Page 118 of The Girl with No Name
27
REED
PRESENT
Theresa’s jaw is on the floor.
“I knew it! I knew the blue horses painting was going to come back around. That’s where that song came from!”
“Now you’re getting it. So that was that.”
“Wait. That was that?! That’s it?”
“I mean yeah, that’s pretty much the story.”
“Pretty much? Oh, come on. So you’ve been with her all this time? Or…did she freak out and leave?”
“Maybe Luna just likes to stay out in the shadows. Maybe she prefers to be out of the spotlight. And maybe that whole ‘me dating a Ford model thing’ was just a publicity stunt. Maybe Luna was in on it.”
“Reed…you’re killing me!”
“What, did you think I was going to kill my mysterious aura just like that?”
“Oh Reed. Don’t do this. Ineedto know if she went with you to Nashville.”
“Or maybe that’s where it ended. Maybe Luna and I realized we had peaked right there, that we were better off just beingsome romantic idea of what could have been for each other, then being the real deal and following through with all the messiness that comes with a true relationship.”
“Reed. I know I said I’m not making any demands of you in this interview…but personally, I need to know if you ended up with this girl.”
I chuckle. “Alright then. Guess I better finish the story.”
28
REED - TWO YEAR EARLIER
“HEADING SOUTH” – ZACH BRYAN
When I get to my apartment, I pack a bag of essentials. What do I really need, anyway? My guitar. A few changes of clothes. My toiletries.
My heart pounds.
After a half hour or so, I remember I made coffee. When I go to get some, I find Mason standing at the kitchen island.
“Dude, what the fuck is going on?” he seethes.
“I think we both understand what’s going on. A huge coincidence.”
“Yeah,” he scoffs. “Turns out the girl you were with is coincidentally my ex—and a huge slut, by the way. You’re not seeing her again.”
“Excuse me?”
“Dude, I never told you. She’s a ho. And you can’t turn a ho?—”
“—into a housewife. Yeah, yeah, yeah. What the fuck are you even talking about? You need to lay off those weird influencers you follow. They are warping your brain.”
“Just because you don’t like them doesn’t mean it’s not true.”
“Yeah? Well first of all, you have no idea what you’re talking about. Look at you. You’re the most miserable person I know. You’re so ‘masculine’ that you’re so fragile you can’t even handle it when I’m making ‘loud typing noises.’ Second, and more importantly, I’m in love with her.”