Chapter Nineteen

Wispy clouds flew past the window as Jon stared down at the distant New York skyline from the thick glass window of the jet, the steady drone of the engines easing down from the take-off thrust as the aircraft began to level out. When the sleek wing tips broke above the thick bank of high altitude clouds he returned his attention to the newspaper spread out on the table before him. There was yet another large headline about the latest decline in the economy and the ever increasing rate of unemployment, it made for depressing reading. Sighing he skimmed over the article, his pulse jumping a little when he came to a paragraph detailing recent high profile real estate foreclosures. Rachel immediately jumped into his thoughts only having left her just hours previously. The printed words on the paper merged into one as he gazed past them to run his mind back over the previous evening. The thunderstorm had lasted hours, a spectacular display of nature unleashing its power that they had watched curled up on the sofa together. She had bared her soul to him last night and while his heart ached for what she had endured, his mind was uneasy. There was something about the California woman that itched under his skin, something that had made him reluctant to leave her, almost as if he was protective of her.

“Would you like some fresh coffee Jon?”

The pretty flight attendant politely interrupted his thoughts and Jon nodded gratefully at her as he scrubbed his tired eyes with his hands. Silently he watched her pour the steaming liquid into his cup and shaking his head at the creamer she offered let himself drift back into the knowledge he now possessed about his ……….well his what was the question really. He no longer just thought of Rachel as his new neighbour obviously, she was hardly in that league anymore but where exactly she fitted into his list of contacts he just wasn’t quite sure. The bright expanse of blue sky that stretched infinitely into the horizon offered no clues to ease his troubled mind especially when thoughts of his own kids merged with the horrific memories Rachel had of hers.

Christ………..

It just didn’t bear thinking about – how was anybody ever supposed to get over something like that? She’d talked most of the night, sometimes he had felt she wasn’t even talking to him rather just into the static air around them. He’d hated leaving her, even though the storm had long since passed and the sun had just been starting to rise off the Eastern fringe of the river but it was time to go to work.

August had flown by and his fingers were itching to create something new so he was heading over to Richie in California for a few days – something he’d neglected to tell Rachel. He wasn’t sure why but at the last minute he’d stopped himself divulging the details of where he was going instead leaving her with the short explanation that he had to go away for a couple days. In fact she hadn’t even seemed to care, just wished him well when he’d finally stood up to leave.

Jon didn’t blame her for distancing herself, he’d called her common for Christ’s sake, she was hardly going to leap into his arms and forgive him in one night. He’d hated himself leaving her that morning…actually the more he thought about it he hated to be away from her. Which was crazy but maybe it was just sympathy, nothing more than that.

That’s all it is, right?  Just sympathy….. or should that be empathy. 

Sure Jon, that’s all it is.

Lifting his coffee cup to his lips, he winced as the hot liquid scorched his tongue. This woman was making him crazy - a few days with Richie and he’d be back to normal, he was certain of it. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bright sunshine bounced off the polished chrome of a black Hummer that was parked in the basking heat outside Jon’s lead guitarist’s Calabasas home. Stifling a yawn as his car rolled to a stop under the shade of a pair of towering palm trees that guarded the front porch, Jon murmured a thanks to the driver and stepped out stiffly, his limbs sore and unyielding from the flight.

“Hey there my brother! Welcome!”

Richie greeted him enthusiastically, a wide smile lighting up his face as he strode through the front door and bounded down the steps to greet his friend.

“Hey Rich, good to see you man.”

The two men embraced, shoulders tight against one another. Richie clapped Jon on the back and took a step away, chuckling when he took in the tired lines on Jon’s face.

“You look like shit Jonny, holidays bored you that much huh?”

Jon scowled as he stooped to pick up his holdall that the driver had deposited at his feet before Richie claimed it for him, swooping it up in his long arms.

“Nah, just need to catch up some sleep, I’ve had a crazy few days.”

“Ohoh! Do tell brother………anything that’s kept you sleep deprived must have a story!”

Jon rolled his eyes and shook his head at Richie’s mischievous grin.

“No story Rich, I’m just getting too old for this shit s’all. Come on, I need a beer.”

Richie shot him a quizzical look, a bemused smile twitching at his lips but chose not to press him further. He knew whatever was keeping his friend up late at night was something he’d tell him in his own good time. Shifting Jon’s bag to his other hand he ushered the way up the steps to the house.

“Well I hope you’re not too tired for the plans I have for tonight. A little dinner out and a few drinks with our favourite California girls might perk you up.” Smirking he paused as Jon stepped through the front door into the marbled hallway, “Just the thing to get those ‘creative juices’ flowing if you get my drift……”

Jon chuckled despite his tiredness. He knew exactly what juices Richie was referring to and they weren’t the record making ones. Richie was incredibly good at finding ……interesting…… partners for their night’s entertainment and if previous encounters were anything to go by, tonight would be no exception. He made a mental note to remind himself to ensure his stock of condoms were in order, last thing he needed was a goddamn infestation crawling around in his nether regions or worse. These women may be hazardous to his health but they knew how to show a guy a good time and maybe Richie was right – a night of debauchery with his favourite hook up would shake off whatever it was that was bugging him and he’d be back to normal. Suitably cheered he followed Richie through to the kitchen, gratefully accepting the cold beer he was proffering.

“Sounds like a plan Rich, but let’s get some work done before we delve into the underworld huh? We need to get our shit back together.”

Richie grinned and chinked their bottles together.

“Thought you’d never ask! C’mon I’ve been doing some stuff, let me show you.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The afternoon passed in a blur of the two men tossing ideas back and forth, lyrics and chords scribbled on sheets of paper soon littering the floor around them. Mentally exhausted Jon stretched out on a sofa, his guitar lying across his chest with his fingers idly strumming the strings. Images of Rachel crept back into his mind for the first time since he had sat down to write with Richie. That first day he’d caught sight of her struggling with those ridiculously oversized luggage cases, a sweaty dampness just beginning to rise up her neck – the memory made him grin. Fast forward to the flustered woman he’d encountered on their next meeting and how she’d instantly turned to stone when he’d called her ‘baby’ – he understood her annoyance better now given the hand she’d been dealt in life.

His fingers subconsciously started picking out a melody as more memories flooded his brain. The brief kiss they’d shared that evening on the dock, the feeling of her wiggling that ass on his cock as she slithered away from him, her shyness banished by her confidence when she talked business, fluently and as efficiently as any top class CEO he’d ever dealt with.

There’s something about you……..

Words began forming in his head, Rachel’s face floating in a mesmerising cloud through his half-closed eyes. The humour that had danced in her eyes when she’d asked did he negotiate all business deals in such a manner he had with her……….that night of mind blowing passion when she’d finally succumbed to his charms…….had it really only been one night? It seemed like a lifetime ago………the hurt and anger he had caused that morning – That was still very fresh………she hadn’t backed down….she hadn’t let him in until not even twenty fours ago on the sofa when silence had spoken volumes.

I wanna rescue……….

I don’t even know you…..

With a frown of realisation Jon jerked himself upright, his guitar nestled close to his body as he focused on repeating the notes along with the jumble of words he’d been murmuring. Richie looked across from where he had been bent over tightening a set of strings, a small smile spreading across his face as he listened to Jon softly sing.

“There’s something about you………I wanna rescue……..I don’t even know you so what does that mean?..........Maybe I’m cynical……..painfully logical……….you’re tragic and beautiful……..”

Nodding with approval, he picked up alongside him, the strains of the melody floating soulfully across the room.

This was it – the magic was back.