The Rocker's Muse

“No. Of course not. My door’s always open for you.”

“I was hoping we could go somewhere and talk, actually. Not here.”

“Yeah. Of course. Anywhere you have in mind?”

“There’s this restaurant I’ve been wanting to take you to. They’re still open, I think.”

“Alright,” he said. “Let’s jump in my car and go.”

Tristan drove as I directed him to the restaurant, and when he saw what it was, he cracked up.

“McDonald’s.” He laughed. “Good one.” Tristan pulled his hood up and put on sunglasses so he wouldn’t be recognized.

As we entered the McDonald’s, I asked the cashier, “Are you closing soon?”

“Yeah, in fifteen minutes.”

I winked at Tristan. “Perfect.”

We ordered our food and sat down at a table by the window that offered a view of the dark and nearly desolate parking lot.

“I can’t believe this.” He chuckled.

“Well, you said you wanted to eat a burger alone at a McDonald’s at closing time. Except you’re not alone. I’m here. Hope that’s okay.”

“That’s more than okay, beautiful.” Tristan grinned.

“Needless to say, we have to eat fast.” I popped a fry into my mouth.

A woman mopped the floor around us.

Tristan spoke in a low voice. “Did you arrange for her to be mopping the floor, too? Because that’s a really nice touch to the whole closing-time thing.”

“Pure luck. Can you believe it?”

He bit into his burger and spoke with his mouth full. “You’re adorable.”

“Do you feel normal right now?”

“You know?” He wiped his mouth. “It’s not what it’s cracked up to be. The only thing I really love about this moment is the person sitting across from me. I don’t think I would’ve been happy here alone, despite my previous, depressing fantasy.”

I smiled.

“I’m glad you came by tonight, Emily. I’ve been sort of stuck in a rut, not sure what to do. I have to get back to L.A., but I don’t want to leave you. It feels like an impossible situation.”

“I don’t want you to leave, either. That’s one of the reasons I came to see you tonight. I need to tell you how I feel before it’s too late, Tristan.”

Before I could say anything else, the woman who’d been mopping the floor interrupted my pivotal moment.

“I’m sorry, I’m gonna have to ask you guys to leave,” she said. “We’re closed.”

“Sorry…” Tristan said. “We’ll go.”

We promptly threw our trash away and headed out the door. “Are you satisfied now? You’ve nearly been kicked out of a McDonald’s.”

“Not sure anything can top that.” He put his arm around me as we walked to his car. “Let’s finish this conversation back at the house, though. Okay?”

The ride to Tristan’s was quiet as I attempted to gather my thoughts. He took my hand in his and held it the entire way there.