Chapter 35

By the time Richie came back, Jon had drunk half a pot of coffee, and Richie poured himself some of what remained, adding a lot of sugar, but drinking it black. He drank it like medicine, gulping down mouthfuls as Jon picked up the phone. Jon arranged for a cab to pick them up - no way he was risking the Chevelle the way he felt - then he went for his jacket as Richie poured what was left of the coffee into his mug. When Jon returned, Richie had drained the mug, and they left the suite, both feeling more or less human, but desperately in need of food. Greasy food, to soak up the alcohol.

Their cab was waiting, and Jon gave him the address of the studio, asking the driver to stop somewhere on the way where they could pick up some food.

“What kinda food?” The driver asked, looking at them in the rear view mirror.

“Hangover food.” Richie replied, and the driver grinned.

“I know just the place. Not far from where you’re goin’ either.”

Traffic was surprisingly light, and soon the driver pulled into a mall, which Jon recognised as the one just along from Sara’s studio. The taxi went up to the drivethru, and Richie leaned out to place a lengthy order, asking Jon what he wanted. They collected the order, then Jon noticed a bakery, and he asked the driver to stop again, jumping out of the cab and running inside to buy donuts and something sweet for Sara. With enough food for half a dozen people, let alone three, they continued to the studio where Jon paid off the taxi and led the way to the door.

Belatedly, he remembered he was supposed to call to let Sara know they were there, but he decided it was too late now as they climbed the stairs, Richie bitching about the lack of an elevator. When they reached the studio level, Jon approached the door, then paused as he heard music from inside. Didn’t sound like a recording, just a single guitar and a soft voice, and he cocked his head as he tried to place the tune. Something old, he thought, but couldn’t work it out, so he just knocked on the door and the music stopped abruptly.

Richie leaned against the wall, straightening suddenly as the door opened and he saw Sara silhouetted in the doorway. Jon had his back to Richie, so at least Richie didn’t see his face light up when he saw her in those low-cut jeans and a plain black t shirt, her long hair caught up in a ponytail high on her head. He gave Sara that sparkling grin, seeing her eyes warm though she just smiled back silently.

“Hi.” She said softly. “Come on in.”

As she stepped back to let them in, Jon saw Sara was barefoot again, and he waited until she had closed the door behind Richie before introducing them.

“Sara - this is Richie. Richie - Sara Holland. A very talented lady.”

“I’ll bet you are.” Richie said, offering his hand to Sara with a grin. “Nice to meet you.”

“You too. I’ve heard quite a lot about you. Anybody want coffee?”

“God, yes.” Richie replied, and Jon held up the bag of food.

“I told you we’d bring lunch.” He said. “And, yes, I’d love coffee.”

“Um, Richie - what do you take in your coffee?”

“Black with sugar……lots of sugar today!”

Sara laughed at that. “Okay - make yourselves at home, and I’ll bring the coffee through.”

She went back into the kitchen, and Jon hesitated a second.

“Rich - I’ll go give Sara a hand - there’s a couch over there - go grab a seat and I’ll be right back.”

Richie nodded, heading over to the couch and spotting the guitar lying abandoned on the cushions. He picked it up, strumming experimentally and liking the tone, then playing softly as he waited.

In the kitchen, Sara jumped, coffee pot in hand, as Jon planted a kiss on the back of her neck.

“Good morning baby.” He murmured, pitching his voice low so it wouldn’t carry through to Richie.

He took the coffee pot out of her hand, laying it on the counter and turning Sara to face him, tilting her face up to him and kissing her soft lips hungrily. The jeans she wore were loose and low on her hips, and Jon was able to slide his hand inside the back to pull her closer. Sara was slightly tense in his embrace, conscious of Richie in the other room, and after savouring the good morning kiss, she pulled back from Jon’s lips.

“Good morning to you, too.” She whispered with a smile, caressing Jon’s face for a moment then pushing him back. “So - what food did you bring?”

“Burgers, fries, donuts…….good, healthy food! I did get you some chocolate cake, though.”

Sara grinned as she poured coffee into three mugs, adding a couple of spoons of sugar to one mug, then looking at Jon enquiringly.

“Is that enough sugar? He said a lot, but I don’t know - I don’t take sugar - what’s ‘a lot’?”

“More than that!” Jon laughed, taking the spoon from her hand and dumping in another three spoonfuls.

Making a face, Sara stirred in the sugar, then bent to open the fridge for milk, giving Jon a tantalising glimpse of red underwear when her jeans rode down a little further.

“Hey - I tried to tell Richie last night, y’know, about us?” Jon said, serious for a second. “Well, actually, I did tell him, but he’d fallen asleep, so he didn’t hear me. The guy just can’t take the pace any more.”

He shook his head sadly, and Sara giggled.

“Yeah, and who was it that phoned me at three in the morning? He sounded a bit worse for wear, too! You’re getting old, babe.”

Jon pouted at her, and she giggled again.

“That’s not fair!” Jon said.

“Well, that’s what happens when you wake me at that time of the morning - I’m cranky next day! I’ve actually been up since you called - couldn’t get back to sleep.”

“Wow. Sorry, babe. How can I make it up to you?”

“I’ll think of something. Right now, food would do the trick. You know me - I’ll do anything for chocolate!”

Jon gave her that naughty grin as he considered that statement, but made no comment - for now.

She laid the mugs on a tray with a handful of napkins and balanced it on one hand, carrying it through as Jon brought the food. Richie was lounging on the couch, still picking at the guitar, but he stopped as Sara put the tray on the table.

“Sorry - it was just lying there.” He apologised, propping the guitar against the couch.

“It’s fine. Nice to hear it being played so well. I didn’t know it could sound like that.”

Richie inclined his head, accepting the compliment, then turning with a wide grin as Jon protested.

“Hey! What are you trying to say, Sara? I played it last week!”

“Whoops! Sorry, so you did. It’s just because I was playing around with it earlier, that’s the last time I heard it, so I forgot it could sound good.”

“That was you? When we arrived?”

Sara blushed. “Dammit. You heard me? That’s so not good! Sorry.”

“Sounded good to me, too.” Richie said. “What were you playing?”

“See - it was so good, you couldn’t tell what it was!” Sara joked. “It was times they are a’changin. Could’ve been worse, I suppose. I was playing country first. At least you missed that.”

“I’ve told you before, about putting yourself down like that.” Jon said, not noticing Richie’s sharp and inquisitive look at the familiar way he spoke to Sara.

Tearing open the bag, Jon distributed the food and they dug in, the guys because they were trying to absorb some of last night’s alcohol intake, and Sara just because - as usual - she was hungry. Jon stole a few of Sara’s fries with a cheeky grin, then handed over the chocolate cake, his fingers lingering a second on hers when she took it. As she ate the cake, Jon watched with a faint smile, remembering their conversation about chocolate ganache, fuelling Richie’s suspicions, but for the moment he said nothing. When they finished, Sara asked if anyone wanted more coffee, and they both said yes, so she collected the mugs and took them to the kitchen, also taking the pile of food wrappers away.

“So - is there something I should know, Jon?” Richie asked quietly once Sara was out of earshot.

“About what?” Jon hedged, and Richie snorted.

“About what. About you and Missy Sara there. Is something going on?”

Jon sighed, then grinned, not even bothering to try to deny it, and Richie knew he was right, because it was a long time since he’d seen a look of such naked joy on his friend’s face.

“Yeah, bro. You got me. I’ve been seeing Sara for a couple of weeks. Hell, I tried to tell you last night - well, this morning - but you fell asleep on me.”

“And does this have anything to do with Dot and you…….”

“Not at all! This did start before we split up, but the rest of it’s true - Dot was the one who wanted out - I, well I just didn’t argue. Nobody else knows, Richie, not yet.”

“Well, it’s only been a couple of weeks. No reason for anybody to know, is there? Or is it serious?”

Richie knew how impulsive Jon could be sometimes, but he’d never known him to jump into something like this with both feet. Then again, for most of the time Richie had known Jon, he’d been with Dot, and the groupies and one night stands didn’t count, at least not in Richie’s mind. If it was that recent, Richie thought, the chances were it was just a brief fling, but Jon quickly disillusioned him.

“Serious? I think it might be, Richie, at least for me. Just don’t tell Sara I said that!”

“Why - you keeping your options open?”

“Never. She’s, well, she’s not exactly done this kinda thing before, and I’m trying to go slow. I just don’t want to scare her - I don’t want to lose her.”

Richie grinned, somewhat surprised by Jon’s attitude, but in another way he wasn’t all that shocked - deep down, Jon was just a romantic at heart.

“Oh, you’ve got it bad, buddy, haven’t ya?”

Jon shrugged, and Richie continued sincerely. “I’m happy for you, Jon. Truly. You’re a lucky guy - if you hadn’t told me, I might’ve made a play for her myself.”

“She’s not your type, Richie.” Jon grinned, glad Richie now knew. “She’s way too innocent for the like of you!”

Sara came out of the kitchen with fresh coffee and brought it to the table. As she laid down the tray, she realised both Jon and Richie were grinning at her.

“What?” she said with a slight frown, disconcerted when Richie stood up and hugged her.

“Guess congratulations are in order.” He said in her ear, then lowered his voice so Jon wouldn’t hear him. “You’re makin’ him happy, girl, and I love you for that. Just don’t hurt my buddy, ‘k?”

Surprised by his words, Sara managed to whisper back. “I couldn’t hurt him, Richie. I’m glad you worry about him, though.”

Richie squeezed her tighter, but in a brotherly embrace, until they heard Jon protest.

“Hey - okay Richie, enough, put her down! Sara - you don’t know where he’s been!”

With a grin, Richie released Sara and Jon grabbed her hand, pulling her onto the couch beside him, leaving Richie to sit on the armchair.

“So……I guess you’ve told him, then?” Sara joked, and Jon grinned again.

“Sort of. He guessed, babe. Looks like we weren’t being as discreet as we thought!”

“Actually,” Richie said, “it was you that gave it away, Jon - Sara was pretty convincing. Looks like those acting lessons were a waste of money, pal.”

Jon opened his mouth to respond, but Sara laughingly clapped her hand over his mouth.

“Children! Enough!” She pulled her hand away quickly as she felt Jon lick her palm. “Do you still want to do these photos, then? Or did you just come here for the free coffee?”