“Everything okay, Ms. Banks?”
I nod. “Yes, everything’s fine. And it’s Kendra.”
“Of course. Sorry.”
“She wants to go to McDonald’s!” Alyson shouts, like it’s the most absurd idea she’s ever heard.
Craig bursts into laughter, but when he spots how serious I look, he shuts his mouth, clearing his throat. He points down the road. “I believe the nearest one is about seven blocks from here. Hop on in and I’ll take you.”
“Thanks,” I reply, getting into the car.
Alyson follows in after, her eyes firmly fixed on me. She thinks I’ve gone insane. Maybe I have.
“You do realize you’re going to get mobbed with people when you go in there?”
“I am?!” I squeal.
“Well, duh,” she answers, rolling her hooded eyes. She’s obviously feeling the effects of the alcohol already, which is not surprising after the way she bolted them down.
“You’re only the most ‘beautiful’ woman in the world, remember? Everyone who’s anyone will recognize you.”
She actually said the word “beautiful” in air quotes. I try to decipher whether she meant that maliciously or not, but my time with her doesn’t seem to present her that way. Appearances can be deceiving, but if she is being bitchy, I probably deserve it. No doubt I haven’t treated Alyson very well, considering I’m sleeping with everyone but my own husband.
“I’m so hungry,” I blurt.
“Well, so am I, but seriously, Kendra? McDonald’s? You do realize that if Natalie finds out, she’ll have your head on a stick? And Natalie will find out. She’s like a bloodhound on drugs.”
I snort out a laugh. Alyson gives me this look like I’ve grown an extra head, but then even she starts to laugh along with me.
“I’ll deal with Natalie if and when it comes to it. Just don’t try to tell me you haven’t ordered a cheeky burger from time to time.” I raise an eyebrow in challenge. Alyson laughs and shakes her head.
“It’s your funeral,” she responds, just as we approach the entrance to McDonald’s.
“It looks like it has a drive-through, Ms., I mean, Kendra. Would you like me to go through?”
“Yes…” Alyson begins to answer, but I cut her short.
“No, that’s okay. I’m going in.” I tug at the sleeve of her silk shirt. “Are you coming with?”
She shakes her head and sighs, but moves to get out of the car. “You’re absolutely crazy, you know that? It’s like you went to Wyoming and came back with a personality transplant.”
Ignoring her jibe, I get out of the car and walk towards the entrance of the McDonald’s. A couple of teenage girls come out as we’re going in. One of them looks at me, then starts whispering to her friend. No doubt they’re trying to figure out if it’s really me.
Sure enough, everyone stares as I walk up to the counter. Whispers are around us, wondering if I’m the famous Kendra Banks. No doubt a lot of them will just think I’m a lookalike as, by the sounds of it, the real Kendra Banks wouldn’t be caught dead inside a McDonald’s.
I approach the teenage boy whose Adam’s apple bobs as I grow closer. He’s nervous, so I smile, hoping it gives him calm. I place my hands on the counter, glancing at his nametag.
“Jim, I would like a Quarter Pounder with Cheese meal, please, with a strawberry milkshake, and my friend here would like…” I turn to her, waiting for her answer.
“A Big Mac meal, please. Strawberry milkshake too.”
I nod my head with approval before looking back at Jim as he rings it up. “That’ll be $11.78, please.”
I take out a fifty from my purse. “Sorry, but I don’t have anything smaller.”
“That’s fine,” Jim replies, taking the fifty with a shaky hand.
We wait a couple of minutes for our meals and then quickly find somewhere to sit and eat. I don’t hang around. Once seated, I have the burger out of its packeting and into my mouth quicker than a hungry snake on a rodent.