7. Rosie

7

Rosie

The diner is adorable. It's all fifties kitsch, which is exactly my thing. It's only ten at night, but the place is empty, and we get our choice of table. Alex chooses a booth in the corner and sits on the same side as me.

I didn't get to date a lot in high school and didn't go to college. I missed out on a lot of teenage experiences, and I know that our feelings aren't exactly innocent, but sitting on the same side of the booth in a diner seems very high school and I'm loving every second.

The waitress comes over and hands us menus. She takes our drink order and even though I order water, my throat is still a little sore from singing, Alex orders two of their biggest milkshakes. He asks me what flavors.

"Chocolate is my favorite," I answer.

"What other flavor do you like?"

"Isn't the other one for you?"

"I thought we could share them and I'm okay with any flavor except for banana." He shivers as he says the word and I make a mental note to find out his deal with bananas later.

"Strawberry?"

He orders one large chocolate and one large strawberry milkshake.

I look over the menu and decide that I'm going to get a burger and onion rings. I thought about getting a salad and pretending I don't eat much, but a man who orders two large milkshakes right off the bat isn't going to be concerned about me eating a real meal. And if he is then this won't work.

I know that I could probably watch my weight a little bit better than I do, but I'm healthy. I exercise and do everything I'm supposed to do. I also like a burger or taco on occasion. When we are touring our food is usually catered and it's very healthy, so I do tend to go a little the other way when we are off.

I ask Alex, "What are you going to get?"

"The burger for sure, but I can't decide between the onion rings and the cheese tater tots."

He studies the menu like it's the most important decision he's making today. "Onion rings taste delicious, but you might not want to kiss me if I have onion breath and cheese tater tots are cheese and potato." He stops like that's all the explanation needed and honestly, it is.

"Well, I was thinking of getting onion rings and didn't even think about the kissing ramifications. They are just yummy, and I don't usually have the opportunity to get them," I say with a smile. "But cheese tater tots sound good too. Now I'm thinking about them."

"What if we get a large of both and share?"

Could this man be any more perfect?

"Sounds perfect. I want the burger too," I say sort of meekly.

"Of course, I thought that was a given. You can't just have a side." He wraps his arm around my shoulder and pulls me close. "Plus, we'll need energy for tonight. I don't plan on either of us getting much sleep once I get you near an actual bed."

I shiver at the promise in his words. "Maybe we don't really need to eat, Alex."

He laughs, "Yes, my girl, we need to eat. I had some appetizers at the party, but I didn't see you eat anything. Let me take care of you."

I lay my head on his shoulder. It feels good to have someone who wants to take care of me. My sisters and I look out for each other all the time, but our parents weren't around to make sure no one took advantage of us in the beginning. They didn't care until the money started coming in and by then we had cut them out of our lives.

As the oldest, I'm usually making the decisions or forcing my sisters to make decisions. The idea that someone would care enough to watch over me and do what's best for me is so appealing.

Our milkshakes are brought out and Alex places our order. I take a huge pull on the straw in the chocolate milkshake. It takes a bit of effort to get any liquid out, "Mmmm, this is so good."

I hear a soft grunt and look up at Alex's uncomfortable expression.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, it's just you making sounds like that makes things more uncomfortable for me," he says with a wink.

Oh my God, he's turned on by me drinking a milkshake? I run my hand up his thigh until I feel the steel rod in his pants. It's straining against the fabric and I'm sure it is very uncomfortable.

"Rosie, my girl, you have to take your hand off my dick. If you keep touching me, I'll come in my pants."

"Really?" I ask, intrigued.

"Yes, and don't get any ideas," he laughs. "We are going to eat and then go to my place where we can both get undressed, lay on my king-sized bed and I can worship you like you deserve."

I swallow hard. Now I'm drenched and achy. This meal can't get here fast enough. I absentmindedly run my hand up and down his thigh until he grabs my fingers.

"Sorry."

"It's okay. It feels good and I know you didn't even realize you were doing it, but I really can't handle it right now. I'm right on the edge of throwing you on top of this table and having you for dinner."

"Can we get the food to go?" I beg.

I see him wrestle with his conscience. He was trying to show me this isn't about sex, and I know it isn't. I know he wants to know about me, and I want to know everything about him, but I can't sit here in my wet panties knowing his hard dick is inches away.

"Okay, my girl. We'll get it to go, but you have to eat something in the car on the way to my house."

"I will," I promise him. "I'll even feed you onion rings and tater tots as you drive."

"Fuck."

Alex catches the waitress's eye and asks her to change our order from dine-in to to-go. She smiles as if she knows exactly why we want to do that, and she probably does. Alex hands her his credit card as she goes back to change the order.

"Can I pay the tip?" I ask.

"I've got it," Alex says, sounding a little confused.

"I know, but I like to tip servers. I worked as one for a little while and I always try to pay it forward a little."

"Of course, my girl. I'm still going to tip too, but you do what you need to do." He pauses and then asks, "Has anyone ever told you no, that you couldn't tip?"

"Yes, I've gone out with a few guys who thought it was their job and felt like I was belittling them to ask if I could provide the tip. Then one was mad when he saw how much I tipped. I'll warn you, I put a lot down. I have it and they usually need it."

"You're amazing, did you know that?" he quickly kisses me as the waitress walks back over with our food.

"I made you fresh shakes to take with you," she says with a smile. Then she leans over to whisper, "I'm sure you don't want people to know you're here, Ms. Stone, but my daughter is a huge fan. I just wanted to see if I could get an autograph for her. It would earn me some cool mom points and with a fifteen-year-old I need them."

"Absolutely." I reach into my bag for a special piece of paper that I carry for such an occasion and sign my name. "Here's the autograph. If you'll give me your email and address, I'll make sure she gets some of our new merch."

"Oh, you don't have to do that," the waitress is flustered.

"You took great care of us tonight and didn't blow my cover," I answer with a giggle. "We're on a first date, so it's good that we didn't get mobbed. He might have been scared off."

"No likely," Alex interjects.

We all laugh, and the waitress writes down her information. I tuck it away in my bag and hand her the envelope with the tip. Usually, I leave it on the table, but she already knew who I was so the anonymity part of the tip is gone.

"Thank you," she says with tears in her eyes.

"Tell your daughter I said her mom is cool and to watch out for a box from the band."

Alex and I gather our stuff and head out to his car. He opens my door and helps me in, puts our food in the floorboard, and then goes around the car to his door. He slides into his seat and looks over at me.

"Alex, are you okay? Was that too much? You can take me to my hotel if it is. I understand and believe me that was nothing compared to what happens most of the time. That was just one mom."

He shakes his head and then places his hands on the sides of my face pulling me toward him. "I love you," he says and then he places his lips on mine so gently.

A tear trickles down my cheek and I'm not sure why I'm crying.

Alex pulls back. "I know it's crazy to say that after a few hours, but I do, and I don't care that it's nuts. You are so beautiful. But what's the most beautiful about you is your heart. That interaction was sincere. You really want that woman to get cool points or whatever with her kid. You do plan on sending merch to her daughter and that tip wasn't a little tip. There was life-changing money in there."

I don't know what to say. I know my feelings for Alex are intense, but I don't want to give them a name. I don't want to get my heart broken, but I'm afraid it's too late.

"Alex, I don't know what to say. Yes, to everything you said about that woman. It's just what I do." I take a deep breath and close my eyes. "My feelings for you are big, but I'm scared. I don't know what's going to happen after tomorrow and I'm so afraid you're going to break my heart or I'm going to break yours."

"I know, sweet girl." He kisses my forehead and turns the car on. "I shouldn't have said those words yet, but I couldn't hold them in. I understand you aren't in the same place I am and that's ok. Let's just enjoy this time we have together."

I nod, but I don't know if we can go back to what it was like before he revealed his feelings.