Fleetwood Mac-Part III of Fritz Series

The Remains of An Affair

"One more please..." my sixth in a line of brandy shots with beer chasers. I'm going to be as sick as a dog in the morning but I don't care. I found this little hole in the wall bar about five blocks from the hotel, at first the severs were wary of the pissed off looking foreigner sitting in the back, but as the night drug on and my tips got larger and larger they've since warmed up to me. They took pity on me after my first botched attempt to order in French and blissfully they brought me a menu in English I could just point to. My waitress is mighty pretty though, Paulet. Such a nice name, musical. She's got long brown hair and green eyes, a full bust and long pretty legs. Beautiful by every standard of the western concept...I should hit on her.

It might make me feel better to even the playing field. To sneak off to some back room and fool around with her. I could bring Stevie by and flaunt my conquest in front of her the same way she flaunts Petty in front of me. Break her heart the way she's breaking mine. Why did she have to call him anyway? The interview should have been enough, why push things?

She wanted to say goodbye. A little voice whispers to me, Paulette leans across my empty table her cleavage spilling from her half buttoned top. Giving her a crooked smile I take the Brandy shot and the beer grabbing her hand with mine "Have one with me? I'll buy" her cheeks flush and she smiles at me holding the serving tray in front of her "I don't think I should-" her English is really good, or I'm just too drunk to notice otherwise.

"Why not, here" snapping at the bar tender I motion toward the rest of the patrons "I'm buying the next round, it's on me!" his eyebrow raises, the other customers look at me like I'm nuts pulling my wallet out I hand over three hundred dollars to Paulet "On me, drinks on me" she laughs then says something rapidly in French. Whatever it is gets a reaction, some whistles a few laughs, and more than one raised beer mug in my direction.

I've seen Mick do it a hundred times, and it always makes him smile. I get that now, it makes me feel popular liked. Wanted "Have one with me?" Paulet says something else rapidly in French and the bartender brings the brandy bottle and another glass, grinning I unscrew the top and pour her a big one we toast and she sips hers. I slam mine. "You speak English really well-mmm-I mean-you don't have a heavy accent" taking another sip of her drink she smiles "My father is Canadian, he met my mother during the war and never went home".

"Wow-that's so beautiful. So inspirational" I should write a song about that "You'll forgive me but you look familiar to me" my beer slides down my throat smoothly "Mhmm, you like music?" dumb question, who doesn't like music? "Of course" her glass is half empty so I top it off "I'm in a rock band...betcha can't guess which one" my cheeks are numb, I'm drunk. Super drunk "Well, since the only one of note in town is Fleetwood Mac I'd guess that one" my stomach and chest rumble with laughter "Bravo, next round is on me too." I hand over another three hundred dollars, her eyes go wide at the money in my pocket "I'm the guitarist-Lindsey Buckingham"

"Of course, you're married to Stevie Nicks" my face falls and I sit back in the booth sipping at my newly refreshed brandy "Yeah well, she's married to me too" she doesn't answer. I scoot closer, I can do this I've seen Mick do it I know all of his moves. I have no practical experience but I know I can do it "She's not here right now anyway, just you and me" her blush returns and she sips from her brandy. She doesn't move though, even when I put my arm around her.

"You have really pretty eyes" one hand pushes a lock of hair from her shoulder "Beautiful smile, beautiful hair, great legs-" going in for the kill I rub a hand over her knee "I should get back to work" she doesn't move though, neither do I "Stay, have another drink with me. I normally prefer scotch but Stevie doesn't like it so I switched to brandy"

"I don't think your wife would approve"

"I don't need her approval"

"You two had a fight?"