I must have still been in slight shock from meeting her, because that comment went right over my head. "I don't mean to impose," I said, trying my best to be casual. "But do you want to come join us with the rest of our friends? We were just about to order some food. And they also love the show."
"There's more of you?" she asked. She drained the rest of her drink. "Sure."
"Really?" Marshall said.
She shrugged. "I could use a refill. Maybe I'll have more luck getting the waitress's attention in a group. Especially a group of regulars."
'Good luck,' I thought. But I didn't dare say anything that would make her change her mind. "How'd you know we were regulars?"
"The way you present yourself. You're comfortable here. You obviously come here a lot."
"Awesome. Well, spot on with that. Right this way."
I led her to our table and grabbed an extra chair for her. "Guys," I said as I set the chair next to Barney's empty one. "This is Amy."
Lily and Robin looked up and their eyes got really wide.
"Oh my gosh," Lily said. "You're Amy Kinser."
"We watch your show all the time." Robin said.
"So I hear." said Amy as she sat down.
"Amy, this is my wife, Lily." Marshall said, sitting.
"And this is Robin." I said, also sitting.
They both held their hands out. "It's so nice to meet you." they both attempted to say at the same time.
Amy smiled and shook both hands. She didn't seem to notice that the chair next to her was empty. I was slightly dreading introducing her to Barney.
"We were just about to order some food." Lily said.
"If we can ever get the waitress over here." Robin said.
I silently cursed Robin, sure that Amy would leave knowing that our luck was as bad as hers. But she simply looked to the left and saw a waitress. "Excuse me," she said.
The waitress turned, looking somewhat pissed at being called to. But her face brightened when she saw who'd called. "Ohmigod, you're Amy Kinser!"
Amy sighed. "Yes. Yes, I am. And my friends would like to order." We all looked at each other. Amy Kinser had just called us her friends. Holy crap.
"Of course. Anything." The waitress came over, pen poised over her notepad. We all ordered. Then the waitress looked at Amy. "And for you, Ms. Kinser?"
"Call me Amy." The waitress looked like she was going to faint. "Just get me whatever's best here. And another Shirley Temple."
The waitress took Amy's glass and almost ran towards the bar. She almost ran into Barney, who was making his way back to the table, looking slightly damp, as if the fine woman at the bar had thrown her drink at him.
"What's her rush?" he asked.
"She was just excited to get her idol a drink." Lily said. Amy rolled her eyes slightly, a small smile on her face.
"But I didn't even order." Barney said, sitting.
"Oh, so you're the one the world revolves around." Amy said. "Nice to finally meet you."
Barney looked somewhat taken aback and then realized who he was sitting next to. "Amy Kinser, do you kiss your mother with that mouth?"
"Sorry. I don't kiss and tell."
"Neither do I." said Barney, starting to 'move in'.
"Barney, you always tell us about your escapades, even when we don't want to hear about them." I said.
"Especially when we don't want to hear about them." Lily said.
"So, Amy," Robin said. "Do you write your own dialogue on the show? It seems like you've got some pretty good comebacks up your sleeve."
"Not really." Amy said. "I usually let the people who get paid to write the scripts figure out what I'm going to say. But sometimes I'll say something different if I'm feeling it. Sometimes they use it, sometimes they don't."
At that moment, our waitress came back, tray loaded with food. She gave us all out food and then handed Amy a huge plate covered in nacho chips, drenched in cheese. "Here," she said, a huge smile on her face. "I made sure they left the beef off, since I know you don't eat it."
"Thanks, Casey." Amy said, smiling at the girl.
The girl looked amazed that someone like Amy would bother to read the name embroidered on her shirt. She ran off to the kitchen.
All through dinner, we asked Amy questions about the show. "What's it like playing such a snarky detective opposite Ryan Jacob's easy-going character?" I asked.
"It's… I don't know. I mean, some of the cast jokes that I was typecast, since I'm 'such a bitch'."
"You don't seem like a bitch." Marshall said.
"After ten minutes with them, you'd all be bitchy, too."
"Can you give us any hints as to what's going to happen during the second half of this season?" Lily asked.
"She can't do that, sweetie. It'd go against her contract." Marshall said.
"We won't tell anyone." Lily said.
"What do you want to know?" Amy asked.
"Are you and Ryan Jacob going to get together?" Barney asked.
"In the show or in real life?"
"Both."
"Guys, should we really listen to this? I mean, wouldn't it be better to wait until the episode airs? More suspense?" I asked.
"SHHHHH!" said everyone else.
"In the season finale, he's going to kiss me last minute, leaving a cliffhanger the audience will cling to until we start the next season. And in real life…" Amy drained her drink. "Not a chance in hell."
"Really?" I asked.
Amy nodded. "I hate the bastard."