Chapter Forty-Nine

Jon flipped off the covers and sent a pillow colliding with the chair. He’d been awake since four am and he was getting pissed off. He had a show that night to think about but all that he could think about was Callie. There was so much more he wanted to say to her the night before, but he couldn’t get it out. Instead he went for the kiss, and look how well that turned out. It kept going over and over in his head like a broken record.

Who came to your rescue when you’d broken their heart, and came no questions asked? Callie. Who the one person he could depend on, when all others had failed? Callie. Who had he stupidly played around with, not realizing the real consequences of what he was doing? Callie.

“Ugh,” he leapt out of bed. He needed a cigarette-- god a drink, to stop himself from going crazy. He pulled on a pair of jeans and slid into some shoes. He grabbed his jacket, cigarettes and headed out of the room. No sooner had he flicked one into life, Doc came out into the hallway.

“Christ Jon, it’s barely six, what are you doing up?”

“Couldn’t sleep—thanks to you.” That was a lie, but hey-he deserved it. Fucker.

Doc dug his hands into his pockets and rocked back on his heels, “I deserved that. Callie came and saw me last night.”

Jon’s brow lifted, “oh yea? And?”

“She thinks she can do something –get the charges downsized, if she can prove why I
did it.”

“You’re lucky she even gives a shit about you Doc. Hell, we’re all lucky.”
Doc nodded, “yes we are. She seems to know what she’s doing. She made me a deal.”
Jon flicked his ash into the one of the nearby trays that lined the hallways. “A deal?”

Doc folded his arms, “if she does this and I get off. She wants you to have full control over final decisions for the band...”

Jon’s belly twisted, god she knew him better than he ever could imagine. “She did huh? And you agreed to this?” Fuck me. She was smart, he’d give her that. And she still had his best interests at heart, even after all this time.

He owed her, and he owed her big if she pulled this off.

“I did. You know I’m sorry Jonny, I didn’t mean for any of this to happen like this... I was stupid.”

“No surprises there, Look Doc, I’m still pretty fucking mad at you so I’m going to leave... but just do me a favor and co-operate with her and give her anything she fucking wants.”

Doc nodded, “do you regret how you treated her?”

Jon’s head snapped up and he swallowed down the urge to grab him by the throat and shake him. “I’ll never blame you Doc, but you sure made it fucking easy for me to cheat on her.” God, he was pathetic. He was the cheat here, he was the one that screwed what they had up, what he didn’t see was that, until now. Did he still have time to put it right?

“Jonny, I’m sorry I just thought the image---“

“Fuck the image, you’ve done enough. For now you shut up and do as you’re told, hear me?”

Doc’s eyes widened but he didn’t disagree.

“Good, I’ll see you at sound check.” Jon left him and continued on. Damn it, he needed to see her and say what needed to be said, or he’d never say it. He found her room and was surprised to see the glow of light creeping out from under the doorway.

He raised his hand to knock and stopped. Was he being unfair? Selfish? She had moved on so well without him, did he need to press her even more? She was here though right? She had to feel something for him...surely. He shook his arms out, Christ anyone would think he was nervous. What if he laid himself out on the line and she rejected him?

Fuck, you’re pathetic. You know that right?

He smiled as the room attendants wheeled down the breakfast cart to another room.
He took a deep breath, closed his eyes and tapped his knuckles against the door.

“Callie?”There was no movement, nothing so he knocked again. “Callie?” Maybe in the shower, or maybe she’d gone down to the restaurant to eat. He stepped away but then reached for the door, surprised when he tried it, it opened.

He peered around the door and sighed when he saw her, bent over, head flat on the desk asleep. He crept in and closed the door behind him. He rubbed the niggle in the back of his neck, she had stacks of law books and documents, mixed with medical journals and notes spread all over the place.

“Baby,” he whispered as he pulled the chair out from the desk and scooped under her knees and neck and lifted her into his arms. He placed her down on the bed and pulled the blankets over her. He stepped back when she murmured, but she rolled into the pillow and didn’t wake. He perched himself on the edge of the bed and swept her hair back from her face. God she was gorgeous, pure skin and curls of long dark hair spilling over creamy shoulders.

“I guess I’ll have to wait, but we need to talk you and I.” He trailed his thumb down her jaw to her lips. “I’m sorry you had to be here, but I’m so very glad you are.” He leaned over her, catching that sweet scent of her that he’d missed. “I’m sorry.” He pressed his lips to her temple and backed off the bed. He’d talk to her later, right now she needed to sleep. Right now, he would treat her the way she always deserved to be treated.

~

Callie blinked as sunshine streamed across the bed, god what time was it? She rolled across the bed and squinted at the clock. Damn, after lunch. She sat up, rubbed her eyes and looked around. How did she get here? Last thing she remembered was trying to articulate the process to check for a broken arm. She was sure she hadn’t moved to the bed, she shrugged. “You’re losing your mind.”

She was losing her mind, last night she came close to giving in. Giving into him all over again. She couldn't let that happen again, be in that situation or let him think he was. She just couldn't go there--again.

She pulled herself out of bed and padded towards the bathroom and cranked on the shower , letting herself wake up fully. She needed to outline Doc’s defence today decide on the strategy for the plea, she twisted her hair up in a towel and flicked over some notes while she brushed her teeth.

A knock at the door soon changed that idea. “Hello?” She asked before opening it, no one needed to see morning Callie.

“Miss Richards, its room service. I have a message for you from Mr Bongiovi.”

She opened the door a little. “You do?” The uniformed man stood sharply and nodded.

“I do, he’s requested that you attend the sound check taking place this afternoon at 2pm if you can make it. I’m to let you know to meet outside in the lobby at 1.45pm if you are interested.”

Callie’s brows winged. “He did huh? Ok, well thank you for letting me know.” She quickly closed the door again. Why would he want her to attend the sound check? So he could attempt to damn kiss her again? She checked her watch, she needed to work. She couldn’t just go off watching sound checks like this, not when she had an essay to complete and a case to draft up.

She changed and ordered breakfast in as she slid back in at the desk.

Maybe he was just being nice? God, concentrate on this not Jon freaking Bon Jovi. It’s over and you’re never going back there. So get over it. She wriggled around and soon she was back in the zone of all things law-related and Jon’s kissable lips or sexy scent was far removed from her mind.

~

“You ready?” Jon slid on his sunglasses and nodded to Richie.

“I thought we weren’t leaving until two?”Jon asked scanning the lobby as the band started to assemble into the bus.”

“Well we’re all here aren’t we?” Richie asked, “And c’mon you’re usually the one barking at us to hurry up.”

“Yeah, yeah... I just thought...” Fuck. Where are you? And why the hell was he so fixated on her being there? She’d seen him perform before. He smiled as a couple of chicks walked past and waved, and then his face fell just as quick.

Richie snorted, “sheesh---fake smile what? What’s the issue? Who are you looking— Ohh, you invited Callie along huh?” Richie folded his arms looking like he’d just figured out the rubic cube that no one on the fucking bus could solve.

“Yes I did, but it’s cool if she doesn’t come. She’s busy saving our ass—remember?”

“So you’ve talked to her then?”

Jon blew out a breath, “yes I did. Last night. She’s at medical school Richie.”

Richie smiled, “and yet she’s also here defending your honor. God you two need Dr Ruth or something, or hell pay me. Even I can see it.”

“See what?” Jon asked, knowing full well what was on his friends mind.

“This thing you both still have for each other, and won’t admit it. I swear to god Jon. You know chicks, like I know chicks. Why the hell else is she here?”
“She knows how much the band means to me, she hates what I did to her Richie, there is no way.”

Richie thunked his head against the side of the bus. “So you are telling me that she’s here because she cares THAT much about your business, and that only?”

“Hey settle down man, I’m just saying that she’s smarter than that. She’s not here because she loves me, nor would she care that I still love her.”

Richie’s eyes widened and his lips curved into a smile. “Well, well... I do believe my work is done.”

“Yes, but she’s not here is she asshole?” Fuck. He loved her. He fucking loved her.

Richie climbed into the bus after the guys had gone up, “no she’s not. But it will take time Jon...You fucked her up.”

Jon coughed, “Christ. Thanks for the brutal opinion.”

“You’re welcome. Now I’m just saying. Try harder. Now get on this fucking bus and let’s get to sound check.”

Jon sighed and hopped up the step, taking one last look to the empty foyer behind him. Could Richie really be right? Could she still care for him, the way he did for her...Christ. He was still in love with her, fuck. How did that happen? What was worse, the new confident hot Callie...made it ten times worse.

Fuck.