Chapter 44
Billy met Jesse at the airport, gathered her luggage from the baggage claim area, and they were now headed to the hotel. Jesse tried to focus on the lights and the conversation Billy was trying to carry on but her mind was completely on Richie. She needed to be in his arms.
At the hotel, Billy gave her the key card for Richie’s room. “Go on up. I’ll make sure your luggage gets to the room.”
“Thanks, Billy. And I’m sorry…I haven’t been much company.”
“It’s okay ‘Outlaw’. You’re anxious to see Richie,” he smirked.
Jesse shook her head and made her way through the almost deserted lobby. She missed the solitary figure sitting on the couch closest to the elevator. She had one objective….getting to Richie. The one consolation on the slow elevator ride up was that Bon Jovi was playing on the speaker and she smiled as the guitar solo began.
The hall was almost quiet. The only sound she could hear was extremely faint but she could still tell that it was guitar music and she knew it was coming from Richie’s room. Her heart skipped a beat as she realized that he was waiting up for her.
Swiping the
key card,
she opened the door softly and stepped in, her heart stopping as he looked up
from his guitar. Jon was there too but she didn’t see him. Her eyes were glued
to Richie as he put his guitar down and stood. Tears filled her eyes as she let
the door close behind her and dropped her bags. His arms opened and she was in
them in a flash.
Richie held her for several minutes, rubbing her back and stroking her hair. He
could feel her tears through his shirt and he knew it had been a long day for
her. Finally, he said, “Come on, Jess. You need to get some sleep.”
“Rich, we’ll continue with this later,” offered Jon.
Jesse realized then that Jon was there and that they were working on new material. “Stay, Jon. I’m not ready to go to bed just yet and I’d love to hear you two working on new music.”
“You need your rest, Jesse,” insisted Richie.
“Richie’s right, Jess,” agreed Jon. “You look worn out.”
“It’s been a long day but I need to unwind. I’ll go change and curl up on the couch.”
Richie decided that maybe she was right. He knew she loved to listen to him play and would probably fall asleep. “My room is over there,” he pointed.
“I won’t be long.”
Richie watched her grab her bag and head to the bedroom. When the door was closed, he sat back down and picked up his guitar.
“What’s going on with Jesse? I thought she wasn’t going to meet us until Atlanta.”
“Her son’s father is at the house and I didn’t want her there with him.”
“You don’t think she still have feelings for him, do you?”
“No, but she didn’t want
to be around him either. I’ll explain it later.”
The two went back to working on music and Jesse returned to join them. She
curled up on the couch next to Richie who looked around at her giving her a wink
and that’s where she fell asleep.
It was almost three when Jon and Richie called it quits.
“Lunch is at one with that reporter from Rolling Stone,” reminded Jon. “Then you’re free until seven.”
“I need to get Jesse’s pass taken care of,” commented Richie as he put his guitar in the case.
“I’ll get William to take care of it when I get up.”
“Thanks, Jon.”
“See you two later.”
Richie easily scooped Jesse up in his arms and carried her to the bedroom. He set her on the bed and proceeded to undress. When he was ready for bed, he slipped in and gathered her in his arms placing a kiss on her neck before drifting off to sleep.
