Posts
By 3am, they were back in the hotel and all piled into the elevator. Jennifer went with Gail to her room to help her pack up her stuff, and they went up to Jennifer’s suite. Gail hip checked her in the hallway. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me that they were staying right up here on the same fucking floor with you.”
They went into Jennifer’s suite, and about a minute after the door shut, there was a light knock. The girls had just kicked off their shoes and sat down. Groaning, Jennifer got up and padded to the door. She looked out the peephole, and smiled. “We’ve got company,” she said over her shoulder, and opened the door. Richie and David were standing there, grinning.
“Hey Gail,” Richie said over Jennifer’s shoulder. “Can I borrow Jennifer for a little while? I brought you a blonde substitute. It’ll be like Jen’s still here.”
“Fuck you man,” David said, laughing.
Gail’s eyes went wide. “Sure,” she said finally. “Ha--Jennifer is coming back, right?”
Richie just smiled. “Possibly,” he said.
As Jennifer was led from the room, she heard David ask Gail, “Why do you call her Hath?”
She groaned. “I certainly hope Gail can make up a good story,” Jennifer said. “Otherwise, I’m gonna have to out her David story, and she won’t be happy with me.”
“Jesus, she writes, too?” Richie shook his head. “No, I don’t want to talk about that,” he said. “I want to talk about this.” He swept Jennifer into his arms and crushed her to him. Just before he captured his mouth with hers, he growled, “I wanted to do this from the second I walked out on stage and saw you. You look delicious.” He took her mouth with a force that had Jennifer weak in the knees. She grabbed for Richie’s shoulders, and he walked them backwards until she was pressed up against the wall.
His kisses clouded her brain, and she couldn’t think. She knew there was some reason she wanted to resist, but for the life of her, she couldn’t figure out what it was. When Richie’s fingers found the twin buttons in the middle of her vest, she pressed back harder against the wall to give him better access to unfasten them. He got the buttons undone and spread open the sides of her vest, pulling back from her mouth to look at her.
“You are so beautiful, Jennifer,” he said, leaning in to kiss her neck. He trailed hard, sucking kisses down her neck to her inked breast. Taking her nipple into his mouth, he groaned, the vibrations making her sigh and gasp. Richie kissed his way across to the other breast, and tasted its peak. Jennifer threaded her fingers into his hair and raised his head so she could kiss him. Her tongue dueling with his, Jennifer fumbled with the few buttons done up on his paisley shirt, but finally got it open. She tentatively touched his skin, fascinated by the warmth and silky smoothness she found there. She pulled him close to her so they were skin-on-skin, and she moaned into Richie’s mouth. He pressed his still-growing erection into her, and she ground against him, purring like a cat.
Richie tore his mouth from hers. “I’ve been dying to make you make that noise since that day in bed when you stretched after your nap.” He was panting, and his eyes had turned the color of midnight. “God, please, do it again,” he said, and ground into her. She purred again and nearly screamed when there was an insistent banging on the door.
“Ignore it,” Richie said. “It’s just one of them being an ass.” He’d just touched his lips to hers again when the pounding came; this time accompanied by a voice. It was David.
“Rich, Gail needs Jennifer,” David’s voice said. “Christ, I’m sorry, but please, man.” He sounded panicked, and Richie stepped back.
Jennifer quickly did up the buttons on her vest and ran to the door. “What did you do?” she accused when she tore the door open. She sprinted the ten steps to her own door and burst in, David and Richie right behind her. Gail was sitting on the balcony, quietly crying.
“I didn’t do anything,” David insisted. “We were talking, getting to know each other, and we touched on our marriages and she looked sad, so I hugged her, and she curled into me and God help me, I kissed her, and she got this look on her face and started to cry.”
Richie would have made some sort of remark to David about driving women to tears if he didn’t see the look on Jennifer’s face. She was sympathetic, and put a hand on David’s arm. “It’s not you. She loved her husband very much,” she told him, “and it nearly did her in when he died. I’ll take care of her. You guys get some sleep.” She looked ruefully at Richie, who smiled sheepishly at her. She mouthed, “Call you later,” to Richie, who nodded, and led his friend from the room.
She stood at the doorway to the balcony, and looked at her friend. “Gail, honey, are you okay?”
“I’m so fucking sorry, Jen,” she said, turning a tear-stained face to face her.
“Don’t be stupid,” Jennifer said. Taking a deep breath, she took a tentative step out onto the balcony. Two more, and she could touch the chaise Gail was sitting on. One more after that, and she could sit on the foot of the chair next to her. Jennifer did that, and gathered her teary-eyed friend into her arms. They sat there for a long time, just looking out over the city, until the first rays of sunlight started to creep over the landscape.
“You think you could sleep?” Jennifer asked her. Gail nodded. They went back inside, changed into long t-shirts, and scrubbed the remaining makeup off their faces. They crawled into the big bed and lay next to each other, staring at the ceiling. After a while, Jennifer heard the steady breathing of a sleeping woman. She looked over at her friend and smiled.
She crept out to the other room and grabbed her blackberry. She pressed a button, and within moments, Richie was on the other end. “She’s sleeping,” Jennifer said. “Please don’t light into David about this, it’s not his fault.”
Richie smiled. “I won’t, but only because you asked me not to. So, what time’s your flight?”
Jennifer looked at the clock and groaned. “Another seven hours. You?”
“Not until later tonight. Can I take you to the airport?”
“Sure,” she said. “Sorry about before.”
“Don’t be. If you were able to ignore a friend in need, I’d’ve lost all respect for you.” He chuckled. “I’d’ve gotten over it once I was buried in you, though.”
Jennifer groaned. “Don’t start, Rich,” she said on a strangled breath. “Gail’s sleeping in the other room, and I don’t know when she’ll wake up.”
Richie laughed. “Okay. You get some sleep, darlin’, and I’ll come for you in a little while.”
“Alright. G’night, Rich.”
“G’night.”
Backstage
The girls followed the security guard (whose name was Niall) through the barriers, and around to backstage. “The guys are cleaning up,” he said, “and need a few more minutes.” He didn’t see the wide-eyes of the two women as they pictured their particular favorite band members naked and soapy. “You two want to see the quick-change rooms first?”
“Sure!” Jennifer said. Anything to keep her mind off a naked Richie. She was gonna embarrass herself if she wasn’t careful. They went into this sort of tent backstage, and it was clear this was Jon’s space. There were bottles of water everywhere, a director’s chair set up in front of a mirrored table, hair dryers, brushes, and product lined up over top. A copy of the set list was taped to the wall. Jennifer traced down the list, and stopped two-thirds of the way down. Richie was supposed to sing “I’ll Be There For You”. She reached out for Gail’s hand.
“Look, Gail,” she said, pointing a shaky finger at the sheet of paper. “He changed it for me,” she said shakily.
“Aw honey, that was sweet,” she said. “That was a pretty public statement there, Ms. Special Friend. Wonder what the boards are going to say about it?” She started laughing. “Shit, I’ll bet you never thought you’d be the source of speculation did you? Hell, I may just bring it up on the board to see what people say.”
“You wouldn’t!” Jennifer said, horrified.
Gail just gave her a cryptic smile. “Girl, I’ll bet most of them will have already read a review of the show by the time we get back on there.”
Niall led them out of this tent and into a second. Jennifer just stopped dead inside the entryway. This was definitely Richie’s space. Where Jon’s had been neat and orderly, everything here had a slightly strewn, used and lived-in look. Plus there was the rack of guitars along one side. That was a definite giveaway. On one of the tables, an unstrung double-neck sat. “What happened here?” Jennifer asked Niall, trailing a fingertip over the smooth wood. It was a gorgeous instrument, the mahogany gleaming even in the meager lights back here.
“He wasn’t happy with the way it sounded, so he wanted it restrung,” Niall said. “The techs will take care of it when they’re packing up.”
A burst of static sounded from Niall’s hip, followed by a woman’s nasally voice. “Niall, you have the contest winners?”
“Yeah, boss, they’re right here.”
“Bring ‘em back.”
Gail and Jennifer looked at each other and grasped hands. They followed Niall through a rabbit’s warren of hallways until they came to a large room. A bar was set up on one side, and trays of appetizers on the other. Waitstaff were just starting to circulate around a crowd of what had to be a hundred people. “Who are all these people?” Jennifer asked Niall.
“Crew and staff mostly,” he answered. “There are a few personal friends, some local businessmen, some press. The usual.”
Gail and Jennifer looked at each other and rolled their eyes. “The usual,” they mouthed to each other, and giggled. When they made their way deeper into the room, the girls were met by a tall, thin woman with a wide smile. “There you are,” she said, shaking their hands. “I’m Brenda. The band is looking forward to meeting you,” she said with a wink. “Right this way.”
Brenda led them through the crowd, which parted for them as they approached. A photographer trailed in their wake. They came to the middle of a group of people, and Brenda cleared her throat. “Jon,” she said. “I have your winners here. Gail and Jennifer,” she said, indicating each in turn.
He smiled at them. “Well hello there,” he said, smiling widely. He chuckled. “Look at you two,” he said. “You look great.” He extended his hand to Gail. “Nice to meet you,” he said. Gail took his hand briefly and just smiled. Jennifer couldn’t blame her. He really was something close up. His eyes were sparkling and dancing, and his smile was infectious. The tiny laugh lines around his mouth and eyes made him look approachable and kind, and were unbelievably sexy. “So,” he continued. “Did you have a good time?”
The girls started laughing. “No,” Jennifer said. “The show sucked. We’re no longer fans.” She rolled her eyes at him. “What do you think?”
Gail just slugged her. “Shut up, you mad cow,” she hissed.
Jon rolled his eyes right back at her. “Anyway,” he said, with a pointed look. “Here are the others. Rich, Teek, Dave, Hugh, Bobby, and Renz.” Each in turn extended a hand to be shaken, and the girls took them.
“Rich and I have already met,” Jennifer said, winking at Richie, then turning to smile at Gail, who had a shit-eating grin on her face.
Richie grinned widely as he figured out that Jennifer had told Gail about him. “Thank God,” he said under his breath, and hauled Jennifer in for a hug. “Hi, darlin’,” he said, sliding a kiss over her lips. “You look good enough to eat,” he said in her ear, and nipped at her earlobe. “What did you do to your eyes? They look positively…”
“Feral?” Jennifer supplied helpfully. “Contacts. Cat’s eye contacts.”
“Damn, that’s sexy,” Richie growled in her ear.
When he straightened, Jennifer smiled into his eyes. “Thank you for the song,” she said, a light sheen of tears springing momentarily to her eyes. She quickly blinked it away. “It was just beautiful, Rich. You were beautiful.”
“You’re welcome,” he said simply.
A photographer snapped their picture, and Jennifer jumped a little, not expecting the flash. Richie just chuckled. “Smile,” he said into her ear. “This is how it all starts. Look at him,” he said, indicating the photographer. “He’s dying to ask how we know each other.” She smiled at the reporter, then turned and saw Gail sort of just standing there, transfixed by David. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from the man.
“Do I have food in my teeth or something?” David asked, turning to Lorenza, who laughed and shook her head.
“God, sorry,” Gail said, blushing. “It’s just that I’ve wanted to meet you for-fucking-ever. I had this nice little speech all planned out, but…” She took a deep breath. “I just wanted to tell you that I admire your talent, and to thank you for turning me on to the piano. I started learning to play because of you and well, just thank you.”
David smiled and leaned in to kiss Gail’s cheek. “Well thank you very much, sweetheart,” he said, then smiled. “I like your tat,” he said, blue eyes twinkling at her.
She blushed and ducked her head. “Thanks,” she said, finally looking away from his gaze. She saw Jennifer, standing close to Richie. He had an arm around her waist, and he was slowly, almost undiscernibly, rubbing a finger back and forth across the tat on her abdomen. She had such a look of contentment on her face that Gail laughed outright.
David followed her gaze and smiled. “She’s been really good for him, and they’ve only just met in person,” he said. “He’s been smiling like an idiot for weeks.”
“She’s been different, too,” Gail said sighing.
“I thought you hadn’t met until yesterday?” David was confused.
“We met in person then, but we’ve known each other much longer than that,” she said, looking back at David. She had to chuckle at his expression. “You don’t understand the Sisterhood, do you?” He just shook his head. Gail chuckled and called over to Jennifer, “Hath, he doesn’t understand about the Sisterhood.”
“Hath?” David asked.
“Tell ya later,” Tico said to him, throwing a wink at Jennifer.
Shit. Jennifer took a shaky breath. “Yeah, the Sisterhood; Sisterhood of the Brotherhood. The woman fans get it.”
Jennifer and Gail looked at each other. “Well, the normal ones,” they said in unison.
Gail picked up the explanation. “You see, most Jovi fans bond instantly. We all have similar stories about how your music has touched our lives in some grand way; helping us to celebrate something momentous, or to mourn something or someone…” she trailed off, and Jennifer went to her and hugged her close for a minute, both women tearing up at the memories that were assaulting them. Gail whispered “thanks” in Jennifer’s ear, and straightened. They kept their arms tightly around each other’s waists, and turned back to the group with shaky smiles.
“Your music, your songs,” Jennifer said to them, “are more than just pretty things to hear on the radio. Your words…it’s like you can see into our minds, our fucking souls, and rip out the emotions we’re feeling, and lay them out in such a way that we know you get it. I don’t know how else to describe it. It’s like you KNOW us.” She shook her head and looked at Gail.
“Pretty heady stuff,” Gail said. “Powerful. It’s no wonder why you have millions of loyal fans all over the world.”
Jennifer smiled. “That and you guys are smokin’ HOT!” Everyone laughed, her remark breaking the tension.
They talked and laughed, and after a while, groups of people started coming to make their goodbyes. Gail and Jennifer stood off to the side with their drinks, chatting while the guys took care of business. Every once in a while, Richie would look over to Jennifer and wink or smile at her, making her sigh. “So,” Gail said quietly, watching the exchanges. “Are you going back to his hotel room tonight?” She had a smile that would have done any gutter-girl proud.
“No,” Jennifer said, smiling. “No, I don’t think so.”
“Why not?” Gail was surprised. She thought for sure her friend would be chomping at the bit to get Richie into bed.
“For heaven’s sake I LIKE him.”
“That makes absolutely no sense whatsoever,” Gail said, shaking her head. “Isn’t this what you have dreamed about forever?”
“Oh hell yeah,” Jennifer agreed. “But that was in the quick-one-night-fling sense. I know him now, and I like him. A lot. I don’t know, I want to get to know him a little better before I jump into bed with him. I don’t want to just use him to ease the ache. Besides,” she grinned evilly. “The anticipation will make it all the more powerful when he comes to Boston, and he’s really good at phone sex.”
Gail choked on her drink, and Jennifer burst out laughing. “Jesus, you slut!” Gail hissed loudly, catching some attention.
“Shhh!” Jennifer said to her friend, trying to cover Gail’s mouth. Gail ducked her hand, and the two of them were laughing and falling all over each other. “Are you going back with David?”
Gail blushed. “No, though he keeps looking at me like that, and I just might.” She sighed. “It was easier when I didn’t know him. Now, shit, he’s real not a figment of my fantasy, and hell…right now I’m just dying to play piano with him. What the hell?” She shook her head. “What’s my problem?”
“You’re being a very mature person, there Gaileepoo; not a crazed fan. Just like me.”
“Fuck you, it pisses me off.”
“I hear you,” Jennifer said, and they clinked their glasses together.
“You girls just about ready?” Jon called over to them.
“Yeah,” Jennifer said, and reached for her blackberry.
“What are you doing?” Jon asked her.
“Uh, calling for my car? I’m sure as shit not walking back to the hotel in these shoes.”
Jon laughed. “You guys can ride with us.”
Gail’s eyes widened. “They’re in the same fucking hotel?”
Jennifer blushed. “Oh, I didn’t tell you? Jon and Tico are across the hall from me, David next door, and Rich the next door down.”
Gail punched her arm. “No, bitch, you didn’t tell me.” She rolled her eyes at Jennifer. “No wonder my usual suite wasn’t available. What else didn’t you tell me, Hath?”
“Stop calling me that,” Jennifer hissed. “Not in front of THEM for Christ’s sake.”
“Sorry,” she said sheepishly. “Well?”
“Uh, I had breakfast with them this morning in my room,” Jennifer said.
“Hell,” Gail said. “I’m staying with you tonight.”
“Sure!” Jennifer said. Anything to keep her mind off a naked Richie. She was gonna embarrass herself if she wasn’t careful. They went into this sort of tent backstage, and it was clear this was Jon’s space. There were bottles of water everywhere, a director’s chair set up in front of a mirrored table, hair dryers, brushes, and product lined up over top. A copy of the set list was taped to the wall. Jennifer traced down the list, and stopped two-thirds of the way down. Richie was supposed to sing “I’ll Be There For You”. She reached out for Gail’s hand.
“Look, Gail,” she said, pointing a shaky finger at the sheet of paper. “He changed it for me,” she said shakily.
“Aw honey, that was sweet,” she said. “That was a pretty public statement there, Ms. Special Friend. Wonder what the boards are going to say about it?” She started laughing. “Shit, I’ll bet you never thought you’d be the source of speculation did you? Hell, I may just bring it up on the board to see what people say.”
“You wouldn’t!” Jennifer said, horrified.
Gail just gave her a cryptic smile. “Girl, I’ll bet most of them will have already read a review of the show by the time we get back on there.”
Niall led them out of this tent and into a second. Jennifer just stopped dead inside the entryway. This was definitely Richie’s space. Where Jon’s had been neat and orderly, everything here had a slightly strewn, used and lived-in look. Plus there was the rack of guitars along one side. That was a definite giveaway. On one of the tables, an unstrung double-neck sat. “What happened here?” Jennifer asked Niall, trailing a fingertip over the smooth wood. It was a gorgeous instrument, the mahogany gleaming even in the meager lights back here.
“He wasn’t happy with the way it sounded, so he wanted it restrung,” Niall said. “The techs will take care of it when they’re packing up.”
A burst of static sounded from Niall’s hip, followed by a woman’s nasally voice. “Niall, you have the contest winners?”
“Yeah, boss, they’re right here.”
“Bring ‘em back.”
Gail and Jennifer looked at each other and grasped hands. They followed Niall through a rabbit’s warren of hallways until they came to a large room. A bar was set up on one side, and trays of appetizers on the other. Waitstaff were just starting to circulate around a crowd of what had to be a hundred people. “Who are all these people?” Jennifer asked Niall.
“Crew and staff mostly,” he answered. “There are a few personal friends, some local businessmen, some press. The usual.”
Gail and Jennifer looked at each other and rolled their eyes. “The usual,” they mouthed to each other, and giggled. When they made their way deeper into the room, the girls were met by a tall, thin woman with a wide smile. “There you are,” she said, shaking their hands. “I’m Brenda. The band is looking forward to meeting you,” she said with a wink. “Right this way.”
Brenda led them through the crowd, which parted for them as they approached. A photographer trailed in their wake. They came to the middle of a group of people, and Brenda cleared her throat. “Jon,” she said. “I have your winners here. Gail and Jennifer,” she said, indicating each in turn.
He smiled at them. “Well hello there,” he said, smiling widely. He chuckled. “Look at you two,” he said. “You look great.” He extended his hand to Gail. “Nice to meet you,” he said. Gail took his hand briefly and just smiled. Jennifer couldn’t blame her. He really was something close up. His eyes were sparkling and dancing, and his smile was infectious. The tiny laugh lines around his mouth and eyes made him look approachable and kind, and were unbelievably sexy. “So,” he continued. “Did you have a good time?”
The girls started laughing. “No,” Jennifer said. “The show sucked. We’re no longer fans.” She rolled her eyes at him. “What do you think?”
Gail just slugged her. “Shut up, you mad cow,” she hissed.
Jon rolled his eyes right back at her. “Anyway,” he said, with a pointed look. “Here are the others. Rich, Teek, Dave, Hugh, Bobby, and Renz.” Each in turn extended a hand to be shaken, and the girls took them.
“Rich and I have already met,” Jennifer said, winking at Richie, then turning to smile at Gail, who had a shit-eating grin on her face.
Richie grinned widely as he figured out that Jennifer had told Gail about him. “Thank God,” he said under his breath, and hauled Jennifer in for a hug. “Hi, darlin’,” he said, sliding a kiss over her lips. “You look good enough to eat,” he said in her ear, and nipped at her earlobe. “What did you do to your eyes? They look positively…”
“Feral?” Jennifer supplied helpfully. “Contacts. Cat’s eye contacts.”
“Damn, that’s sexy,” Richie growled in her ear.
When he straightened, Jennifer smiled into his eyes. “Thank you for the song,” she said, a light sheen of tears springing momentarily to her eyes. She quickly blinked it away. “It was just beautiful, Rich. You were beautiful.”
“You’re welcome,” he said simply.
A photographer snapped their picture, and Jennifer jumped a little, not expecting the flash. Richie just chuckled. “Smile,” he said into her ear. “This is how it all starts. Look at him,” he said, indicating the photographer. “He’s dying to ask how we know each other.” She smiled at the reporter, then turned and saw Gail sort of just standing there, transfixed by David. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from the man.
“Do I have food in my teeth or something?” David asked, turning to Lorenza, who laughed and shook her head.
“God, sorry,” Gail said, blushing. “It’s just that I’ve wanted to meet you for-fucking-ever. I had this nice little speech all planned out, but…” She took a deep breath. “I just wanted to tell you that I admire your talent, and to thank you for turning me on to the piano. I started learning to play because of you and well, just thank you.”
David smiled and leaned in to kiss Gail’s cheek. “Well thank you very much, sweetheart,” he said, then smiled. “I like your tat,” he said, blue eyes twinkling at her.
She blushed and ducked her head. “Thanks,” she said, finally looking away from his gaze. She saw Jennifer, standing close to Richie. He had an arm around her waist, and he was slowly, almost undiscernibly, rubbing a finger back and forth across the tat on her abdomen. She had such a look of contentment on her face that Gail laughed outright.
David followed her gaze and smiled. “She’s been really good for him, and they’ve only just met in person,” he said. “He’s been smiling like an idiot for weeks.”
“She’s been different, too,” Gail said sighing.
“I thought you hadn’t met until yesterday?” David was confused.
“We met in person then, but we’ve known each other much longer than that,” she said, looking back at David. She had to chuckle at his expression. “You don’t understand the Sisterhood, do you?” He just shook his head. Gail chuckled and called over to Jennifer, “Hath, he doesn’t understand about the Sisterhood.”
“Hath?” David asked.
“Tell ya later,” Tico said to him, throwing a wink at Jennifer.
Shit. Jennifer took a shaky breath. “Yeah, the Sisterhood; Sisterhood of the Brotherhood. The woman fans get it.”
Jennifer and Gail looked at each other. “Well, the normal ones,” they said in unison.
Gail picked up the explanation. “You see, most Jovi fans bond instantly. We all have similar stories about how your music has touched our lives in some grand way; helping us to celebrate something momentous, or to mourn something or someone…” she trailed off, and Jennifer went to her and hugged her close for a minute, both women tearing up at the memories that were assaulting them. Gail whispered “thanks” in Jennifer’s ear, and straightened. They kept their arms tightly around each other’s waists, and turned back to the group with shaky smiles.
“Your music, your songs,” Jennifer said to them, “are more than just pretty things to hear on the radio. Your words…it’s like you can see into our minds, our fucking souls, and rip out the emotions we’re feeling, and lay them out in such a way that we know you get it. I don’t know how else to describe it. It’s like you KNOW us.” She shook her head and looked at Gail.
“Pretty heady stuff,” Gail said. “Powerful. It’s no wonder why you have millions of loyal fans all over the world.”
Jennifer smiled. “That and you guys are smokin’ HOT!” Everyone laughed, her remark breaking the tension.
They talked and laughed, and after a while, groups of people started coming to make their goodbyes. Gail and Jennifer stood off to the side with their drinks, chatting while the guys took care of business. Every once in a while, Richie would look over to Jennifer and wink or smile at her, making her sigh. “So,” Gail said quietly, watching the exchanges. “Are you going back to his hotel room tonight?” She had a smile that would have done any gutter-girl proud.
“No,” Jennifer said, smiling. “No, I don’t think so.”
“Why not?” Gail was surprised. She thought for sure her friend would be chomping at the bit to get Richie into bed.
“For heaven’s sake I LIKE him.”
“That makes absolutely no sense whatsoever,” Gail said, shaking her head. “Isn’t this what you have dreamed about forever?”
“Oh hell yeah,” Jennifer agreed. “But that was in the quick-one-night-fling sense. I know him now, and I like him. A lot. I don’t know, I want to get to know him a little better before I jump into bed with him. I don’t want to just use him to ease the ache. Besides,” she grinned evilly. “The anticipation will make it all the more powerful when he comes to Boston, and he’s really good at phone sex.”
Gail choked on her drink, and Jennifer burst out laughing. “Jesus, you slut!” Gail hissed loudly, catching some attention.
“Shhh!” Jennifer said to her friend, trying to cover Gail’s mouth. Gail ducked her hand, and the two of them were laughing and falling all over each other. “Are you going back with David?”
Gail blushed. “No, though he keeps looking at me like that, and I just might.” She sighed. “It was easier when I didn’t know him. Now, shit, he’s real not a figment of my fantasy, and hell…right now I’m just dying to play piano with him. What the hell?” She shook her head. “What’s my problem?”
“You’re being a very mature person, there Gaileepoo; not a crazed fan. Just like me.”
“Fuck you, it pisses me off.”
“I hear you,” Jennifer said, and they clinked their glasses together.
“You girls just about ready?” Jon called over to them.
“Yeah,” Jennifer said, and reached for her blackberry.
“What are you doing?” Jon asked her.
“Uh, calling for my car? I’m sure as shit not walking back to the hotel in these shoes.”
Jon laughed. “You guys can ride with us.”
Gail’s eyes widened. “They’re in the same fucking hotel?”
Jennifer blushed. “Oh, I didn’t tell you? Jon and Tico are across the hall from me, David next door, and Rich the next door down.”
Gail punched her arm. “No, bitch, you didn’t tell me.” She rolled her eyes at Jennifer. “No wonder my usual suite wasn’t available. What else didn’t you tell me, Hath?”
“Stop calling me that,” Jennifer hissed. “Not in front of THEM for Christ’s sake.”
“Sorry,” she said sheepishly. “Well?”
“Uh, I had breakfast with them this morning in my room,” Jennifer said.
“Hell,” Gail said. “I’m staying with you tonight.”
The Show
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Once Jennifer dropped that bombshell on her friend, the girls decided to stay in for the afternoon (Gail took a pass on the sedative; she wanted to be crystal clear for the evening). Gail wanted to know every detail of what had happened between her and Richie. They talked for hours, ordering up food and drink from downstairs. Finally, around 5:00, Gail stood. “Well, I think I need to go get ready,” she said. “I still can’t believe I’m going to meet David. You’re sure?”
“Hell yeah, I’m sure. Listen, bring your stuff up here after your shower,” Jennifer said. “We can get ready together. It’ll be like college.” Gail agreed, and half hour later, the two girls were dressing unselfconsciously in Jennifer’s room. They compared ink, and Gail lamented she had a couple more to go before she was caught up, making Jennifer laugh. Gail oohed and aahed over Jennifer’s cat’s-eye contact lenses, then popped in her own, which were deep purple to match her outfit for the evening.
The makeup around Jennifer’s eyes was flawless, making her really look like the cat who swallowed the canary. Gail’s was understated, and made her look like a model. Once their makeup was done, they applied a light dusting of body glitter to their chests and backs, so they’d sparkle subtly when the lights hit. Then, they slid, slithered, and slinked into their clothes.
Jennifer had her outfit she purchased yesterday. A low-slung miniskirt of softest suede, wrapped sarong-style around her hips, and held closed with a jeweled buckle. The black beaded vest she purchased hugged her curves tightly, and ended a good four inches above the waistline of her skirt. The double-necked guitar tattoo was fully exposed, and Jennifer smiled as she looked at it. She slid on 4” stiletto CFM shoes that, paired with the skirt, did indeed make her legs look a mile long.
Opening her room safe, she took out her jewelry for the night. A ruby-and-diamond cat-collar encircled her throat, with matching dangly earrings worn in all the holes in her ears. A wrist cuff and anklet completed the bejeweling. She looked at herself in the mirror and smiled. Unrolling the rollers from her hair, she shook out the fat, glossy curls. They bounced enticingly when she moved. Oh yeah, she was gonna get some attention tonight.
So was Gail. Her hair was gorgeous, and she had woven in subtle silver strands throughout her hair, so it seemed to be shot through with moonlight. She had on a halter-style top with deep cleavage, in a purple just a shade or two lighter than eggplant. A perfectly matched skirt, barely covering her ass, accompanied it. Jennifer could just see part of the Taz at her hip. A thick silver and diamante belt hung loosely around her waist, just at the waistline of the skirt. She had diamond earrings (studs in the top and long waterfall drops for the lower), an amethyst and silver pendant that hung between her breasts, and two silver Italian charm bracelets. She also had a Celtic band wrap-around arm bangle on her right arm. Perfectly tinted 5” CFM shoes completed the outfit.
“Damn, Hath,” Gail said, as they looked at each other in the mirror. “We are fucking HOT!”
“No shit,” Jennifer agreed. “Oh, listen, Rich doesn’t know I was going to tell you about him, so none of the others know, either. You can play it however you want, depending on how you feel when we get backstage.”
“Good,” Gail said. “I have no idea what the hell I’m going to say to any of them when we get back there. This was so much easier when I didn’t know we were ACTUALLY going to meet them.”
Jennifer looked at her friend. “Should I not have told you?”
“Hell no!” Gail pouted. “I can’t believe you waited so long to tell me in the first place!”
“Sorry, I didn’t know what Rich wanted to do.”
“You call him Rich, huh?” Gail asked smiling.
“Yeah.”
The women went down to the lobby, and a hush literally fell over the place. They held hands and made little bows, then went out to their car. They had the same driver as they did the night before, and he shook his head. “You girls make me sorry I’m married,” he said. They just giggled and settled into the seats.
When they got to St. Mary’s, they went to Will Call to pick up their tickets. The representative from the radio station took one look at the pair of them and asked them if they’d be photographed as the contest winners for their website and other publicity. They shrugged “why not” and took shots alone and together, posing with their tickets, cutouts of the guys, and the various DJs and on-air personalities. They were having a helluva time.
A staffer led them to the front row. Everyone they passed, women and men alike, turned to watch their passing. When they were at their seats, the staffer gave them their passes on lanyards. “Don’t lose these,” he said.
“Sweetheart,” Jennifer answered. “There is no chance of that.” Gail made a kissy face at him, and he blushed and scurried away.
When the lights dimmed, and “The Feeling” took the stage, the crowd went crazy. Jennifer didn’t know any of the songs, but danced along with Gail, and generally had a good time. When they were done, the techs had the stage switched in record time. Jennifer and Gail were directly in front of the gleaming white mic stand. They took a deep breath as the house lights went out.
The crowd started to clap and whistle. Gail and Jennifer joined hands when the satellite players took the stage.
When Tico came on stage and waved, everyone screamed. David took the stage next, and Gail nearly broke Jennifer’s hand squeezing it. “God, he’s just gorgeous,” she said, eyes glued to the keyboardist.
When Richie took the stage, the roar got louder. He looked for Jennifer in the front row and his step faltered. Jesus what the hell was she wearing? He winked at her and strapped on his guitar.
Jon came out on stage, arms raised, accepting the screams as his due. Beauty got strapped to his chest, and Lost Highway kicked off the night. Jennifer and Gail sang and danced their asses off. All the way through the first seven songs, the guys were on fire. Then Jon took the mic.
“David’s gonna sing this next one for you,” he said, and Gail swooned.
“Easy girl,” Jennifer said to her. When the opening bars of “In These Arms” started, tears sprang to Gail’s eyes. Jennifer really couldn’t blame her. David’s voice was such a good match for this song. The passion he put into his performance was moving.
When it was Richie’s turn to sing, he exchanged words with Jon, who then turned and said something to the others. He took the mic again. “If it’s alright with you, Richie’s gonna sing a little something now.” The crowd screamed, and Jennifer’s heart started pounding. “It isn’t what he planned to do,” Jon continued, “but it’s a song that has special meaning to one lovely lady out there.”
Gail looked at Jennifer. Jennifer’s face was a mask of a mixture of joy and pain. “How ya’ll doin’ tonight?” Richie asked. The crowd went wild. “Yeah, I know, I know, me too. So, this song,” he started the opening riffs to Never Say Goodbye, “has special meaning to a very special friend of mine. I hope she enjoys this.” He turned from the mic and counted in the song.
Tears filled Jennifer’s eyes as Richie’s voice skipped and slid over the notes. When he sang the second verse, the tears spilled from her eyes, and Gail wrapped her in a hug. The two woman swayed together, as Richie sang.
Remember days of skipping school, racing cars and being cool
With a six pack and the radio, we didn’t need no place to go
Remember at the prom that night you and me we had a fight
But the band they played our favorite song and I held you in my arms so strong
We danced so close, we danced so slow
And I swore Id never let you go
Together - forever
Never say goodbye, never say goodbye…
You and me and my old friends, hoping it would never end
Never say goodbye, never say goodbye…
Holding on - we got to try. Holding on to never say goodbye
During Richie’s solo, Jennifer looked up at him, and he caught her eye and smiled. Jennifer mouthed ‘thank you’ to him, and he nodded before singing the bridge and the final chorus. The crowd went crazy, singing along but Jennifer only heard Richie. When he was done, he flicked his pick at Jennifer, and it landed in her cleavage. He smiled and pointed at her, and she laughed, plucking the plastic from her sweaty chest and clutching it closely in her hand.
After a few more songs, they did Prayer, and left the stage. When the crowd was good and riled up, they came back on stage for three more songs, ending, of course, with Wanted. The sight of Richie in his trademark Stetson made Jennifer’s heart soar. He really was glorious, and God help her, he was hers. For now at least.
When they made their bows and blew their kisses, Richie aimed his at Jennifer, who blew them right back. They watched the guys leave the stage, and sighed. “Oh, that was fanTAStic!” Jennifer gushed, looking at her pick. She was going to have it turned into a necklace so she could wear it under her clothes all the time. “I can’t believe they did NSG,” she said, fresh tears springing to her eyes. “That was a wonderful surprise.”
“I can’t believe David sang,” Gail said. “That was just fucking great. What the hell are you doing?”
“Sending a quick message to the girls on the board,” she answered, typing furiously on her Blackberry. “Letting them know the show rocked.” They sat for a couple minutes, catching their breath. Soon, a tall man in black came for them.
“You girls ready?” he asked.
They looked at each other. “As ready as we can be,” Gail said. “Let’s go.”
“Hell yeah, I’m sure. Listen, bring your stuff up here after your shower,” Jennifer said. “We can get ready together. It’ll be like college.” Gail agreed, and half hour later, the two girls were dressing unselfconsciously in Jennifer’s room. They compared ink, and Gail lamented she had a couple more to go before she was caught up, making Jennifer laugh. Gail oohed and aahed over Jennifer’s cat’s-eye contact lenses, then popped in her own, which were deep purple to match her outfit for the evening.
The makeup around Jennifer’s eyes was flawless, making her really look like the cat who swallowed the canary. Gail’s was understated, and made her look like a model. Once their makeup was done, they applied a light dusting of body glitter to their chests and backs, so they’d sparkle subtly when the lights hit. Then, they slid, slithered, and slinked into their clothes.
Jennifer had her outfit she purchased yesterday. A low-slung miniskirt of softest suede, wrapped sarong-style around her hips, and held closed with a jeweled buckle. The black beaded vest she purchased hugged her curves tightly, and ended a good four inches above the waistline of her skirt. The double-necked guitar tattoo was fully exposed, and Jennifer smiled as she looked at it. She slid on 4” stiletto CFM shoes that, paired with the skirt, did indeed make her legs look a mile long.
Opening her room safe, she took out her jewelry for the night. A ruby-and-diamond cat-collar encircled her throat, with matching dangly earrings worn in all the holes in her ears. A wrist cuff and anklet completed the bejeweling. She looked at herself in the mirror and smiled. Unrolling the rollers from her hair, she shook out the fat, glossy curls. They bounced enticingly when she moved. Oh yeah, she was gonna get some attention tonight.
So was Gail. Her hair was gorgeous, and she had woven in subtle silver strands throughout her hair, so it seemed to be shot through with moonlight. She had on a halter-style top with deep cleavage, in a purple just a shade or two lighter than eggplant. A perfectly matched skirt, barely covering her ass, accompanied it. Jennifer could just see part of the Taz at her hip. A thick silver and diamante belt hung loosely around her waist, just at the waistline of the skirt. She had diamond earrings (studs in the top and long waterfall drops for the lower), an amethyst and silver pendant that hung between her breasts, and two silver Italian charm bracelets. She also had a Celtic band wrap-around arm bangle on her right arm. Perfectly tinted 5” CFM shoes completed the outfit.
“Damn, Hath,” Gail said, as they looked at each other in the mirror. “We are fucking HOT!”
“No shit,” Jennifer agreed. “Oh, listen, Rich doesn’t know I was going to tell you about him, so none of the others know, either. You can play it however you want, depending on how you feel when we get backstage.”
“Good,” Gail said. “I have no idea what the hell I’m going to say to any of them when we get back there. This was so much easier when I didn’t know we were ACTUALLY going to meet them.”
Jennifer looked at her friend. “Should I not have told you?”
“Hell no!” Gail pouted. “I can’t believe you waited so long to tell me in the first place!”
“Sorry, I didn’t know what Rich wanted to do.”
“You call him Rich, huh?” Gail asked smiling.
“Yeah.”
The women went down to the lobby, and a hush literally fell over the place. They held hands and made little bows, then went out to their car. They had the same driver as they did the night before, and he shook his head. “You girls make me sorry I’m married,” he said. They just giggled and settled into the seats.
When they got to St. Mary’s, they went to Will Call to pick up their tickets. The representative from the radio station took one look at the pair of them and asked them if they’d be photographed as the contest winners for their website and other publicity. They shrugged “why not” and took shots alone and together, posing with their tickets, cutouts of the guys, and the various DJs and on-air personalities. They were having a helluva time.
A staffer led them to the front row. Everyone they passed, women and men alike, turned to watch their passing. When they were at their seats, the staffer gave them their passes on lanyards. “Don’t lose these,” he said.
“Sweetheart,” Jennifer answered. “There is no chance of that.” Gail made a kissy face at him, and he blushed and scurried away.
When the lights dimmed, and “The Feeling” took the stage, the crowd went crazy. Jennifer didn’t know any of the songs, but danced along with Gail, and generally had a good time. When they were done, the techs had the stage switched in record time. Jennifer and Gail were directly in front of the gleaming white mic stand. They took a deep breath as the house lights went out.
The crowd started to clap and whistle. Gail and Jennifer joined hands when the satellite players took the stage.
When Tico came on stage and waved, everyone screamed. David took the stage next, and Gail nearly broke Jennifer’s hand squeezing it. “God, he’s just gorgeous,” she said, eyes glued to the keyboardist.
When Richie took the stage, the roar got louder. He looked for Jennifer in the front row and his step faltered. Jesus what the hell was she wearing? He winked at her and strapped on his guitar.
Jon came out on stage, arms raised, accepting the screams as his due. Beauty got strapped to his chest, and Lost Highway kicked off the night. Jennifer and Gail sang and danced their asses off. All the way through the first seven songs, the guys were on fire. Then Jon took the mic.
“David’s gonna sing this next one for you,” he said, and Gail swooned.
“Easy girl,” Jennifer said to her. When the opening bars of “In These Arms” started, tears sprang to Gail’s eyes. Jennifer really couldn’t blame her. David’s voice was such a good match for this song. The passion he put into his performance was moving.
When it was Richie’s turn to sing, he exchanged words with Jon, who then turned and said something to the others. He took the mic again. “If it’s alright with you, Richie’s gonna sing a little something now.” The crowd screamed, and Jennifer’s heart started pounding. “It isn’t what he planned to do,” Jon continued, “but it’s a song that has special meaning to one lovely lady out there.”
Gail looked at Jennifer. Jennifer’s face was a mask of a mixture of joy and pain. “How ya’ll doin’ tonight?” Richie asked. The crowd went wild. “Yeah, I know, I know, me too. So, this song,” he started the opening riffs to Never Say Goodbye, “has special meaning to a very special friend of mine. I hope she enjoys this.” He turned from the mic and counted in the song.
Tears filled Jennifer’s eyes as Richie’s voice skipped and slid over the notes. When he sang the second verse, the tears spilled from her eyes, and Gail wrapped her in a hug. The two woman swayed together, as Richie sang.
Remember days of skipping school, racing cars and being cool
With a six pack and the radio, we didn’t need no place to go
Remember at the prom that night you and me we had a fight
But the band they played our favorite song and I held you in my arms so strong
We danced so close, we danced so slow
And I swore Id never let you go
Together - forever
Never say goodbye, never say goodbye…
You and me and my old friends, hoping it would never end
Never say goodbye, never say goodbye…
Holding on - we got to try. Holding on to never say goodbye
During Richie’s solo, Jennifer looked up at him, and he caught her eye and smiled. Jennifer mouthed ‘thank you’ to him, and he nodded before singing the bridge and the final chorus. The crowd went crazy, singing along but Jennifer only heard Richie. When he was done, he flicked his pick at Jennifer, and it landed in her cleavage. He smiled and pointed at her, and she laughed, plucking the plastic from her sweaty chest and clutching it closely in her hand.
After a few more songs, they did Prayer, and left the stage. When the crowd was good and riled up, they came back on stage for three more songs, ending, of course, with Wanted. The sight of Richie in his trademark Stetson made Jennifer’s heart soar. He really was glorious, and God help her, he was hers. For now at least.
When they made their bows and blew their kisses, Richie aimed his at Jennifer, who blew them right back. They watched the guys leave the stage, and sighed. “Oh, that was fanTAStic!” Jennifer gushed, looking at her pick. She was going to have it turned into a necklace so she could wear it under her clothes all the time. “I can’t believe they did NSG,” she said, fresh tears springing to her eyes. “That was a wonderful surprise.”
“I can’t believe David sang,” Gail said. “That was just fucking great. What the hell are you doing?”
“Sending a quick message to the girls on the board,” she answered, typing furiously on her Blackberry. “Letting them know the show rocked.” They sat for a couple minutes, catching their breath. Soon, a tall man in black came for them.
“You girls ready?” he asked.
They looked at each other. “As ready as we can be,” Gail said. “Let’s go.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)