Richie was restless.
He tossed and turned, but the luxurious bedding of the Four Seasons did
nothing to make him comfortable. The
tight lump that had been in the center of his chest since Angelina’s wasn’t
going away.
When he closed his eyes, he saw nothing but Tony’s grim
resolve and Petey’s strained features. He heard nothing but the gunshot that
echoed through the restaurant and the screams of Dot and the mothers when Jon
called out to Petey. Felt nothing but
mounting guilt.
I should have made
them work their differences out in the damn car. Then they wouldn’t have been alone in that
hallway.
The other side of his brain wanted to argue the point.
If not tonight,
then it would have been some other night.
He was going to make a move eventually.
Fine. He could
make himself buy into that, but he still should have been there, doing something. Richie had done nothing but gawk at his best
friend, just like the rest of them. The
weight of his inaction made up a sizable chunk of the lump in his chest, and
rubbing a hard fist against his sternum did nothing to relieve the ache.
Digging his head into the pillow with a frustrated grunt,
he picked up his phone and checked the time.
It was nearly midnight.
It’s only nine at home.
The time-zone calculations were automatic and second
nature to him, but this time it was in vain.
Who would he call? His sex buddy
was out of the question. Ava might
distract him, but he didn’t want to infect her with his cloud of gloom. Heather?
No. Hell, no. Even if he might’ve
considered it at some point, it was time to step beyond that.
You know who you
want to call.
Using thumb and forefinger, Richie scrunched up his face and rubbed
harshly at his eyes. He knew he
shouldn’t. They weren’t supposed to talk
until he got back, but he didn’t want to talk about them. He just wanted to
talk.
The phone screen flared to life under his touch, and the
correct sequence of buttons was tapped before he could change his mind. It rang once.
Then again.
“Hello?”
Denny’s voice was loud to be heard above the clamoring of
a crowd in the background. She was
evidently out somewhere. If it weren’t
for the caller ID he probably would’ve hung up.
“Hey, darlin’.”
His uneasiness was paved away beneath his typical relaxed drawl – or
that had been the plan.
“Richie, what’s wrong?”
Acting had never been his forte.
“Nothing.
Nothing’s wrong. Did I catch you
at a bad time?”
“Nooooo. Not
really.” Which meant he had. “Hold on.”
The scratching sound indicated that she was muffling the phone, but he
could still hear the apologetic, “Could you excuse me for a minute? It’s my boss.
I’ll be right back.”
Guess that fucking
told you.
He was swamped with the overwhelming impulse to hang up
and let a bottle of whiskey take a crack at the lump in his chest that had just
grown harder. After a full minute and
still no Denny, he was on the verge of doing just that and leaving her to get on
with her evening - one without interruptions from her boss.
It was at that instant the background noise went
dead. She must have finally found
someplace quiet.
“Now. Tell me
what’s wrong.”
“Where are you?”
It was none of his business, but the question bubbled so determinedly
forth that he couldn’t have stopped it.
“In the ladies’ room.”
Playing dumb wasn’t her usual style. Reading between the lines, he felt her
reluctance to be the blunt, forthright woman that organized his life without
visible effort. She didn’t want to
tell him where she was.
But I need to know.
“No, Denny. Where are you? Are you at a club? Did I interrupt a date?”
“Richie, don’t do this.
Yes, I’m having drinks with someone, but I’m here if you need me.”
His stomach squirmed and stirred a simmering anger. A couple of days and she’d resumed her single
lifestyle without a second thought.
Without the supposed ‘talk’ they were supposed to have about this thing
between them.
“I see you have a lot of confidence in the direction that
‘talking’ was going to take our situation.”
“Stop right there,” she ordered in a threateningly low
voice. “If that’s why you called, then
now is not the time. Is that what you
called for?”
How had the lump in his chest gotten bigger without
pushing through his breastbone and sitting fully atop his body? The liquor would’ve been the better choice.
“I originally called for a friend. Now I’m just calling my assistant to make a
change in travel plans. Some shit has
gone down here and I’m sticking around for a little while longer. I’ll text in a couple of days so you can
schedule my flight home. Enjoy your
evening, Denny.”
Funny, his mouth was moving and words were falling out,
but it didn’t sound like his voice. Didn’t
feel like his voice either. What difference
did it make? He was finished with his
conversation, and it looked like he had one less item on his list of things to
worry about.
“Richie – “
“Den, don’t.” She
didn’t have to justify herself to him.
Not really. He was the one who
had pushed and then retreated. Would’ve
been nice to know what the hell she was thinking, but that could wait for… a while.
“It’s all good. I’ll catch you in
a day or two.”
☠ ☢ ☠
Jon jerked awake, jolted by the punch of a dreamed Taser
gun. “Christ Almighty,” he muttered,
wiping down his face from forehead to chin.
That shit yesterday had apparently made more of an impact than he’d been
able to admit.
The sky was streaked with the pale gray of an early
winter’s morning, too early to get up, but not by much. He rolled from his right side over to his
left, reaching for Petey. His eyes flew
open at finding the bed empty.
Where the hell is
she?
A yawn overcame him, popping on both sides of his jaw as
he flung the covers aside. There was a
chill in the room, and it drove him to seek out his discarded pants from the
night before. Snapping the elastic low
on his waist, he scratched his belly.
“Petey?”
She wasn’t in the bathroom, but he took the opportunity
to make a morning pit stop before wandering downstairs. A quick check of both the living room and
kitchen came up empty. “Petey!?”
“In here,” a distant voice panted, and he set out toward
the far corner of the apartment. He
crossed into the at-home gym to find her on the treadmill. Sweat was pouring down her back and her
ponytail bobbed in time with her footsteps as she pounded on the
treadmill. The small television that he
used to watch the news while he ran was turned to one of the news stations. “Morning.”
“Morning yourself.
Looks like you’ve been at it a while.”
She nodded, punching the button that would begin the cool
down phase on the machine. “Couldn’t sleep.”
Unhappy lines creased Jon’s face. She’d fallen asleep in his arms last night
right after they’d made love. He had
foolishly thought it meant she found peace with yesterday’s events.
“Don’t frown,” she puffed, a little smile tugging at her
lips. “I woke up excited about today and
tomorrow. Lists started forming in my
head for what needed to be done to accommodate the date change, but it was too
early to start making phone calls.” The treadmill came to a halt, and she
turned sideways on it.
Jon moved to stand at the side of the running surface,
the few inches it was elevated bringing Petey much closer to eye level than
usual. Factor in his bare feet and her
tennis shoes and they were pretty well the same height.
“Yeah?” He asked
again, searching out her eyes for any sign of a cover up.
“Yeah.”
Sweetly puckered lips were proffered and he fitted his
palms to her hips before he touched them with his own, relieved that she seemed
to be her normal self.
“I didn’t get around to saying it last night, but I’m
proud of you Sugar. I’m not bringing
anything up, but I heard you reciting yesterday, so I know how freaked out you were, but you still kicked ass.”
Petey shook her head with denial and pulled away from
him. She opened her mouth to argue with
him, saying, “I’m not – “ when the news
announcer’s voice infiltrated their conversation.
“Shot through the heart?”
The plastic looking man asked from behind the news desk. “We don’t know that to be true, but rocker
Jon Bon Jovi was involved in a
shooting incident yesterday evening. The
well-known musician and philanthropist was dining with family and friends at
Angelina’s, a popular Staten Island eatery, when things went horribly
awry. Details are slow to be released,
but we do know that one man is dead after the incident. Stay tuned for more information as it becomes
available.”
“Shit,” he sighed, turning back to her. “Flying under the radar was too much to
fuckin’ hope for, I guess.”
Petey’s eyes had gone hollow, the lively animation of a
moment before sucked out. An empty, baby
blue shell left in its place. “I guess
it was. We should probably keep Rocco
and Greg for a little while longer, don’t you think?”
Using his grasp on her hips, he shook in hopes of
rattling the vacant look away.
“Hey. It’s all part of the life,
Baby. It’s inconvenient as hell
sometimes, but this is my world. Just
hold your head high, smile and don’t say anything. The fire dies if you don’t feed it.”
Something occurred to him. His life had been pretty low-key in the last
few months, making this the first media shitstorm since they’d been
together. Granted, the unexpected
intrusion wasn’t an all-the-time thing, but it wasn’t so unusual. She would have to accept that.
Jon squared his shoulders and met her eyes
point-blank. “This is what you’re
signing on for as my wife. Does it make
you regret the decision?”
“No, dumbass,” she snapped. “But can you give me ten seconds to
acclimate? You’re not the only one who
has ever been in the public eye, but it’s been a while. I need to find my sea legs again. And, as much as this is about you right now, Rock Star, it’s going to
be about me at some point. My name and lifestyle change and all the
speculation that goes with that.”
Her ‘endearment’ pissed him off. For a minute he’d overlooked that she wasn’t
– hadn’t always been – Petey. She was
Miss Patience Heinz, girl genius. Of
course she’d done the whole media thing, dozens of times over.
“I’m sorry. I’m
not a fucking genius like some people, and I tend to forget you’re anybody but
who you are.”
The annoyance seeped out of her features and her angrily
knit eyebrows were exchanged for lines of remorse.
“And you’re right,” he went on to agree, a little coolly. “We should keep Rocco and Greg for a while
longer, in case the press gets overzealous.”
Because they were going to have to ride this one
out. Part of the deal with their release
last night was to stay local for the next several days. That meant no escaping to a tropical hideaway,
and it put their honeymoon on indefinite hold.
Likely until at least the first tour break in April. Spring Break with the kids and then St.
Maarten’s maybe. Who knew?
“I’m sorry for being a bitch,” she sighed, draping her forearms
over his bare shoulders and dropping her forehead against the left one. “It just caught me off-guard. I didn’t mean anything personal by it, I was
just irritated.”
A gentle tug had her swaying fully into in his arms. Jon ignored the cold, clammy t-shirt under
his touch and instead focused on the warmth of her body radiating from beneath.
She was alive.
They were alive. After yesterday,
he didn’t want to take that for granted.
It may not be as much fun, but this was just as much a part of living as
the phenomenal sex they shared.
“S’ok. Just means you’re
one temper tantrum ahead of me. I’ll
catch up soon enough.”
"He was finished with his conversation, and it looked like he had one less item on his list of things to worry about. "
ReplyDeleteOh, Richie. Grrrrr. I so want to yell at you, but I really can't because I tend to react the same way.
“S’ok. Just means you’re one temper tantrum ahead of me. I’ll catch up soon enough.”
ROFL, so true, Jonny, so true!
And, Blush, I've gotta say I LOL, then rolled my eyes at the reporter's cheesy intro to the story. That is *exactly* how the story would be worded if this ever happened.
"Just means you’re one temper tantrum ahead of me. I’ll catch up soon enough"
ReplyDeleteBlushy you are too good to be true!
“No, dumbass,” she snapped. “But can you give me ten seconds to acclimate? You’re not the only one who has ever been in the public eye, but it’s been a while. I need to find my sea legs again. And, as much as this is about you right now, Rock Star, it’s going to be about me at some point. My name and lifestyle change and all the speculation that goes with that.”--
ReplyDeleteI actually think that was uncalled for, she didn't have to call him dumbass and then tell him how she is just as important as him. He has been affected too by the Daniel situation. Jon was tazered and then had the stun gun held up to his neck before Tony came. It's affected Jon too.
BUT she did apologize and that is main thing!
Petey is on edge, I don't blame her for jumping like that. No one knows how they would be in the same situation. It's the next day, they are now waking up and adjusting to what has happened to them and with the press finding out?
ReplyDeletePrimarily both Petey and even Tony (judging from the previous chapter) seem to be handling the situation good but now that they are down from the high of everything, it might all come out. Who knows how they will be now. I think Jon (and even Dorothea) will know how to handle them.
Richie! You're a dumb-ass!! Wise up man! grrrr!!
ReplyDeleteGreat Chapter! I forgot about the press but yeah, it's interesting to see what the press is going to make of this. It might not be as easy as we thought, just with the police but now the press?
ReplyDeleteQuote of the chapter
ReplyDelete“S’ok. Just means you’re one temper tantrum ahead of me. I’ll catch up soon enough.”
Jon and Petey may be heading toward a difficult few days. Be patient (LOL) with each other. You both went thought a lot...
Richie don't be an Ass. Make this right. The longer the two of you dance around this thing the harder it's going to be to make it right (where the two of you are together. You NEED someone like D in your life)
Good chapter my friend.
OK, this is just my little thing and I'm probably being a pain! SORRY - but Richie calls Dorothea 'D' which I love by the way and so when I saw you write D, I thought of her. So I think we can call Denny, Den instead. I can only think of Richie calling Dorothea D, it's so sweet!
DeleteI'm confused where did Richie call Denny, D? I've looked through the whole chapter and he calls her Denny? Blush only has Richie call Dorothea D, not Denny. I've said in a previous chapter how I love that he calls her D. To me, it shows the friendship over the years between the two and he even said it to Tony, how is D?
DeleteRichie, you better call Denny back and don't be a dumbass! now he was the dumbass in this chapter. Sorry, Petey I'm taking your word for Richie!
No, D is for Dorothea. It doesn't bother Dorothea, it didn't bother Tony; it's Richie name for her. Very telling when you think about it. They have known each other for years and years and it's cute how he has that special nickname for her.
DeletePetey, cool down a bit and there was no need to call Jon dumbass, he hasn't done anything wrong. His on your side remember?
ReplyDeleteBoth Richie and Denny need to be open with each other before this gets out of hand.
As always Blush - excellent!
Another Excellent chapter. Nice how Richie is staying over in NY and how he blamed himself. It's not your fault Richie! I think Petey needs to step back. With everything that has happened with Daniel and the upcoming wedding. It could be getting to her.
ReplyDelete“S’ok. Just means you’re one temper tantrum ahead of me. I’ll catch up soon enough.”
ReplyDeletethat line made me laugh ;-))
Jon is so good to Petey, sometimes I think she doesn't deserve him. What about having her with Tony? I like their friendship.
ReplyDeleteTony is with someone who he is CRAZY IN LOVE with! Petey loves Jon too, they love each other. She is worked up because of everything that happened. Jon is fine with it.
DeleteTony and Petey are just good friends. Let's not forget the little fact that they are both engaged to other people who they happen to be in love with. Tony leave Dorothea? not a chance, the man is in love and would kill for her.
DeleteThey will soon be family. Petey is marrying his brother. Tony is in love with Dorothea, as he told Petey's brother - there is no being done with Dorothea. Petey just so happens to be in love with Jon too.
DeleteWe also have to remember that Petey is use to having to concel who she is because she has be "hiding" from Daniel. It will take her some time to adjust to the fact that she can be who she wants and in the public eye with out looking over her shoulder.
ReplyDelete--Amanda
Just a point of clarification: She didn't go Goth because she was keeping herself hidden away. Until weeks ago, she had no idea he was looking for her. She walked away from being Patience on purpose, because she was tired of living a life of conforming to everyone's expectations of her. He was part of what tipped her over the edge, but she didn't do this to go into hiding. She was just ready to be someone different. :)
DeleteThanks and I did get that from the beginning. I thought about how my comment sounded about the time I submitted it. I think I could use some of Pety's spunk.
Delete--Amanda
LOL! Couldn't we all?? ;o)
DeleteThe dumbass comment took me by surprise too but then it's the heat of the moment, she is upset and still on edge about what happened. At least she said she was sorry and Jon is right, you think he won't be having one (or 20) himself?
ReplyDelete