39

The Roasted Bean was the busiest I had ever seen. The tables had been cleared away, and the chairs were lined up in rows. A stage had been set up in a corner with a single light illuminating a stool and microphone. The shop lights were low.

"Wow, This is really something," I said, taking it all in.

"Hey, Cam," Tyler said, nodding at someone above my head.

Cam had light brown hair, and the same green eyes as Tyler. "You must be Lexi," he said, pulling me into a one-armed side hug and high-fiving Tyler. "I've heard a lot about you."

"Only good things, I hope," I said as Cam pulled away.

"That's all there is," Tyler smiled.

"So, how does this work?" I asked, wrapping my arms around Tyler's waist. "I've never been to one of these before."

"People sign up to do different things. Some people do comedy, some read poems, and some, like us, play music," Cam explained. "It can get pretty packed, so it's a good thing you got here early."

"When are you guys on?" I asked, looking up at Tyler.

"We're second. Let's go grab that table," he nodded to one close to the stage and we sat on the stools.

The first act was a comedian, but I wasn't paying attention. I found a pen in my coat pocket and grabbed a napkin.

Tyler deserves a redo of our Speedy's experience.

The cars roll up slowly

Read from the billboard menu

Push a green button

"How can I help you?"

"A bacon cheeseburger

Large fries

And hold the pickles"

"Anything else?"

"That's it"

A simple conversation

Repeated a hundred times a day

Waiting

Waiting

Waiting

A gleaming red tray

Bearing the pickle-less burger

The greasy fries

Hand over the bills

A fortune claimed

For five brief moments

Perfection

"This poem is perfection," I muttered to myself. "Other than the toaster limerick, this might be my best work."

"I don't know, that limerick was pretty good," Tyler said, leaning over my shoulder. "Do I get to read this one?"

I handed him the napkin and he smiled as he read it, handing it to Cam when he was done.

"Based on a true story?" Cam asked as he handed it back to me.

I shook my head. "Not today, anyway. I thought Tyler needed a redo of the disaster that was today."

"Thank you," he said, kissing me on the temple as the emcee called their names.

Cam and Tyler stood up to get ready to go on stage. I squeezed Tyler's hand, and he looked back at me and smiled. He squeezed my hand back before letting it go and heading to the stage.

The two of them were made to perform together. The execution of every song was flawless. I was captivated by Tyler. He'd played guitar for me before but nothing like this. I'd never seen such passion and intent on his face.

He caught my eye and winked at me, a smile lighting up his face.

I'm the luckiest girl in the world.

When they finished, they walked back to our table to a round of applause. "That was amazing," I said, as Tyler pulled me into a tight hug.

I didn't pay attention to the rest of the acts.

I spent the rest of the evening marveling at how lucky I was to have Tyler in my life.