Friday, July 30, 2021

Chapter 93: A Perfect Night

John was trying to finish the last swallow of a beer he had grabbed out of the fridge. He wasn't worried in the least about mixing his medication with alcohol, but he knew Ashley would be. "What's taking you so long Ash? We've got to get going!" He called out from the kitchen, as he hid the empty bottle under a paper bag in the trash can.

He looked up as Ashley appeared in the doorway.

Hey Mr. hold your horses! Haven't you ever heard not to rush a lady when she's trying to get pretty for you?" She teased turning up her nose a little, as she pretended to be a little miffed at him.

"You looked great before you did any of that." He grabbed her and pulled her over to him. He breathed in deeply as her floral scented perfume cascaded over him. He always loved the way she smelled. "But now you're even more beautiful." He stood there gawking. Soaking in the view of her in her tiny black dress. "I can't wait to take you out tonight and show you off. Every man there will be so jealous of me." 

"Oh Stop John!" She protested shoving him away just a little. "You always make me feel so beautiful, but I really doubt anybody will be jealous because of me." She lightly laughed shaking her head in disagreement.

"Shit! I don't get you! You must be crazy girl! How can you look in a mirror and not see what I see?" He stood there totally confused. She was easily the hottest chick he had ever been with, but she felt the worst about herself.

"Well you must be blind.  I couldn't get my hair to do right." She walked over to a mirror hanging on the wall and picked at her hair a little with her fingertips. "It just wouldn't cooperate tonight." She fussed trying to tame it a little more.

Jon just grinned. "You look gorgeous. Come on we really need to go. I have reservations for later and we need  to get on the road now." As they walked toward the door some music erupted from the parking lot. John pulled his curtains back enough to see a small group of people standing around talking while a car stereo played. He grabbed keys and wallet and they walked outside. 

"Hey Johnny." A guy he didn't recognize called out to him as soon as they walked down the stairs.  "I thought that was your car. You live here?"

As he got a little closer his face began to look familiar. "Paul?" He asked barely recognizing him. "Damn! You cut all your hair off man! I didn't know that was you." John walked a little closer as he greeted his old buddy.



"Yeah I had to. My boss down at the factory has really been riding my ass about it."

"Shit just another reason I couldn't work there." John shook his head sending his care free locks moving about.

"Your hair has gotten long Johnny.  Last time I saw you, it was short like mine." Paul began to laugh and John got a big smirk on his face.

"Oh yeah I remember." John grinned. We stole my Mom's car to haul those twins over to Farrington Lake. What were their names? Lindy and Windy or some rhyming shit like that." He laughed. "It was a fun night though." He smiled reminiscing.


"Oh yeah the Barton sisters. It was Mindy and Cindy." Paul corrected him.

"Yeah Cindy was her name." John smiled thinking back. "Well anyway My Dad really whooped my ass when I got home. Then as his final punishment, he cut all my hair off. I was playing in the talent show the next day. I looked like a damn choir boy or something. Guess that's why I lost."

"Oh yeah! That guitar solo from hell!"  Paul roared with laughter.

"Yeah I fucked it up big time." John agreed and laughed with his old buddy. Then he noticed Ashley standing there awkwardly. Looking like she was out of place being left out. "I'm sorry baby, I'm such a dumbass sometimes." He motioned for her to come closer to him.

"Yes you are. I certainly can't disagree with that." She smiled walking over to him.

"You're not suppose to agree with me baby." He smirked and started shaking his head. 

"Oh Johnny, she just knows the real you man." Paul spoke up and laughed.

"Just what I need, two of you ganging up on me." John took her hand in his. "This is my girlfriend Ashley." 

"Hi Ashley." Paul reached out to shake her hand that John wasn't holding. "I'm Paul.  Johnny and I go way back. We use to be in a band together."

"Yep a long time ago. My very first one, Raze. Before you moved away leaving my ass without a drummer."

"Sorry man. You know I didn't want to move, but I was 14. My old man didn't ask. He just said get your ass in the car! You remember how my Dad was."

"'Oh I remember your Dad alright. He use to scare the shit out of me! He was a big 'ol dude and always pissed off!" John laughed as Paul agreed and nodded his head.

"Yeah he's mellowed out a little now. I think my Mom leaving him really made that happen."

"Sorry to hear that." John made a disappointed face and wanted to change the subject quick. "So do you play anymore?" John was really curious to know.

"Nope not really. I helped out Scandal for a while when they were looking for a drummer. You remember Patty? Right?"

John nearly choked."Fuck! Why is he bringing that bitch up?" He thought. He didn't even want her name brought up around Ashley. He knew it was dumb but he just felt like she might put two and two together. Notice how fucking guilty he looked and realize he had cheated on her with Patty. He had to change this subject quick.

"Yeah sure I remember her. Well I hate you're not playing anymore. We had such great times back them. I'll always have a soft spot for Raze. We were really young but I worked my ass off getting us decent gigs."

 "Yeah you did and we did have a lot of great times together." Paul smiled a little with nostalgia. 

"Thanks man." John was very proud of his first band. He put a lot of work into it and always thought of it fondly.

"Maybe you could sit in with us some time." 

"Sometimes I work seven days a week. I just don't have time for it anymore."

 "Well I hate to hear that. And I hate to cut this reunion short, but we really need to run. I'm taking Ash out on the town tonight." John walked over and opened the door for her. 

She glanced back at Paul. "It was really nice to meet you." She glided into the awaiting car.

"You too." He manage to call out before John closed the door. "Damn you must be coming up in the world if you can score a chick like that now." Paul grinned looking at his old friend.

"Oh I really lucked out she moved in next door to me. She tried to play hard to get, but you know me, I don't give up easily." John smiled opening his door.

"Yeah I remember. Glad I bumped into you tonight." Paul moved over to sidewalk so John could back up his car.

"Me too it was real good to see you. Drop by anytime. That's me in the top corner." He pointed upstairs to his place.

"Yeah sure man. I'll come by soon."

John got  inside the mustang and they were finally on their way to his secret location. Not aware at all, of the guy watching them from the back parking lot.

"You got lucky tonight Bongiovi. Too many damn witnesses around. But you'll definitely get what you deserve." He grumbled to himself as he put the shiny gun back in his glove box.

John was driving down the beach. "Paul's a really good guy. His family moved to Holmdel and I haven't seen much of him in a while. I hate he's not playing anymore. He really use to love it. God I haven't thought about Raze in forever." He laughed remembering the outfits they wore and little stunts they had to pull to even get gigs because they were so young. "We had some really great times back then." He smiled his naughty little smile and seemed to drift away to another time and place for a moment.

"You thinking of Windy or Mindy?" She glared at him, hating this cheesy grin on his face right now.

"Actually I was with Cindy." He chuckled picking up that she was a little bit jealous. 

"Well good for you John. I really don't care! Why don't you go pick up 'ol Cindy and take her on this secret date to wherever it is we're going?" She spoke sarcastically getting a little irritated with him.

"Is my baby jealous? Are you jealous of some old girl you have never even met?" He laughed and tried to tickle her on her side as he continued driving.

"Stop!" She yelled and pushed his hand away. She cut her eyes back at him. "No! I'm jealous of the way I saw you smile when you thought about her! That's what the hell I'm jealous of." She blew out her breath and began to pout.

"That was nothing. Innocent kid fun. I didn't do anything with that girl. I swear!"

"Are you sure? What about the other one? I know how you like to skirt around the truth and make me believe shit that ain't even true!" She pointed her index finger in his face.

Broadly grinning he answered. "No I didn't do anything with her either. Come on, you've got to believe me! I'm innocent!" He looked at her very sweetly.

"Ha! Really? You are far from innocent John Bongiovi! What about all these little groupies you're always bragging about, following you around at the clubs?"

"God Ashley! We had a few, but we were so green back then. We really didn't even know what to do with them." He chuckled, really amusing himself thinking back. "We were so damn young!" He continued laughing.

"Oh my god! you're kidding me. A shy inexperienced John, afraid of girls? I don't believe that."

"I never said I was afraid of them." He quickly corrected her to keep his reputation intact.

"God I so wish I would have known you back then, before you got so jaded! She smiled just thinking about it.

"Well I was a quick learner. It didn't take me long to learn the ropes. It was a lot of hard work to turn into the hot experienced stud, you see before you today." He quickly glanced in her direction just to flash his electric smile at her.

She just shook her head. "Yeah right! See this is the crap I put up with! You are just so dang full of yourself! Always bragging how good you are! I can't say I wasn't warned though." She shook her head trying to just let it go so she could have a good night with him.

"Not if I'm being truthful! I'm not full of myself if it's the truth!" He argued. "What are you saying? That I'm not a good lover?" He turned his questioning puppy dog eyes over to her waiting for an answer.

Ashley got a little nervous that his eyes were not on the road. "John the road! Watch the road!" She frantically called out and grabbed the dash as her foot tried to brace her from the floorboard.

He glanced up ahead briefly and turned back to her. "I'm waiting!" His stare let her know he was serious.

She grabbed the wheel. "John!" She hollered out wishing she had never brought this up in the car. "Yes! Okay! Yes you are a good lover!" She sighed in big relief as he turned his eyes back toward the road.

"Thank you. That's all I wanted to hear. The truth." He said calmly as traffic up ahead of him picked up a little and he had to put his foot on the brake.

"Damn it John! That wasn't funny it scared me to death! You could of killed us and the!" She stopped herself instantly. "Damn it!" She thought to herself. She couldn't just blurt out her secret now. She hadn't even told him she might be pregnant. Just one more day and she was going to the doctor. One more day and she would finally know if she and John had made a baby together and were going to be parents or not.

"And the what?" He looked at her with a puzzled look on his face.

"The car. You could have torn up your pretty car John! That's all." She breathed in a sigh of relief as she turned to look out the window at the lights in the distance. "I really have to be more careful about what comes out of my stupid mouth." She thought as stared out into the night sky.

"I was just playing Ash. I knew there was nobody up ahead of us. Baby you have to know I would never risk your life like that." He looked over at her. "You do believe me? Right? I was just playing around. I hope you know that."

"Yes I do. It just scared me. That's all. Now can you please tell me where we're going?"

"Not yet. We have some more driving to do. And who warned you?"

"Huh?" She asked confused.

"You said you couldn't say nobody warned you about me." He questioned, really wanting to know who had been talking shit about him.

"Several people said you were full of yourself."

"Name one reputable source." He seriously looked over at her ready to defend himself.

"Bret." She cautiously answered. Really not wanting to start another fight with him.



"Ha that asshole! That hardly counts he was just trying to get in your pants Ash! I mean somebody that's not trying to get you for their damn self!" He scoffed not wanting to hear about Bret tonight. I love you babe, but you're so blind where Bret Michael's is concerned." He really hoped he was getting through to her.

"That's not fair John. You know I'm over Bret. I'm not blind to him. But I'll always care about him." She admitted truthfully,   just wanting to be honest with him.

John felt his temperature rising just a little. "Yeah well while we are on the subject, there are a lot of clubs around here. I really wish you didn't work with your ex every damn day! Every time I turn around there he is gawking at you!" John's eyes got bigger as his his little blue vain in his neck poked out a little more than usual.

"You are being ridiculous. Bret has a girlfriend." She countered back at him.

"Nope ridiculous is him always throwing your past together up in my damn face! Ridiculous is him cornering you in the back of that damn club every chance he gets! Ridiculous is that rolled up sock he keeps in the crotch of his pants trying to make his dick look bigger! He started to grin a little, but didn't take his eyes off of the road.


Ashley looked shocked. "What in the hell are you talking about?" 

"You've never noticed Bret walking around with that big bulge in his jeans?" He questioned starting to laugh.

She new better than to say she had noticed. "No of course not!" She giggled wishing he would drop this dumb conversation all together. "Why would he do that?" She asked thinking it was crazy.

"Some guys do it to impress the chicks when they're on stage." He answered matter of factly like it was a common thing.

She turned to him, her questioning eyes burning a hole through him. 

"What?" He asked wondering what was going on in her head.

"Have you ever done that John?"

"Hell no! He exclaimed totally offended. "I'm big enough just the way I am." He busted out laughing and she did too.

"Wow that is just crazy." Ashley spoke as she was still laughing a little. "What were we talking about?"

"People talking shit about me to you." He instantly replied. He was too curious to forget. "So who else?"

"Let's just drop it. It doesn't matter." She resisted telling him a name.

"The hell you say! Come on Ash tell me who said it!" His voice was demanding.

"Okay, Stacey." She answered low and in almost a whisper.

"Really? I knew it! Just what is your cousin's problem with me? She needs to worry about her new boyfriend. She will find out quick 'ol Rich is pretty full of his own damn self!" He snickered.

"I thought Richie was your best friend?" She tilted her head toward him with questioning  look.

"He is, but I can't help but to see how he really is sometimes. Two things I don't trust around Richie. "Number one, my booze." He held up one finger. "And number two, my women." He shook two fingers at her.

"Wait! Stop it John!" She pushed his fingers out of her face. "You don't trust me around Richie?" She couldn't even believe what she  just heard.

"I never said I didn't trust YOU!" He emphasized. "I said I don't trust RICHIE!" He emphasized again. "That's two totally different things!" 

"It's the same thing, if you ask me." Her voice couldn't even begin to hide her disappointment.

"Sorry Ash. But I've been burned babe. I can't let my guard down. I just can't."

"Jake cheated on me with my very best friend! We had been through everything together! I loved her just as much as my very own sister! When I caught them together, I couldn't believe it! The two people I loved more than anything!" She was getting louder and her face was getting flushed.

"I'm sorry. I guess I forgot what that asshole did to you."

"Yeah well I can't ever forget. Jake is the reason I fell down those stairs that night. These scars and the seisures I might have to live with for the rest of my life. So yeah John you are not the only one that suffered because of someone else!"

"I know.  Okay? Let's just drop it. I trust you with Richie or anybody. I really didn't mean to bring up bad memories for you. Tonight is about us being happy. Enjoying our time together. I'm sorry. I trust you baby, I swear that I do!" He turned on his puppy dog pout with his innocent blue sparkling eyes.

"Stop!" She fought a grin. "I want to be mad at you right now!" She tried really hard not to smile.

"Don't fight it babe. You'll never be able to resist me. I just have that effect on women." He laughed out loud as he changed lanes. 

 "Oh brother." She huffed listening to him really tooting his own horn. She turned to look at the full moon tonight. It hovered in the sky like a beacon.  Calling out to her. Telling her everything was going to be alright. "Wow it's beautiful." She thought as her mind resisted being hopeful and quickly drifted back to what laid heaviest on her heart.

Her missed period and looming doctor's appointment. The more they drove the quieter Ashley became. She kept remembering John say he never wanted kids. How he resented Dorothea being pregnant. He blamed her, like she was trying to trap him. Then her mind thought out far ahead maybe she would end up a single mom. So not how she wanted to end up. Her mother had never set the best example for her and now look what her life might become. "Just what the hell am I doing with my life?" She thought to herself, but couldn't begin to answer the question.

John spoke. "Hey," and she jumped. "It's okay." He lightly touched her arm. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah I'm sorry what did you say?" 

"Nothing really. You look a million miles away. Is there something going on? You know you can tell me. Is it your Dad? I can talk to him. I'll convince him you need to move out."

"No it's not that. I don't know. It's nothing really. I am just in a funk. I'll get over it. I promise."

"Are you sure? You can tell me anything you know. I can be your own personal shrink. Just call me Dr. Bongiovi. Ooh I like the sound of that. I'd make house calls for you. At night when you're really lonely." He smiled at her and she smiled back. "See that's the girl I know and love." 

"Are we even close to this place John? We've been driving forever?"

"Right up here." He pointed up ahead and she could barely make out a building through the trees. He parked the car and got out to open her door for her. He extended his hand to help her get out.

"Thank you." She took his hand and quickly exited his car. She was really excited to be here with him. 

"This is it The River Cafe." He smiled seeing how happy she was.



"Wow! What a view!" She spoke with amazement ringing in her voice. Being from a small town she had never seen anything like it.


"Let's walk up here. You can see it very good from the back deck." They walked up the concrete steps. 

"Ashley paused out on the deck and let out a little Gasp. "Oh my God John, it's so beautiful." She gazed out before her the breath taking view of the Brooklyn bridge and the beautiful sight of the city all lit up at night.



"I love that view. I've been here a couple of times with my folks. I knew you'd love it." His slight grin showed he was pleased with her reaction. He looked down at his watch. "It's about time for our reservation."

"Okay, she looked over her shoulder one last time at the magnificent view. More beautiful than any post card she had ever seen. She followed him toward the steps. John stood back a little and waited for her to go ahead of him. When they reached the bottom of the stairs He realized he had left his jacket in the car. "Oh damn I've got to go get my jacket. They won't let me in this swanky place without it."  He awkwardly laughed feeling just a little  out of his element. "Wait here, I'll be right back." 

"Okay, I'll be here." She sat down on the steps waiting for him to return. As she sat there a couple of guys in there mid twenties  approached. "Well hello there beautiful." A dark haired guy smiled as she looked up to meet his blue eyes with her own. 

"Hey." She coldly replied Not wanting to give this guy the idea that she was looking for company or anything.

"Well you are way to pretty to be sitting out here by yourself.  He confidently spoke with a very thick New York accent that caught her off guard just a little. 

Jon was standing by the car putting on his jacket when he noticed the two guys talking to Ashley. "What the fuck?" He mumbled to himself feeling a little heat under his collar. "What the hell are these Bozo's up to?" He mumbled to himself as he made a beeline over to his girlfriend.

He walked up to witness them all laughing at something the taller guy had said. 

"There he is. This is my boyfriend John." She boasted proudly. 

When introductions had been made, suddenly these guys went on about their way to the skyline. 

"Sorry." She grinned. "They came up to me. I told them I had a boyfriend."

"I know. I saw them bird dogging you from the car. Look Ash I know I have been really jealous where you're concerned and I want to turn over a new leaf. I trust you. Even though those two punks were probably up to no good. I trust you. I know you love me."

"Gosh you are making me all teary eyed." She wiped her eyes with the edges of her fingers, trying not to smear her makeup. She jumped up to give him a big hug. Followed by a liplock that started to stand his most intimate parts at attention. 

"Wait a minute." He broke loose from  her and tried to discreetly situate his growing bulge in his dress pants. "Come on we're gonna be late. He took her hand and walked with here into the restaurant.

The building inside was very elegant. She looked around at all the beautiful decorations. Big elegant chandeliers hung from above. And the view was just as breathtaking from inside.



The fancy table settings caught her eye. She didn't want to embarrass herself in front of John, not knowing which fork to use. She began to look a little worried as they were seated.

"What's wrong he asked as he was handed a menu.

"Nothing." She quickly replied. I've never been to such a fancy place. I"m not even sure which fork to use." She looked at him expecting him to laugh. There wasn't a lot of fancy restaurants in her hometown.

"You think I know which one to use? He smiled. "Hell I don't have a clue." He started laughing.

"But you said you've been here a few times." She asked feeling confused.

"Yeah I have and look I can't lie. My Mom tried to teach me right and show me which fork goes with what plate. But to be honest, I don't really give a shit. I didn't bring you here to make you feel uncomfortable. I brought you here for you to have fun. So please stop worrying about forks and plates and focus on me and us. I think you are the most beautiful woman in this room and I don't give a damn if you put your feet on the table and eat with your hands." He grinned hoping to stop her from worrying.

"Oh John that is the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me." She laughed a little under her breath. "It also might be one of the craziest things anyone has ever said to me too." She laughed and so did he.

"Well get use to it baby. I am the sweetest craziest jerk you'll ever meet. His smile and carefree attitude really put her at ease. She was going to throw out dining rules and etiquette. She wanted to just have a great night with him.

John was looking over the menu. "I think I'm going to order a big 'ol t-bone steak. Do you see anything you might like?"

"This chicken marsala sounds good."

The waitress stopped at their table to take their drink order.

After writing the order down on her pad. She paused. "Are you you two celebrating something special tonight?" She looked at John then Ashley.

John smiled. "No not really. My girlfriend hasn't been here before so I brought her here as a surprise." 

"Oh darling you have yourself a good one here. You better hold on to him." She smiled looking over at Ashley.

"Oh yes mam I plan too." She looked over at John very lovingly.

"And what a gorgeous couple you two are. Wow! What beautiful babies you two would make together." She chuckled.

"Oh no! John pushed back from the table a little. "We definitely ain't having any babies!  We're too young and they are too much trouble." He laughed shutting his menu.

Ashley watched his face as her heart sank. She knew he was telling the truth.

"I have four children. Three boys and a girl. It's true kids are a lot of work, but I wouldn't take anything for them. You will change your mind." She grinned looking at John.

"Or you can change it for him." She smiled down at Ashley, who was getting more uncomfortable by the second." She just smiled back at the older lady. 

"If you two are ready to order I can go ahead and put it in for you. 

"Yeah sure. John answered knowing how backed up they can get here. "I'll have a t-bone with a baked potato and she wants the chicken marsala."

"Okay they both come with salads. What dressing do you want?" She looked at Ashley.

"Blue cheese for me."

"And you?" She looked at John.

"Italian and we both want a brooklyn bridge dessert."

"Okay do you want any appetizers?"

John looked at Ashley, who replied. "No I will be lucky to eat half of mine."

"Okay no appetizers, thanks. John smiled up at the lady.

"Okay I have your order. I'm sorry but we are a little backed up tonight. Maybe you might want to get something at the bar while you wait."

"Okay we will thanks." John stood up looking at her.

"I don't really want anything John and you shouldn't drink with your medication. You know what the doctor said." Ashley tried to keep him from going over there.

"Oh come on, just live a little baby. I'll be fine, it's just one or two." He grabbed her hand and drug her over to the bar.

John grabbed a drink menu and looked it over.

He ordered a beer. "What's something good she'll like?" He asked the bartender pointing at the menu.

"The French 77 is really good." He answered with a grin. The ladies seem to love it."

"Okay sounds good. "I'll be right back. I've got to go to the can." He told Ashley as he headed for the back.

"Excuse me sir. I know this is gonna sound crazy, but can you please not put any alcohol in that?"

"None? Not even a little?" He asked holding the liquor bottle. "Oh I get it. You think your date is trying to get you drunk. He laughed setting the bottle down.

"Oh I'm sure he is." She smiled. "Just please make me one without it." She glanced to the back to see if John was coming back yet.

"It will cost the same though." He cautioned.

"That's totally okay." She smiled glad to have gotten over this little hurdle. She missed drinking champagne so much, and this drink was suppose to have some in it.  She felt good making this choice, if she was pregnant she didn't want to harm the baby.

"Sure." He continued mixing the drink as she watched. Her eyes caught site of the champagne and her mouth watered. Oh how she missed her favorite sparkling beverage. She snapped back to reality when the bartender came over with her drink.


John walked up and took a sip of his beer. He turned to her looking at her girly drink. "So is it good?"

"Yeah I love it, thanks. Where is the bathroom?" She sat her drink down.

"Right back there along the wall." He pointed.

"Okay I'll be right back." She walked away from the bar as John's eyes were fixed on her ass. The way she swayed her hips drove him insane. He looked up and realized the bartender was watching her also.

"She is a fox and you are a very lucky man." He started shaking up another drink order.

"Thanks." He gulped down the rest of his beer. He looked at Ashley's drink and wanted to try it. He took a sip and made a face to the bartender. "What the hell man? There's no alcohol even in this!" He was a little irritated and loud.

"So sorry sir, but the lady requested for me not put any in it."

"What?" John made a mad face. "Oh hell no! Pour this out and make her another one! A real one!"

"Okay sir." He accepted the glass and quickly mixed up another one and sat it back down.

"I'll take another beer and a shot of Jack too." He threw money on the counter.

The guy plopped down the full beer and the shot glass, just as Ashley walked back up.

"John really?" She raised her brow at him in that motherly way he despised from his girlfriends.

"I'm okay baby.  You know I already have a mother? Right?" He looked at her a little sarcastically and it pissed her off a little. She was only trying to help him.

"Drink up."  He demanded pointing at her full glass.

"She took a big sip and thought. "Ooh this is really good. I wish I could of had a real one." She sat down and had another big sip. She hadn't drank in a while. The champagne and gin went straight to her brain. Suddenly she felt so good. Her problems were drifting away. She looked at John and started to giggle. "This is really good."

"Yeah it looks good." He turned to the bartender. "One more for her please." He pointed at her almost empty glass.

Ashley held up her hand to get his attention. "Just like the other one, okay." She winked at him.

He smiled at her. "Sure." He walked over and turned his back to her while he poured the ingredients and shook it up. When he sat it down infront of her John pointed to his shot glass. "One more of these."

"John!" She grabbed his arm. "What are you doing? Remember what the doctor said?"

"Yeah baby I'm fine. Don't worry about me. Drink your drink." He handed her the glass.

Not wanting to argue she smiled and picked up her drink. "It's so good. I love these." She held up her glass and drank a couple big sips. The alcohol coursing through her body made her feel a little light headed and silly. She finished her drink and sat down the glass. She was sure she had a goofy grin on her face as she was staring at John. She stood up to tug her dress down a little that was riding up. She looked up to notice John staring ar her.

"Do you even know how sexy you are in that dress?" John grinned and took another sip of his beer.

It caught her off guard a little. She didn't know what to say. She felt like she might be blushing a little. "Oh John thanks." She giggled as the wonderful champagne mixture had her feeling like she was floating on a cloud.




He grabbed her hand. "Come on let's dance."

"What? She giggled not believing her ears. "You hate to dance!" She exclaimed. "You've told me so several times!"

"Maybe so, but not here, not tonight. He walked over to the piano player and talked low enough where she couldn't hear him. He walked back over and slowly grabbed her in his arms as the piano guy began to play the intro of Journey's Open Arms. He knew it was her favorite song.

"Oh my God! You got him to play that!" She giggled and grabbed him in an embrace. "That's so sweet!"

"Of course, I know you love it. I called up here to make sure someone could play it or I was going to make David show up and do it for you." He smiled looking into her eyes.

"Thank you so much! You are the sweetest man alive!" She pulled his facd to hers and kissed him right there in front of everybody. "This is just perfect. I love you so much John. I never want this night to end."

As the intro was over Jon started singing all the words to her low and sexy right in her ear, as he held her close and they swayed soft and slow. She felt so good in his arms. Safe and secure like nothing bad could ever happen to her.  She held on tight never wanting to let go as he sang all those sweet words right to her.

John was feeling the same thing. This girl had somehow come into his life and stolen his heart. He wasn't complaining. For the first time he was happy and most importantly content. His normally roaming eyes were fixed solely on her. He didn't know how he could already be so crazy for this girl, but he just knew that he was. The song ended but the guy played two more slow songs and John and Ashley lost themselves in each other's arms. Holding each other close feeling like they were the only two people in the room as they slowly danced.

The sweet aroma of her perfume invading his senses. Her body being so close, swaying into him. Started to be a little more than he could take. She was really turning him on. He reached down and discreetly shifted himself in his underwear. He hoped nobody noticed what he was doing.

Ashley felt such a closeness with John. He was so perfect for her. She was so happy. All her worries and fears just drifted away, like they were never even there. She had reached a level of happiness she had never felt before. She was proud to be his girl. 

The music stopped as piano guy paused. They let go of each other. "So how did I do?" He directed his question at John. Who gave him a thumbs up. "Best piano player in town."



"Thanks man." He replied with a smile.


John watched as their meal was delivered to the table. "The food is here." 

"No I don't want it to end." She poked her lip out in protest.

"This isn't the end baby. It's just the beginning. I promise." He took her hand and they walked over to the table. Ashley ate a few bites of her food and never worried if she was using the right utensil. John finished everything on his plate. He was always starving. He was small but could eat his weight in food.

The waitress stopped by. "Are you guys ready for dessert?"

"Yes." John blurted out first.
"No thank you." Ashley shook her head.

"Ashley you can't come here and not get the dessert! It's legendary." He smiled and looked up at the waitress. "We'll take them now." He shook his head yes looking at Ashley. "You're eating it!" He instructed. "Do it for me please. At least try it."

"Okay." She gave in.

The waitress sat the desserts down on the table.



"Oh God how cute! It's a little bridge!" Ashley giggled and smiled never seeing anything like this before.

"I told you. They're awesome. You'll love it."

Ashley ate a few bites and then a few more. "I'm done! It's so good! I love it, but I feel like I am going to explode." She grabbed her belly and put her fork down.

"Okay I guess you ate enough." He grabbed the waitress to get a take home box for her.

John paid the bill and Ashley was shocked at the cost. "John I'm so sorry. Let me help you pay for some of this!" She insisted as they walked out to the car.

"No way! Of course not! I brought you here. I knew what it would cost. I wanted to do this for you. Let me show you how much you mean to me."

"Aww  I love you. Thank you so much for this wonderful night." She seemed to gleam with happiness.

"Oh it ain't over. Just one more stop." He opened the door to the car for her.

They drove for a while to get to their favorite spot on the beach. John took his jacket and long sleeve shirt off and tossed them in the back seat. He was down to his plain black t-shirt. "Oh that's a lot better." 

"Thank you John! This whole night has been so perfect." They started walking down the beach as the full  moon lit up the night sky.

 John stopped and pulled her over to him. He kissed her and she could feel herself falling deeper in love with  him at this very moment.

The kiss got deeper and John started 
becoming very aroused. "I think we need to go. I want to finish this perfect night back at the apartment."

"Okay." She reached up and kissed him on the cheek. 




He took her hand in his and they walked back to the car.

John could barely contain himself as he pulled off of Ocean Avenue into his apartments. The dancing they shared, the kiss under the moon and stars. He had all horses reving and he couldn't wait to get her upstairs. He clumsily fumbled with her door handle. When it finally opened she got out wearing a big smile. 

"Are you okay?" She giggled just a little more than she intended to.

"Yes of course. Right this way my lady." He put his arm around her and gently directed her toward the stairs.

"So elegant and charming, in another life you could have been a prince." She led the way up the stairs.

"I am tonight. I'm your prince." He snuck a peek at her panties under her skirt as she walked upstairs,  in front of him. The red silky ones he loved so much. He quickly unlocked the door and picked her up and headed straight for the bed. He laid her down. Then he went over and grabbed his lighter out of his pocket  and lit a few candles on the dresser.



 He crawled up right beside her.  "I had such a great night with you tonight." He looked deep into her eyes. "I love you so much Ashley. Please say you'll move back in here with me. I'll do anything. I swear. I need you here with me." I don't want to worry about you with some nut job out there running around."

"I don't know John. I can't promise that. Not yet. Please don't spoil our night." She pleaded.

"Promise me you'll at least think about it. Okay?" He pleaded.

"Okay I promise."

John moved closer to her looking so deeply at her, it was like he had never really seen her before. He licked his lips right up beside hers and she got just a little bit nervous. She noticed how intense his eyes were and how serious his face was.

He leaned in to kiss her and she felt like she could barely breathe. His tongue was on fire as it forced it's way into her  mouth slowly and smoothly. She quickly got goose bumps as he gently and slowly ran his fingers up her legs and under her dress to the wet sweet spot he longed for. The heat she was giving off begged for him to come closer. His kiss got deeper and wetter. He broke free for a moment. His eyes were deeper and darker than usual as they were locked into a gaze that seemed to be staring deep down into her soul.

It scared her just a little. She wanted him more than she ever had before, but this secret she was keeping was gnawing at her. "Maybe I should just tell him?" She was thinking to herself when two fingers suddenly rammed under her panties. She felt them glide right into the heated sweet spot between her legs. Those thoughts instantly disappeared. It caught her off guard as she gasped a little. "Oh John!" She broke free from his tongue long enough to moan and forget everthing she was just thinking. He reached underneath her dress and jerked her panties lower with one hand. Down her legs he tugged them off and tossed them to the floor. He began kissing her again. His desire for her building. He tugged at the straps of  her dress exposing one of her perfect breasts. He caressed it slowly, gently with his hand. Then slowly leaning down sucking on her nipple driving her wild.

He stood up and pulled his shirt over his head. Exposing his plentiful chest hair that she loved. She sat up and ran her hands over his chest as he watched her. As she dropped lower. Her hands rubbing across his belly. Slowly she made it to his belt buckle. She unfastened it as he swallowed hard and took in a deep breath. She unbuttoned his pants and slid the zipper down and he quickly dropped his pants to the floor. Next off his underwear came.

Ashley couldn't take her eyes off of him in the candlelight. His full erection throbbing as he tugged at her dress. Pulling it up, lifting it over her head.  "Aww baby!" He seemed pleased as his eyes took in the view. His gentle smile showing his appreciation for her totally naked body.

He stood there staring at her in a way that made her feel so beautiful. His loving eyes and gaze showed how much he longed for her. He made her forget about her scars and imperfections. She felt loved and very wanted. She deeply longed for his touch. To feel him moving inside her again. 

He grabbed for her hand. He laid down pulling her down on top of him. 



"You're so beautiful." His hot tongue seeking out hers as he slowly rolling them over. He  climbed on top of her pinning her hands to the mattress. Sweetly and carefully he entered her. Moaning in her ear, "oh Ashley damn your inside's are on fire baby." As her heat surrounded him. He slowly grinded into her and she felt every thrust and let out a deep moan and a few gasps. "Oh John! oh!..... she laid her head straight back on the pillow as each stroke got longer and deeper. He felt so big inside her. The engorged head was filling her totally up. She cried out. "Oh God John!" He loved the way his name sounded coming out of her mouth as he was fucking her so deep. He loved to make her scream.

"John ooh! Oh damn!" Her voice was getting louder as she tensed up her muscles around his hardened cock. He pulled her legs up to go a little deeper. He had to hit just the right spot. Her moaning got wilder as she ripped at his back with her long fingernails. "Oh John!" 

"Do you feel it baby? Are you gonna to cum?" He asked hoping she was close. He deeply rammed into her hoping it would send her over the edge. But she wasn't ready yet.

He loved to control her. She was his. Nobody else had ever been inside her like this. He felt himself growing harder as he hit the bottom with every stroke. After a while of making love he wanted to toy with her just a little. He pulled out and slowly moved down her body. He bit her nipple and she cried out just a little in pain. Then the other one. He knew it drove her wild. Still he moved lower and licked her belly button as his fingers easily entered her hot wet opening. She was hot for him and it really turned him on. He moved in between her legs and touched her clit with his hot tongue and her body jerked from the heat. 

"John!" She yelled out as he lightly bit her clit with his teeth. "You like that baby?" He rolled his tongue around it and sucked it softly as he slowly entered her with his fingers. This is what he was good at. Being with all those older women, the tricks they taught him. Foreplay was the most important part. He listened and he was a very good learner. Ashley grabbed the sheets with one hand and John's gorgeous mane of hair with the other hand.  Pure ectasy was coursing threw her body as she pulled at his curly hair. 

He knew she was about to explode right on his tongue. He thrust into once more with his fingers and forcefully sucked on her clit harder and she cried out. "Oh God John Fuck!!" She jerked around his fingers cumming until she had no energy left. 

He laughed. "Was it a good one baby?"

"Oh yeah! She smiled. "Fantastic!" She closed her eyes. 

"Hey you can't go to sleep yet! I didn't cum yet!" He laughed grabbing her and pulling her closer. 

"Oh yeah. You thought you were cumming tonight? Nope sorry." She teased him. Then she grabbed a hold of his still swollen dick and rubbed it up and down as he laid back and licked his lips. Her head moved closer to it and he arched his back a little to give her better access. He loved a blowjob and she was geat at it. She twirled her tongue around the head as her hand massaged his balls. "Oh fuck baby." He exclaimed as she was taking control. She slid about half of it in her mouth and he felt like he might blow his wad any second. She put a little more in her mouth and went as deep as she could as his eyes rolled back. "Okay stop!" He pulled her head up. "I'm going to shoot off, stop!" He pulled her over to him.

"I thought you wanted to cum." She grinned. 

"Not yet. Not in your mouth. Oh your a bad girl. I've got to punish you." He grinned.

"Okay." She smiled as he pushed her down on the bed. He got behind her and entered her forcefully. 

"Oh John!" She moaned as he rammed into her harder. Thrust after thrust until she thought she couldn't take it anymore.  Deeper and harder. She cried out as it felt so good and she didn't give a shit who heard her. Oh the pleasure was building. She could feel it again as he pounded into her. She was going to cum again. She grabbed the sheets with both hands. She could feel him getting harder inside her. This was it. "John oh John fuck me harder!" As the words rang in his ears he unloaded everything he had deep inside her at the same moment she felt her wild contractions take over as she was cumming all around his swollen shaft.

"Oh fuck baby you know I can't last if you say that!" He fell over next to her exhausted. He could see her eyes were filling with tears.

"What's wrong? Are you okay?"

"Yeah I'm fine. I don't even know why I'm crying. I just love you so much." She gazed into his deep blue eyes. She just felt so emotional. She couldn't control it as her tears streamed down her face. "I'm sorry." She began apologizing.

"Ash it's okay baby." He held her close. Listening to her heart beat. "I love you. Are you sure it wasn't something I did?"

"I love you too. No I promise."

"Well was it good baby?" He always asked like he was being graded on his performance.

She laughed wiping her eyes. "Yes it was awesome. You know how good you are in bed." She smiled. "You're always bragging about it."


"Well I still like to hear it. I want to keep you satisfied. I'd do anything for you Ashley. I'm serious baby. I know I'm an asshole sometimes and I don't think before I do stupid shit. But if you could see inside my heart you would see I have never loved anybody more than I love you."

Tears streamed down her face even more.

"Don't cry baby. I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to make you cry. Did I do something wrong? Do you hate me?"

"God no John. I love you. That's how I feel about you too." She smiled wiping the tears away. I just feel these overwhelming feelings for you." She had never felt so close to anyone. Never so in love before. 

"Good you are everything to me Ashley. My world has changed so much with you in it. Everything is better. The grass seems greener. The sky is bluer. And my heart is so full of you it could burst."

"These aren't just lines? Right? I want to believe you so bad." She stared into his deep blue eyes.

"No it's what I feel in my heart. I am a better  person when I'm with you. I couldn't live without you baby."

"I couldn't live without you either." She replied and lightly ran her hand up and down his back as he held her.

"Good I'll always be here for you baby. He spoke sweetly as she continued to softly rub his back.

Her thoughts went back to the secret she had been keeping. I know he doesn't want kids, but he loves me. We just made love together. He said he couldn't live without me. Maybe I should just tell him. These questions were driving her insane. Still feeling very emotional she just blurted it out. "John I think I'm pregnant!!!!"............................



Monday, July 12, 2021

Chapter 92: You're Mine

 Ashley's hands began to shake a little as she held the paper reading the words that were putting fear into her heart. "Who is this guy? Why is he so fixated on me?" She wondered as she looked up frantically around her neighborhood expecting the author of this note to jump out at any second.

"What is it Ash?" Ricky asked. Watching her almost tremble in fear.

"Somebody keeps putting these notes on my car. He's watching me." She spoke but couldn't take her eyes off of the piece of paper.



"What?" Her brother looked around for anyone that might have left the note. Surely it was some type of joke. He turned back to her and quickly grabbed the piece of paper out of her hand when she finished reading and looked up. Silently he began reading it to himself not really knowing what to think.

Ashley

You're in all my thoughts. I can't get you out of my head. It drives me crazy that you are still with Bongiovi. When I see him touch you I want to rip his face off. I can't go on this way. We belong together! If you won't get rid of him I will! You're mine and I won't let him be in our way any longer!!

"This has to be a joke Ash. Somebody is just messing with you." He looked up from the paper into her eyes and saw that she was terrified.

"No it's not! This guy has been following me!"

"Come on." He put his arm around her and gently guided her back toward the house. "Look he's gone now." He looked all around the yard and down the street. "Let's just go back inside."

"No, I've got to go meet Jon. He's waiting for me. I have to warn him! This guy is crazy! I think he wants to hurt him!"

"Okay, just be careful. I know I give you a lot of shit, but you are my sister and I care about you."

"Aww Ricky, I do believe that's the sweetest thing you have ever said to me." She gave him a halfhearted smile.

"Well I really mean it. I know I'm an asshole most of the time. You and Kelly are my sisters and I ain't putting up with anybody fucking around with y'all."

"I appreciate that more than you will ever know." She turned and walked over to her car. She got in and gave a slight wave to Ricky as she drove away. 

Jon was standing in front of his bathroom mirror looking at the 4th shirt he had tried on. "Nope not this one! It has a big ass stain on it! He yelled starting to get frustrated. He wanted everything to be perfect tonight.

"Damn it!" He shook his head and quickly unbuttoned it and threw his blue and black shirt in the small pile forming on the floor next to his bed. 


He grabbed in his closet and tried on another one. "Cool this is better." It was actually one of Richie's shirts, he had left it here a couple months ago. He grinned and put some finishing touches on his hair. "Damn I look good!" He smiled looking into his dresser mirror. 


Now he couldn't wait for Ashley to get here. "I wonder what's taking her so long?" He grabbed up his wallet and keys.

Ashley pulled on to Main St. and noticed a car following close behind her. He stomach dropped as her fears rushed into her mind, causing her pulse to race. She quickly changed lanes and looked in her rearview mirror only to see the driver doing the same. She began to frantically drive. Moving in and out of traffic, knowing she had to get to Jon. As she pulled onto Ocean Avenue she looked back for the car that had been following her. It was gone. She pulled into Jon's apartments. She parked right next to his mustang. She turned the car off and sat there in the dark. So glad nobody had pulled in behind her. She began to question herself. "You're losing it Ash! You've got to get a grip!" Then a banging started on her window and her heart began to race uncontrollably. In her terrified state, she looked at her driver's side window to find Jon standing there with a big smile on his face.




"Jon!" She cried out and opened the door and rushed into his arms. "You scared me to death!" She buried her face in his jacket with her heart still racing a mile a minute.

"I'm sorry." He began to laugh. I didn't mean to." He pulled back to give her a kiss and noticed how upset she really was. "What's wrong Ash?"

"I thought somebody was following me here. I got another note on my car!"



"At your Dad's house? That fucker followed you there!" John yelled feeling helpless that this guy knew where Ashley lived. "That's it Ashley, you have to move back in here with me! I won't take no for an answer! I have to know you're Okay!"

"But John, I!" He put his hand up to her mouth to stop her from arguing with him.

"No!" He shook his head. "I love you girl! I'm sorry about everything that's happened, but I love you and I can't let you get hurt or worse from some damn psycho! I won't just stand back and let it happen! Where's the note?"

Ashley hesitantly reached inside her car and brought it out slowly, her hands almost trembling.

John grabbed it and walked over to a street light and began reading it. His eyes were glazed over and and his jaw was clenched. "Damn it! Who the hell is this guy?" He looked around the parking lot almost hoping this guy would appear so they could have it out once and for all. He turned back to Ashley. "Look everything us going to be okay. Please don't let this ruin our night."

"But Jon!" She protested. "He said he's going to hurt you! I can't go through that again! When my Dad almost killed you, I blamed myself so much. You are everything to me and you almost died! I couldn't live with myself, if something happened to you again because of me!" She turned away from him to wipe the tears forming in the corner of her eyes. "I think this is for the best, we need to.......

Jon grabbed her forcefully and turned her back to him. "Oh no you don't! Look at me! He grabbed her face turning her big blue eyes to his. "No way am I letting you do this! You're mine! I love you! We're meant to be together! We have fought too hard and come too damn far to let some asshole come between us! "Do you love me?" He stared deep into her eyes wanting an answer.

"You know I do." She wiped away tears as they ran down her face.

"And that's why we can't let this jerk or anybody else come between us!" He pulled her into his arms for a long embrace. She felt warm and safe like nothing or nobody could ever hurt them.

"Come on, let's go out. I planned this big date for us. I promise you will love it." He smiled trying so hard to convince her.

"Okay, but you have to be careful. He said he would hurt you John!"

"You let me worry about that. I will be fine."

"I need to go upstairs and fix my face."

"Okay but you're already beautiful. I don't know what else you could do."

She smiled. "Thanks but I'm a mess. It won't take me long." She hurried up the stairs as he walked up behind her.

As the apartment door shut. A cigarette lit up in the parking lot next door. A car was parked with a very unhappy man sitting in the driver's seat.


He had been watching the whole exchange between Jon and Ashley and couldn't control his anger anymore. "Okay Bongiovi, if that's the way you want it!" He reached into his glove box and pulled out a gun. He loaded some bullets into it as he watched Jon's door for any sign of movement. "You didn't listen to my warning. It's time to show you, I'm not playing."







Monday, September 21, 2020

Chaper 91: Trust Is Everything

John looked over at Ashley to study the expression on her face. "Damn it! Did I say too much? Does she know what I did? Did she figure it out?  Cheating on her with Patty really wasn't  my fault though! That bitch got me hammered!" He thought to himself, as he continued to stare at her. "What if she breaks it off with me?"

"What?" Ashley asked trying to figure out the look on John's face. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"What kind of way? I'm sorry." He lightly grinned. "I was just looking at you. Sometimes I still can't believe you're mine."

"Oh stop it! I really doubt you spend your time thinking that!" She laughed and shook her head."

"Well I do. I think about how lucky I was to meet you. And how great it was when you finally said you'd go out with me. You just really don't know what you mean to me Ash. I'm crazy about you. There's nothing I wouldn't do for you."

"Aww you're so sweet! She tilted her head toward him. "That's why I love you John. You're so honest with your feelings for me. I know I can trust you and trust is everything to me."


"Ash I really don't deserve you. You'll always be too good for me. But I'll do everything I can to try to be the guy you deserve. I promise I will."

"You don't have to try. You are that guy for me. I love you."

"I love you too and I'm sorry, but I really need to cut this short. I promised Richie I would drop by to check out his new guitar his dad got him on his trip to Memphis."

"Okay that's fine. I don't mind, really." She assured him.

"So I can drop you off at your dad's house now?"


"Yeah I'm ready. I'll meet you back over here later." She answered quickly getting up off the couch.

John grabbed his keys, followed by his cigarettes and lighter. Ashley grabbed her bag and stuffed a couple of her dirty shirts in it to wash later. They left out of the apartment, with John pausing only to shut and lock the door.

They walked over to the 280 zx and were soon on their way to her house.

After a few minutes John broke the silence. "You okay? You've been so quiet." He glanced over at her, while he was driving down Ocean Avenue.

"Yeah I'm sorry. I'm okay. Just thinking about our date. I really wish you would tell me where we're going."

"Nope that would just ruin the surprise." He smirked looking at her.

"Well at least tell me if you have ever taken any girls there before?"

"Nope I haven't ever been there with another other girls. But why would it matter?"

"I just wanted to know if you had ever been there with Dorothea or anybody else. That's all."

"Well don't worry. I swear to you, I've never been there with Dot or anybody else. This place is just be for us."

"Okay good." She smiled and seemed happy with his answer.

John reached over for her hand and gently took it in his.



 She looked down at their hands joined together and smiled. She felt such happiness for a brief moment. Until that nagging thought entered her head once again. The one that had been keeping her up at night. "What if I am really pregnant? I know John couldn't handle it?" She grabbed her stomach which was twisting in knots. "I've just got to wait a little bit longer. Tuesday isn't that far off." She thought as the anticipation of her doctors appointment was building even more. She looked over at John as he had his eyes glued to the road turning at a green light. "What if I have to break the news to him? What if I have to tell him that at eighteen, he's going to be a father?" She turned to look out the window as her heart sank.

He pulled up in front of her blue two story house. "Okay here you go, curbside service mam." He grinned.

"Thank you sir." She smiled back at him, noticing the way his blue eyes seem to sparkle just a little more when he grinned. "Have fun over at Richie's. See if you can get any of the details about the rest of his date with Stacey last night." She giggled.

"Oh I already know. He didn't get anywhere with her. I'm really starting to think your cousin is a tease!" He snickered.



"Stop it! You know she's not.  She slept with Dalton!"

"Then why is she dodging my boy? It ain't like she's a virgin or something!"

"Well she's not one of these little rock and roll groupie sluts y'all love so much!"

"Now hey why are you lumping me in with him? I never  said I prefer groupie sluts! I kinda got a thing for blonde virgins now." He smiled. 

"Well that's not me, John. I'm not a virgin anymore."

"Oh you'll always be my little virgin, baby." 

"You're crazy. I just really hope it works out for them. Richie wouldn't just be trying to mess with her head would he?" She asked seeming really concerned.

"What do you mean?" John asked playing dumb. Knowing exactly what she meant. A game he himself was oh so good at.

"Oh you know.  Telling her what she wants to hear. Just to get in her pants!" She belted out and studied his face waiting for a reaction.

"Nope! I think you have it all wrong! I think he really likes her. I mean he acts like he does anyway." John looked into her eyes with all the sincerity he could muster.

"Really? I just don't want him to hurt her."

"Yeah, he really seems to like her." He smiled melting her heart a little, putting her mind at ease. 

"Good because she really likes him too." She got out and leaned down back into the window. "I'm so excited about our date tonight. I wish you would give me a hint what we're doing!" She walked around to the driver's side as he stepped out of the car.

"I can't tell you. It's a secret. You'll see soon enough." He looked at her with a cute little grin leaning on his car door.



 "Oh you know I hate surprises!"

He laughed. "You'll live. I really need to get on over to Richie's. Can I get a kiss?"



"Well I don't know? She smiled a little.

"Come here!" He pulled her closer. He kissed her deeply and caught her a little off guard. He pulled back and moistened his lips with the tip of his tongue. "See you in a little bit. Okay?"

"Okay bye John. I love you."

"I love you too baby." He replied as he got back in the car and started backing out of the  driveway as she walked on up to the door.

John drove over to Woodbridge and pulled up at Richie's and parked next to his Camaro. He soon caught a glimpse of him standing outside the front door. "Bout time you showed up." Richie called out taking a drag off of his Marlboro cigarette.

"I told you lunchtime. I had to drop Ash off."

"Okay well come on. It's in my room!" He couldn't control his excitement any longer.

Richie hurried over to his shiny new guitar and picked it up. "This is my new baby!" He held onto it with all the pride of a new father.




"Damn! That is nice! Where did your Pops get the dough for this?" John grabbed it and it felt so good and smooth in his hands, as he began to play it.

"He got a really good deal on it! I told you it was awesome!" Richie grinned knowing John was a little jealous of it.

"So when are you going to bump out Sebastian and take your spot back in the Rest. Jack's been playing gigs all over town and there's been rumors. Not from your real friends but people have been talking." Richie braced for impact. Nothing pissed John off more that people thinking Sebastian was doing a better job than him in his own band.

John's face turned serious instantly. "Just what the hell have you been hearing? What fucking rumors are you talking about?

"Just that Jack thinks you won't totally get your voice back and he might offer Sebastian the gig permanently."

"Bullshit! I helped Jack get that band started he can't fuck me over like that!" John yelled with his face showing he was getting a little pissed.



"I know man! You just need to talk to Jack and let him know how much better you are. I mean you know how Bas is. He's going to try to push you out of the picture if he can."

John all of a sudden seemed worried. He began to stare off in space a little.

Richie noticed and broke the silence. "What's up man?" He asked sympathetically, knowing John had been through a lot recently.

"What if they're right. What if my voice won't be the same? I mean I've sung a little but it was hard. I struggled. What if I can't sing like I did before? If my music was off the table, I don't know what I would do." He looked up at Richie with all his nagging worry and fear showing on his face.

"Look man, don't worry. You are going to come back better than before. Sebastian or nobody is going to stop you from being the shining star that you are meant to be."

John smiled with a little relief. "Thanks man. That makes me feel a little better. I haven't been able to get it out of my head you know. My music and being a singer is all that I've got. I don't have a backup plan. It's this or the factory and that place would kill me man!"

"Me too man! I saw Eddie Thompson at the carwash yesterday. He looked like a zombie. He's been at the factory around a year and he's aged ten years. He ain't the carefree guy we used to go to the Hercules water hole with. He barely spoke to me. I kinda felt sorry for him."

"Wow well that can't be me! I can't end up there. I want to get a record deal, grab my shit and Ashley and get the hell out of here."

"Yeah that sounds good, but think about what your saying. You want to take your girl out on the road with you. I mean that's never going to work. You don't see the Stones touring with their women. I mean how the hell are you going to get any action dragging your ball and chain around with you?" Richie asked wondering what the hell John was thinking.

"Who says I'm trying to get any action? I mean I'm trying to be faithful to Ash. And mostly I have been." John began to argue. "You out of anybody knows what that girl means to me!"

"Yeah I know, but how long do you think she is going to sit side stage watching all those hot chicks throwing themselves at you. Everybody knows the frontman gets more pussy than anybody! And Ashley is a lot of things but she ain't stupid. She ain't going to sit by and let you live out your rockstar dream while she waits in the wings."

"Damn it Richie! I've never thought about that before. If the one thing I want more than anything comes true, it might cost me the one thing I can't live without. I don't want to lose Ashley, she's everything to me."

"Don't sweat it man. Plenty of dudes have juggled women and life on the road. Just leave her at home and you will be set. What she don't know ain't going to hurt her or get you killed."

"I don't know. Ash is hot. Every guy in town would be making the moves on her."

"Maybe but what are you going to do? Give up your dream to fight them off? You've got to go. Girl or no girl."

"Maybe but right now I guess I need to be going home. I'm taking her out tonight and I've got some shit to do before."

"Cool, where are you going?"

"The River Cafe in the city."

"Nice!" Richie grinned. "She'll love that. I need to do something like that with Stacey." He smiled thinking about her.

"So how did you make out with 'ol Stace last night? Did you finally get any?" John chuckled.

"Look she's gun shy man. That Dalton dude really fucked her over and I've got to try to make that shit up to her somehow."

"I hear you. Nobody worked harder than me to get Ash to come around. Jake had really messed her up. She was hell set against me. But I had to have her. I broke down all those damn walls she put up. And it was so worth it. I'm such a better person when I'm with her. I can truly for once in my life say that I really love her and couldn't see myself without her."

"Wow. That's a big statement bro. I mean you really haven't known her that long. I mean Ash is great and all, don't get me wrong. But where'd my friend Johnny go that left the club with a different chick every night? I mean your scoring record is about as good as mine and I'm almost three years older than you!" Richie raised his brow and made a questioning face looking at John. "How did you let her mess your good thing up?"

"Shit I don't know man. I didn't go looking for her. She fell right in my lap. It was the best and the worst thing that could happen to me. I mean I feel things for her I never have for any other girl, but I'm not a dumbass. I know it's too good too last. She deserves way better than me. What can I offer her? To share my fleabag apartment on the beach while I do errand jobs for Harold and hope to someday leave her to hit the road to chase my dream? She deserves way better. Ashley deserves all the good things in life. She should be driving in limos, eating seafood and living in one of those mansions on Belmar Beach. I know I really don't deserve for her to be slumming it, at my place with me."

"Don't put yourself down, Johnny. Something tells me you just might have limos and a mansion on Belmar Beach in your future too. And if Ashley's really worth it. She'll be there with you. Hell I might even be there too. I'll buy one right next to you. But I will be hooking up with a different playboy bunny, supermodel, and hot young starlet everynight!" Richie laughed. "Since you will be tied down, you will have to live all your fantasies through me!" He continued to chuckle. "I'll have Brooke Shields one night. I'll take a little Farrah Fawcett on the side. Oh yeah I love blondes, how about Heather Locklear just to get me through to the weekend. And then I can wind down with a brunette. How about a little Cindy Crawford on the side." Richie laughed. "Now that would be the life!"



"Sounds good but no Cindy Crawford for you. I have had a thing for her and if anyone's going to be giving it to 'ol Cindy, it might as well be me!" John laughed.

"What about Ashley? I thought you were in loooove?" Richie exaggerated with his hand over his heart.


"Well Ashley would kill me, that's for sure. But oh, what a way to go out!" John continued laughing. "On that note, I'm out of here." John stood up and walked over to the door.

"Okay. Thanks for coming by. Hope your date goes well tonight. The River Cafe is a cool spot. I think Ash will love it."

"Yeah me too." John reached for his keys in his pocket.

"You should swing by the Fast Lane tonight if you get a chance. We're going up there. Not sure who the band will be, but we'll be there for sure."

"Okay maybe. I'll run it by Ashley." John turned back around when he made it outside. He looked over at Richie's old camaro. "Are you ever going to wash that damn thing?" John let out a loud roar of laughter.

"Don't start man!" Richie replied with a grin. "It's fine. You wash yours so much, I'm sure the paint is coming off in spots!" He laughed knowing how much John loved to keep his car clean.

John opened his car door. "Later man." He got in and cranked up and pulled out of Richie's driveway. As he drove, his mind raced to thoughts of his date tonight with Ashley. He really wanted her to have a good time. She seemed a little down right now and he really didn't know why but he wanted to see if he could put that beautiful smile back on her face where it belonged.

As he drove across the Victory bridge thoughts of Ashley consumed him. Everything they had been through. The fiasco of him thinking he had gotten Dorothea pregnant. The shock and total relief of finding out Alec was the real daddy. He let out a sigh of relief. "I really dodged a bullet there." He mumbled to himself. Everything would be perfect. If he wasn't hiding this big secret from Ashley. His drunken night Patty. "Damn it why did that bitch have to come back into my life?" He wondered as he exited the bridge heading back to his apartment to get ready for his night with Ashley.

Ashley was dressed  and checked herself in the mirror three times before going downstairs.

Ricky was sitting on the couch watching MTV. "Where are you going all dolled up sis?" He glanced up from the television set.

"With John, he's taking me out tonight?"

"You know you really could do better than him Ash! That punk will be forty playing in those same damn clubs trying to make it!"

"Don't start! I love John! If he never makes it, it will be fine with me!"

"Yeah right! You think that now but being penniless with him still living in that dump by the beach will get old! I have a buddy at the factory that wants to meet you. You'd like him. He's really cool and he has a real job!"

"Nope I'm done with your friends! Jake was enough to last me a lifetime!"

"You miss Jake you know you do! I talked to him today. He wants you to call him!" He chuckled.

"Well he can forget it!" She Replied a little angrily.

"Easy! Calm down before you get all bent out of shape! I was just messing with you. He has a chick!"

"Good! I'm happy for him!" 

"I doubt that?" Ricky smiled.

"What do you mean?" She looked a little confused.

"He's back with your bestie." He laughed.

Ashley's face couldn't hide her disappointment. "Megan? Is he with her? Really?"

"Yep your best friend." 

"Ha! Don't make me laugh! That bitch is no friend of mine! Look I need to go! You aren't parked behind me, are you?"

"Yeah but I'll move it! He grabbed his keys as they walked outside together. He jumped in his car and backed out and pulled beside the curb.

As Ricky walked up the drive he noticed a piece of paper tucked under her winshield wiper. "What's this?" He picked it up as Ashley's  eyes grew bigger watching him.

She hurried toward him and snatched it out of his hand and began reading it. 




Ricky watched her face change dramatically as she read the note. "What is it Ash? Are you okay?"














Chapter 93: A Perfect Night

John was trying to finish the last swallow of a beer he had grabbed out of the fridge. He wasn't worried in the least about mixing his m...