Telling Gail

The guys left around 11:30, to go do whatever it was they had to get done before the show. Richie had been the last to leave.

“Don’t make me come back for you,” Jon told him before winking and leaving. Richie flipped him off, and Jennifer just blushed as they closed the door behind him.

“You guys are too much,” she said to Richie. “I can’t believe you were all just in here for breakfast.” She shook her head. “This is just surreal.”

“Well,” he said, hugging her close. “I hope it becomes more real for you. I want this to feel natural, being around us. Especially since you’re gonna see all of us again when we come to Boston.”

“Yeah, about that, I’m going to be with friends, you know.”

“So what?” Richie shrugged. “I want to get to know your friends. Especially if they’re fun like you.” He looked at Jennifer. “Look, this relationship is not a secret,” he said. “Jon would prefer if it didn’t get out on that board that he’s there, and honestly neither would I, so just tell people a mutual friend introduced us. It’s pretty much the truth.”

“So I can tell people? Friends from the board, I mean?” She didn’t know if she wanted it just out there, though, because it might be too weird. But, it’d be a relief to be able to talk to certain people about him without feeling guilty.

“Darlin’, unless you’re ashamed of this, tell the world. They’re gonna know soon enough anyway.”

“What do you mean?”

He chuckled at her naïveté. “Jennifer, I’m a public figure. People, reporters, are going to ferret out who you are, especially once we’re seen out and about together.”

“This is a lot to assimilate,” Jennifer said. “I’ll get there, you just gotta cut me a little more slack.” She smiled.

“I know,” Richie said, “I can do that.” He cradled her face and slowly brought his mouth down on hers, kissing her tenderly. Jennifer groaned and wrapped her arms around his neck. Richie skimmed his hands under her t-shirt and lightly danced his fingertips over her abdomen and lower back, making her twitch. He backed her up against the door, and leaned into her, letting her feel how attracted he was to her.

A pounding on the door had them springing apart. “You coming, man, or what?” Jon asked. Jennifer looked out the peephole, and could see Jon’s smirk. He was doing it on purpose.

“No,” Richie said loudly, “because you interrupted.”

Jennifer squeaked and punched him in the shoulder. “Stop that!” she hissed, making Richie laugh.

“Darlin’, I gotta go to work.” He dropped another kiss on her mouth. “I will see YOU later.” One final peck, and he was out the door.

That was more than an hour ago. Jennifer had sat looking out the window, reflecting on this morning. Now, it was nearly 1:30, and Jennifer had to get ready for Gail. She was coming at 2, and they were going to go sight-seeing. First, though she jumped on the board to see what was up. She had a PM from Stephanie, who was just checking in. She asked if Gail knew about Richie. Jennifer felt badly about keeping this to herself, especially given that Gail took her to an obviously special, meaningful place last night. Now that she’d talked with Richie, though, she was elated. When Gail knocked on her door, Jennifer opened it with a big smile on her face. She ushered her friend inside, and asked her to sit down on the couch.

“What’s up? You totally look like the cat that’s swallowed the canary. Oooh! Is it about your new guy?” Jennifer had told Gail she had met someone but now she was going to tell her who it was.

“Yes,” she answered, smiling broadly. “You know how I said my new guy was here on business, and though I’d talked to him on the phone, I was meeting him for the first time in person here?” Gail nodded, smiling broadly. “Well before here, he was in Ireland.” Gail’s smile faltered. “And before that, Vienna.” Gail’s smile was gone now.

“What exactly are you telling me?” She looked wildly uncomfortable.

Jennifer took Gail’s hands in hers. “I’m telling you that ‘the new guy’ is Rich. Richie. Sambora.”

“Fuck you it is!” she said, jumping up. “You have GOT to be kidding.” She looked at her friend’s face, though and saw that she wasn’t. “You’re serious.” Her eyes went wide. “You’re SERIOUS! Oh my God!!” She wrapped Jennifer in a hug. “How the hell did you manage that?”

“A mutual friend introduced us after sending him a link to some of my stories.” Gail started laughing, and couldn’t stop. “Shut up! Don’t forget, yours are linked to mine…” That made Gail’s mirth stop mid-laugh. “Yeah. So, he was intrigued and wanted to talk to me, and we’ve been talking for a while now, and I told him I was coming out here, but didn’t want to meet until Boston because I didn’t think I could handle it. He changed my mind.”

“I’ll just bet he did,” Gail said. She smiled wickedly. “So, is he hung like everyone says?”

“GAIL!” Jennifer said, mortified. “I don’t know. We haven’t um, slept together.”

“Why the hell not?”

“Please, I can hardly still believe I’m in this situation to begin with.” She smiled. “I can tell you that Rich is one helluva kisser, though, and he’s seen ALL my ink.” Jennifer told her about the past few days. About Richie taking care of her, the accidental revealing of the smiley-face, and the on-purpose of the starburst. Gail just sat wide-eyed.

“I can’t believe it. Wait a minute… So tonight…”

“Yep, we’re absolutely hanging with them. You, my dear, are going to meet David.” Gail looked like she was going to pass out. “Breathe, honey,” Jennifer said, laughing. “Want half a Xanax?”