Chapter 40

After saying goodbye to Sara and Jon at the restaurant, Richie settled back into the seat of the cab beside Kay, wedging himself into the corner so he could turn to face her.

Kay felt a little nervous, sitting here in such close proximity to a guy she’d lusted over for so long, and she tried to be discreet as she looked at him, trying not to stare, but finding it difficult with those deep brown eyes glittering in the passing streetlights. She dropped her gaze to his hands, folded casually in his lap, but that really didn’t help as she took in the long, strong fingers and thought of how talented they were on the guitar strings, and how talented they must be in every way.

Richie had a faint smile on his lips as he watched Kay fidgeting in her seat, and he could almost smell her arousal. Shame, really, he thought, because she did nothing for him. Her attitude - in the way she’d apparently treated Sara - reminded him too much of Denise, and that wasn’t a mistake he was keen to make again. Besides, he was too old to be screwing groupies, and that was how Kay came across - she wanted the star, not the man.

Looking up again, Kay saw Richie watching her calmly, and she smiled winningly at him. Richie grinned, and Kay felt a wave of heat sweep through her, making her face burn and her nipples harden under the thin stuff of her top.

This was what Richie hated about fans sometimes - it was all too damned easy. When he was younger, sure, he loved the fact that just one smile and they were on their knees, or their backs, depending on his mood, but he wanted more than that now. Really, he thought, he wanted what Jon seemed to have found in Sara - a curious mix of innocence and confidence, all wrapped up in a beautiful package. Who knows - maybe he was finally growing up.

Thinking of Sara reminded him again of Kay’s comments, and he felt the stirring of anger. Never one to keep his feelings to himself, Richie broke the silence for the first time since they’d got into the cab and Kay had told the driver her address.

“I’m glad I finally got you alone.” He started, seeing her eyes light up expectantly.

“Oh, are you now? And why would that be?” Kay shifted so her top draped lower, and Richie smiled but didn’t take the invitation, keeping his eyes on her face.

“Something I wanted to ask you.”

“Uh-huh? What did you want to ask me?”

Not what you’re expecting, Richie thought, grinning again.

“I wanted to ask you…….why you were so cruel to Sara the other day.”

“What? Sara? What do you mean?” Kay couldn’t believe it. She’s basically offering herself to Richie on a plate, and he wants to talk about Sara?

“Well, from what I heard, you said she was…..what was it now….‘cold and heartless’?” Richie raised his eyebrows. “Do we both know the same Sara? I thought you were supposed to be her friend.”

“I am her friend, which means I can say what I like.” Kay argued. “Anyway, how did you hear about that?”

Richie shook his head. With friends like Kay, poor Sara didn’t need any enemies.

“Some friend. You can say what you like, huh? Do you know how much you hurt Sara? Do you even care? Christ, I’ve only known her a day, and it sounds like I know her better than you do.”

Kay stared at him in astonishment.

“How can telling the truth hurt her? Believe me, I’ve tried to get Sara out there, find her a man, but she’s never been interested. I don’t know what her problem is. Eventually I gave it up as a waste of my time.”

“Jesus, you’re a piece of work, aren’t you? Did you ever hear of a little thing called tact? The only problem I can see with Sara is you. A waste of your precious time? Y’know, maybe you should’ve tried to find out why Sara wasn’t dating - ever think of that?” Richie controlled his anger with an effort, trying not to raise his voice as he saw the cab driver’s eyes flicking up to the rear view mirror.

“So who made you Sara’s protector?” Kay sniped back, and Richie laughed.

“Oh, believe me, I’m not the one you need to worry about. But she’s with Jon, who’s my friend, and she’s making him happy, which makes her my friend, too. That’s what real friends do, Kay - they look out for each other - they don’t hurt each other.”

“You arrogant prick! Who the hell do you think you are?” Kay couldn’t believe the things Richie was saying, although there was a nagging feeling in the back of her mind that was saying he was right. She ignored it, though, flouncing around in the seat to stare out of the window, realising that she was almost home anyway.

A few minutes later, the cab pulled up at her address, and she threw the door open. Before she could get out, Richie spoke again.

“Good night Kay - nice to meet you.” He said, only slightly sarcastic, and she just snorted and got out of the cab, slamming the door and storming into the building.

Richie laughed, then noticed the cabbie watching him in the mirror and smiling.

“That went well.” The cabbie said.

“Yeah, I thought so too.” Richie replied with a grin. “Okay - Four Seasons, buddy.”

The cab drove off again, and Richie settled himself more comfortably into the backseat, legs stretched out diagonally across the floor as he gazed out of the window, watching the buildings flash past. When the cab reached his hotel, Richie strolled in through the main entrance, and paused as he thought of going to the bar, but continued to the elevator, heading straight up. Tonight, he didn’t feel much like a rock star, but more like a tired forty-six year old guy, and he let himself into the suite then called room service for a drink.

Kay stood in the kitchen of her apartment, enraged by the way Richie had acted in the cab. She poured herself some wine and went through to the living room, kicking off her shoes and sitting on the couch. The wine didn’t take the edge off her anger though, and combined with what she’d drunk with dinner, she got more and more pissed, until she had to take it out on someone. Since she didn’t have a phone number for Richie, her drunken thoughts turned it over until she decided it was Sara’s fault, and she grabbed the phone.

After a couple of false starts, when she misdialled - damn, the buttons were small when you were drunk - she managed to dial Sara’s home number, waiting impatiently while it rang, then it cut to the answerphone. Not really thinking about what she was saying, Kay grumbled her way through a rambling message, only stopping talking when she realised she’d gone past the time limit for the machine, and was now talking to herself. She cursed the phone, and the answering machine, and Sara, then added in Jon and Richie for good measure.

Throwing the phone down on the couch, Kay poured more wine - most of it went into the glass - then began to drink. Her anger had dissipated after the message she’d left, and she felt calmer now, and she actually fell asleep on the couch, wine glass falling to the floor.

Sara and Jon got back to her house after their sojourn in the woods, and Sara eventually managed to unlock the door, despite the distraction of Jon kissing the back of her neck and rubbing himself against her. Inside, she turned the lock as Jon disappeared toward the kitchen, and she took off his jacket, laying it on the back of the couch as she went into the bathroom to better inspect the damage to her neck. Well, there was no way she could pretend it was anything but a bite mark, with the perfect impressions of Jon’s teeth on her skin, but she thought it was probably far enough down that it would be hidden under a t shirt.

As she looked at it in the mirror, she saw Jon come into the bathroom behind her, and he walked up behind her, smoothing his fingers across the bite.

“I’m sorry, baby.” He whispered. “I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“Guess you weren’t thinking.” Sara smiled at him in the mirror. “Don’t worry about it, honey - I’ve had worse bites before.”

“You have? From who?” Jon looked startled, and Sara giggled.

“From horses, you dope. What did you think I meant?”

“I dunno.”

“Do you want coffee? Tea? I need coffee, I think.”

“I need you, but coffee’ll do for now.”

Sara turned and kissed Jon affectionately, then went through to the kitchen, Jon following like a puppy - although a puppy wouldn’t have been running a hand over her ass. She started the coffee, then turned to sit at the table.

“I need to get these shoes off.” She muttered, reaching for a buckle, but Jon was there before her, catching hold of her foot and raising it high as he sat on the edge of the table, propping her foot on his thigh.

He unfastened the straps of the sandal and slid it off her foot, dropping it onto the floor, then waved a hand toward her other foot, and Sara obediently raised it onto his lap so he could take off that sandal. Now that her feet were bare, Jon casually rubbed his hands across them, pressing his fingers into her soles and making her smile.

“That feels good,” she murmured, eyes closed, “I think I’ll keep you around - you can be chief foot-rubber.”

“Is that all you want to keep me around for?”

“Right now?” Sara opened her eyes. “Yes…..I’m so tired. Is the coffee ready yet?”

Jon glanced at the coffee pot. “Not quite. Go on through to the living room, and I’ll bring it in a minute.”

Sara smiled sleepily as Jon pushed her feet to the floor, then pulled her into a standing position. She stumbled through to the couch, dropping onto the soft cushions, noticing as she did the light flashing on the answering machine. Reaching out, Sara pressed the button to play back messages, closing her eyes again as she waited to hear who’d called. She opened her eyes again as she heard Kay’s voice, hardly recognising the slurred words.

“Sara? Sara, you there? Okay - I know you’re there, you’re just fucking ignoring me, aren’t you? Or fucking that has-been rock star like the slut you’ve turned into. Where do they get off, anyway, telling me what a lousy friend I am? Are you sleeping with both of them? You must be - why else would Richie be sticking up for you, saying I’m being cruel to you, huh? Not like he’s your friend, I’m your friend, or at least I was. Far’s I’m concerned, you can go to hell, you and your boyfriends. All this time I tried to get you a date, were you just laughing at me? What? You were holding out for a rock star? Well, you’ll end up like all his other flings, and he’ll go running back to wifey, and she’ll be dumb enough to take him back. Sara? SARA! Will you pick up? You’ve always acted like you’re better than me, just because I sleep with guys on the first date and shit, but you’re no….”

The message cut off as the time ran out, and Sara was sitting bolt upright, staring at the answering machine in horror. She heard a slight sound from the kitchen, and turned, tears rolling down her face, to see Jon standing holding coffee. He’d obviously heard at least some of the message, she could see the tense line of his jaw, the muscles working as he ground his teeth, but he controlled his anger to walk over to the couch. Laying down the cups, Jon took Sara in his arms.

“I think she’s drunk.” Sara said quietly, but there was a sob underlying her voice, and Jon hugged her tightly.

“Doesn’t matter. That was way out of line, baby, even if she is drunk.” He pulled back to look at her. “And this is not a fling, Sara, not for me anyway. Please don’t believe her.”

Looking deep into his blue eyes, Sara believed him, and she told him so. Jon smiled in relief and pulled her close again, her head on his shoulder and he held her tight, silently cursing Kay.