Switching Lanes by Renea Porter Read Free Book Online

park and unclip my seat belt. “I really appreciate you making this birthday the best yet. It means a lot.”
    “Like I said, you deserve it. And we need a little happiness. Your smile was worth it,” he says, nodding his head.
    I step outside of the car and inhale the autumn air. I walk over to Layne and throw my arms around his shoulders to hug him and then I lean up and kiss him on the cheek. “Thank you,” I whisper in his ear and I notice his breath hitches , but he just wraps his arms around my waist and we stay like that for a while. Finally, I pull back. “I guess I should get my things and head back to the dorm. I’m sure I’ve already overstayed my welcome.” I smile and walk ahead of him and head inside.
    In the room, I gather my bags together. Layne follows me into the room. “Maybe one more night wouldn’t hurt. Plus , it’s your birthday; no use spending it alone.”
    “Okay. But I want to go out tonight. I want to go clubbing . I need to expend some energy and dancing is just the thing I need.”
    Layne’s face cringes. “And now I wish I hadn’t said anything .” His tone is sarcastic.
    “Oh come on. You know you’ll love the attention those girls will show you, and you don’t even have to dance,” I plead.
    “Fine, go get yourself ready.”
    ~ ~ ~ ~
    Two hours later , we’re at club Zenith, and the spotlights dance to the music while it causes my heart rate to speed up. We find a booth and table for us. He orders us a round of shots and we toast to my birthday. A Jennifer Lopez comes on over the speakers and I go out onto the dance floor to get my dance on. I stay within eyeshot of Layne. I watch as a few girls make their way over to him. I know he couldn’t care less, but I know he likes the distraction.
    I turn the face inside the crowd, and I’m greeted with a classmate making his way over to me. Cole. His eyes pierce through me.
    “What are you doing here by yourself?”
    “I’ m here with a friend,” I shout.
    “Dance with me?” He asks with a smile.
    I don’t answer. I just start to dance with him, and realize he has rhythm. I try to keep enough space in between us, so we don’t grind on each other, as tempting as it is. I don’t want to give him the wrong impression. I let the music carry me away. I finally feel happy, even though Amber should be here with me. A lump forms in my throat and I swallow hard.
    “Thanks for the dance , Cole. I think I’m going to check on my friend for a bit.”
    “Thank you.”
    I turn on my heel and head toward Layne’s direction and his eyes are burning into mine as I make my way over.
    “Having fun?” h e asks.
    “I am, actually. At least give me one dance since it’s my birthday,” I tell him.
    “We’ll see,” he says. There is a leggy blonde who I want to beat with an ugly stick as she hangs over Layne like he is a piece of meat. This is not how I imagined this in my head. I down a few shots in a row and I head back onto the dance floor. The music is s till thumping and I make my way onto the crowded floor. I let loose and dance my ass off, until a slower song comes on and I head back to the table. But I spot Layne making his way toward me and I stop.
    “Dance?”
    He holds his arms out and I let them envelope me. I wrap my arms around his shoulder s and lean my head on his shoulder. His arms are wrapped around my waist and our feet are toe to toe. I close my eyes and imagine if love feels like this. I don’t think it was like this with Dylan. At the same time, my heart hurts, because he was Amber’s love, she was the only one to break him of his bad boy sleeping around ways. Would he do the same for me? Are we too much of friends to even risk it? Would he even have the same feelings for me? I don’t know and only he can answer them, just not now.
    The dance is over way to o soon, and we separate and head back to the table. We’ve been here a few hours at this point and I’m ready to go. “Are you ready to go now?”