on the way out the door.

I make sure to have my heavy coat and scarf so I can tolerate standing in the cold to watch Layne race. It might not be snowing but it is freezing out. I crank up the heat in my car and head to where the race is being held. Once I get there, I see a lot of familiar faces from school and from the racing world that I live in.

I spot Layne standing by his car and I walk over to him. “Hey stranger.”

H
e smiles.

Before I can even reply
, the devil appears in the form of Dylan. His green eyes pierce through me, but not in a good way.

“So what?
Are you two fucking now?” He smirks.

“I don’t think that’s any of your business,” Layne says
.

“What, he didn’t tell you? That it was nothing new
, that I was screwing around on you when you were away for those six weeks at the beginning of the school year,” Dylan says with spite.

I can’t believe Layne would betray me like that.

“I think you’ve said enough,” Layne says, pushing Dylan away.

Dylan walks away with a smile on
his face, satisfied with his revenge. I wait for Dylan to walk away, and then my hand connects with Layne’s cheek with a hard slap.

“How could you? How could you? We’re done!”

I storm off with tears running down my cheeks without even looking back. I hear my name in the distance. It feels like a dagger was stuck in my heart, pulled out, and then reinserted to inflict even more pain. How could Layne betray me like that? He was supposed to be my best friend. And if Dylan had been cheating on me for those six weeks I was gone, how could Layne think that was okay? My hand still stings from the slap and I only hope his cheek stung just as much.

I enter my car and let the tears fall. My world
has just crumbled around me. My phone buzzes just as I’m about to drive away. I look at the screen and see Layne’s number. I hit the ignore button. I can’t even stand to see his face on my phone; I’m so disgusted with him. I’m not sure we can even come back from this. I guess he is like all the other men in my life that betray me. I honestly thought he was different. Hell, I even loved him. I still love him, and it will take a while to get past this. As soon as I’m inside my dorm, I crumble. I slide down my door and begin to cry.

Finally
, when I gather myself together I call Alexis and tell her what happened.

“I can’t believe Layne would do that to you. There has to be some sort of explanation behind it,” she says in disbelief. “It’s New Year’s Eve and I think
we should forget about the boys and celebrate,” she tells me.

“Have you lost your damn mind? Did you hear anything I said at all?” I can’t believe she would even suggest
we celebrate. What would I be celebrating exactly?

“I heard you loud and clear
, and you need a night out and some shots. I’ll be the designated driver. You can drink until your heart’s content and we can dance our asses off all night.”

I laugh through the tears. “You had me at shots.
”

“Get your ass ready and I’ll be there soon,” she instructs.

I manage to conjure the energy to get off the floor and get dressed. I take my dress into the bathroom and change into it. It is a shiny baby blue color with a sleeveless fitted bodice and a full skirt. The skirt of the dress hits me mid-thigh saying it’s short is an understatement. I slide on my silver high heels, I put a glittery headband in my hair and then I’m ready to go. Not long after I’m ready, there is a knock at the door. I open it and my jaw drops. Alexis stands before me all dolled up in her body hugging lavender dress.

“Is it too much?
” She looks down and smoothes the dress with her hands.

“You look absolutely stunning,” I tell her. She let her blonde hair loose with curls at the end.
Her makeup is light and her high heels are just as pretty.

“Then I guess that makes us two
gorgeous bitches,” she says with a smile.

“I guess it does.”

I grab my clutch and throw my phone and I.D inside as we head out the door. “I never pegged you for the clubbing type,” I tell her as we reach her car.

“I’m making an exception this time. It will be a new experience for me, so no time like the present and on New Year’s at that.”

I slide in the passenger seat of her black SUV and we head to a new club in the city called
Stella’s Place.

Chapter Fifteen

LAYNE

I can’t believe I screwed up so bad with Renee. She is my world and I just fucked everything up. I try to rack my brain, trying to remember if I ever saw Dylan screwing around on her and I can’t recall. I can only remember being in a daze, since I was grieving. I should have tried to stop her before she left; I don’t know why I let her go. She won’t answer my calls and won’t talk to me at all. I fucked up big time, and I’m not even sure we’ll ever come back from this.

Everyone always lets her down, and I was
the one to do it this time. Maybe I even deserved the slap she gave me. The hurt I saw in her eyes just about killed me. I have nothing left, except the race car. I should have killed Dylan right there on the spot; he is dead to me now.

I don’t deserve
Renee; I don’t deserve someone as special as she is. I sit on the edge of my bed and I put my head in my hands. I’m supposed to be getting ready for my yearly party, but I don’t even feel like it. Walking to the kitchen, I grab a six pack of beer and carry it back to my room but Cole stops me before I go in.

“Dude, give yourself some slack. Just try to explain it to her,” Cole tells me.

I lean against the wall by my door. “You don’t know Renee like I do. Once you piss her off and hurt her, she’s done. I fucked up.”

“So you’re just going to give up? That doesn’t sound like the Layne I’ve come to know and from my point of view, I’d even say you’re in love with
her and too stubborn to even tell her. I don’t know what you are afraid of. You need to go get your girl,” he tells me.

I crack open one of the beers and take a swig of it. “Come on,
Man. You can’t miss your own party,” Cole says just as I shut the door.

I just want to drink myself into oblivion. I send one last plea to Renee, practically begging her to reply.

Please! Come over here so we can sort this out. I need you here,
I plead to her.

Layne, please leave me be. I think we could use some time apart. Go get laid or something. I don’t give a fuck
; just leave me alone,
she texts me back.

Her comment
shot a dagger through my heart. She’ll never get over this. Opening my second beer, I down it and then Cole busts in my room.

“Get the fuck dressed; you aren’t missing your own party. I have a plan. But I’m
not telling you unless you get your sorry ass dressed and make your presence known.”

“Geez
, you’re a real asshole,” I say as I grab my tux and head to the bathroom to change. I can’t believe I’m in this fucking monkey suit. I skip the tie and leave the top buttons opened of my dress shirt. “There; are you happy now?” I ask Cole as he still stands in my room.

“Yes, much better. After you,” he tells me as we exit my room.

I grab a stool along the kitchen island. I have a drink in my hand, and this is about as much action as Cole is going to get from me tonight. He just shakes his head at me and goes over to mingle with some friends. The music is loud but not loud enough to drown out my own thoughts. I’ve done a lot of bad things in my life, but nothing has ever separated Renee and I like this.

The night continues with me drinking my sorrows away and Lucy is about the third girl to approach me to try and cheer me up.

“Layne, whatever has you in this funk, I’m sure I can make it go away for a while,” she says seductively.

“Sorry Lucy, that won’t be happening anytime soon,” I tell her, and she shows off her pouty lips.

“If you change your mind…” she says.

“I won’t,” I say
, interrupting her and taking another beer from the fridge. I throw it back and let the liquid flow down my throat. I lean against the counter, crossing one foot over the other, and watch as the couples dance and make out and the New Year gets ready to begin.

RENEE

Alexis and I show our I.Ds to the bouncer
and he lets us in without a second glance. The glowing bar is off to the left while the dance floor is the main attraction on the right. We make our way over to the bar so I can drown myself in liquor. I throw my clutch on the counter and order a double. My phone buzzes against the counter.

I already know who it is.
I scroll my phone screen up and see a text from Layne.

Please! Come over here so we can sort this out. I need you here.

I text him back.
Layne, please leave me be. I think we could use some time apart. Go get laid or something. I don’t give a fuck; just leave me alone.

“Who was that?” Alexis asks as she orders a soda from the bartender.

“Layne, begging for mercy. I just can’t deal with him right now. I just can’t,” I tell her as I bring my drink up to my lips. My heart just split in two and somehow I’m left with half a heart.

“I’m sure there is some sort of an explanation behind this. You can’t just throw all those years of friendship away. Especially when I know you have feelings for him.”

“Look; you got me out of the house, but I don’t want to talk about it. Let’s talk about Cole and how I roped him into helping us move,” I tell her with a giggle.

“You bitch! I can’t believe you really asked him. I thought you were joking,” she says
, giving me a light shove.

“He gave me his number and said to text him whenever we need him and he was more than happy to
oblige,” I say, tormenting her.

“You are evil.”

“It’s not the first time someone has said that,” I say, bringing the glass back up to my lips.

“Well
, I’m here so I might as well dance, and you need to come with me.” She tugs on my arm, pulling me with her. My head is buzzing from the drinks and I need to lose myself in the music, and I need to forget about Layne and his caramel colored eyes and his to die for dimples.

God, I miss him already, I can’t help it. He has been a part of life ever since we were kids and this is the only argument we’ve had. I hope we can get past this and I hope it is somehow a misunderstanding. Sadly
, I don’t think that is case. Dylan probably did cheat on me those six weeks I wasn’t here; I wouldn’t put it past him. And Layne sat by and watched and never said anything, not one word. Just the thought disgusts me. I try to lose myself in the music as the DJ spins the jams. I dance with Alexis and wonder if she will freak out because we are surrounded by people.

I watch as someone bumps into her and she flinches. “I need another drink,” I yell into her ear over the music. She nods and follows me to the bar. I order another double and she orders a club soda.

“It’s almost midnight and it’s not too late to turn around and make your way to Layne’s,” Alexis tells me as we get our drinks.

“Are you on my side or Layne’s? Don’t you think if I could be there with him I would be, in a heartbeat? But I just can’t. Not yet
, anyway,” I tell her as I down my drink.

“I was just saying, it isn’t too late,” she says.

“I appreciate it, I really do. But can we not talk about Layne, please? How we put our focus on Cole? It’s much more fun to talk about him instead.” I giggle.

“You are so bad,” she says.

I listen as the countdown begins and everyone joins in, counting down the seconds until January first. I watch as couples kiss and hug. I envy them. I should be with Layne. We should be starting the year together.

“Happy New Year,” Alexis says
, holding out her glass to clink with mine. I clink with her glass and throw back the last drops of the shot.

“Happy New Year.
I know this is probably uncomfortable for you being here, but I appreciate you dragging me out of the house,” I tell her.

“Are you ready to go
, Cinderella? I think you drank enough for the both of us. And your ass better be ready tomorrow to go looking at apartments,” she tells me, pointing a finger at me.

“Bring me coffee and I’ll be ready,” I tell her as my words slur.
I stumble to the car and lazily fall into the passenger seat, laughing for no particular reason. I lay my head back against the head rest and close my eyes since the moving road is making my eyes hurt. When we arrive at my dorm, I somehow manage to stumble inside while Alexis makes sure I get in the room okay.

I close the door
, promising I’ll be ready when she comes by in the morning. I grab my night clothes and stumble as I change. Then I manage to fall onto the bed and pass out.

~
~ ~ ~ ~

Beep Beep Beep!
The sound of my phone alarm goes off, and I hit a random button to shut it off. Pushing the hair away from my eyes, I look at the time. Alexis should be here in about an hour. I loudly sigh as my head throbs when I try to lift it. I slowly manage to get up, holding my head. I dig in my purse for some headache pills and grab a bottle of water.

I take shower and do my usual morning routine. I take out a cowl neck sweater and pair it with a pair of black leggings and pull on my black boots.
I pull my hair back and show off my neck tattoo. I love it so much. I thicken my lashes with mascara and put on some nude color lip gloss.

I sit on my bed
, going through my phone and the pain in my heart throbs because I remember slapping Layne across the face. By the look on his face, he was just as shocked as I was. My hand stung from it and I can only imagine I may have left a mark. I swallow a hard lump in my throat. A knock on the door interrupts my thoughts.

“You’re alive!” Alexis squeals and it causes me to grab my head as it
continues to throb.

“Shhh,” I press a finger to my lips and grab the coffee in her hand.

“Are you ready to go? We can stop and get some breakfast; we have time,” Alexis whispers.

I shake my head yes as I take slow sips of the coffee
. We walk to her car in silence. She drives to a local breakfast mom and pop place and we walk inside and the smell of bacon infiltrates through my nostrils. I literally inhale the smell heaven. We grab the only available booth in the whole place.

The waitress approaches us
and takes our order. I order a short stack of pancakes and a side of bacon. Alexis orders an omelet, home fries, and a side of bacon. “I hope this food cures my hangover,” I tell her while taking a drink of the coffee the waitress brought over.

“I hope so
, too. Guess it must be pretty bad. You drank a lot last night.” She smirks.

“It’s not funny.”

“It’s kind of funny,” she says with a giggle.