Chapter 12

The ride back to the hotel was a silent one, and the girls traipsed back up to their room in the same way. Claire stormed in, still pissed, and flopped on the couch, sighing. 

“Am I wrong to be pissed?” she asked, meeting Lily’s eyes.

Lily walked into the kitchen , pulled out a bottle of wine and two glasses then carried them into the living area. Handing one glass to Claire , she opened the bottle and poured. “ I dunno C - I feel so damned humiliated . God I told him something so personal and he couldn’t be honest with me ?” 

Claire took a big gulp of wine, “Ass.” she said flatly. “But the pathetic thing is, we’ve known them how long, and I’m so affected by this? God Lily I wanna cry and it shouldn’t be this big of a deal!”

Lily shook her head in disbelief, “I know why should we care? After all this was a fling . We just wanted to get laid probably as much as they did . “ She paused to finish off her first glass and quickly poured another , Because he made you feel something you hadn’t felt in a long time thats what! 

“Fuck though he was so sweet,” Claire replied, “they both were. I actually found myself imagining spending more time with him, getting to know him.” She sighed, “I know I said I wanted a fling, and I did, but I want more, too.”

“Well I guess that won’t be happening now huh? Relationships are based on trust and if you don’t have that what do you got? “ Lily refuted though her heart was singing a different tune. How could she feel anything to a stranger after just a few days , Impossible! Yea right tell that to my heart ! 

Claire sniffled, “Shit. Look at me. I should not care this much. I should say ‘fuck off’ and change the subject. But Lily,” she added, sitting up, “I don’t want to. I think I’ve completely lost my mind, but I really, really liked him.”

Lily let out a deep soulful sigh , “ I know “ she glanced towards the bedroom “But it was gonna end in a couple days , Right ? So maybe its for the best “

“I had been thinking of ways to keep it going, in all honesty,” Claire replied, “I mean, obviously it can’t now, but I was still wondering.” She poured herself more wine and took a sip, “Oh well.” She sniffled again. 

Lily stood up , walked over to the window and stared out to the busy city streets below “ It was nice while it lasted . He was so funny though and those eyes of his “ she smiled slightly “ No man in South Carolina is gonna compare , not now “ 

Claire leaned her head back, closing her eyes. “Damn, I hadn’t thought about that. I’ve never seen blue eyes as bright as Jon’s. Or at least, I thought I hadn’t,” she snorted, “turns out I’ve seen them in music videos.” She stood up and walked over to her friend, following her gaze. “Rock stars, Lily.”

Lily couldn’t help but snicker “ Who would have thunk it ? “ she walked back towards her laptop , sat down in front of it and booted it up then googled Bon Jovi “Shit C how could we not know , look at this ? “ 

Claire sat down next to her friend and glanced at the man whose photos and name filled the screen, the man she had laughed with, shared her story with, slept with. “Jesus. All those articles about their divorces, how did we never see these?”

“Fuck if I know , they have to think we are the dumbest chicks on the planet “ Lily replied a flush of embarrassment crept once again across her face. Her eyes stuck on one article about Richie’s DUI arrest “ Shit C , I thought it was something close but hell he has not only been through a divorce but his father died . No wonder he drank “ she muttered quietly. Her heart ached for him and the pain he must had gone through.

“He has a daughter, Lily,” Claire said, pointing to the screen. “Holy shit, Jon has four kids!”

“Damn Mr Rockstar of yours was busy “ Lily winked “ Aw look at her she is beautiful . I always wanted kids , Daniel never did . “ 

Claire, shrugged, “I’m okay without ‘em, but good for him really. Damn divorced after four kids,” she continued, “poor guy.”

“C, were we fair to them ? “ Lily asked as she continued to read on . “After all Richie had said they were just enjoying being normal for a change . Can you imagine being scrutinized like this ? “ 

“No, I can’t” Claire replied, “and Richie, maybe he’s alright. But Jon,” she sighed, closing her eyes, “Jon flat-out lied to me. Said he was a businessman, a philanthropist. Before he slept with me.”

Lily rubbed her temples as a pending headache was starting to surface . “ After reading this I’m not sure . If I could just not give a damn ! “ Lily stood up, and walked over to her glass of wine and took a drink. 

Before she could say another word , there was a knock on the door . Lily glanced at Claire “Now who could that be ? “ she strolled to the door, peeked out the peephole then opened the door , noticing a man holding two big bouquet of red roses. “Thank you “ Lily forced a smile as she took the rather large bouquet, then shut the door . 

Claire stood and crossed the room, “Oh, hell.” she said, taking a bouquet with her name on it. “Kissing ass, much?” she couldn’t help but giggle. 

Lily walked back to the couch , set the flowers on the table then leaned in to take in the sweet fragrance of the roses “ Maybe so but have to say they go all out when their in the doghouse. “ She reached in for the card . “ I’m so sorry will you forgive me , Richie . Damn I so can see his puppy dog look right now “ 

Claire opened the card on her bouquet. “Can we start over? Hi, my name’s Jon Bon Jovi.” she snorted. “Real touching, this one. And he writes love songs?”

Lily opened her mouth only to be interrupted by her phone “ Oh for fucks sake , I swear if its Kelly, I so need to find a new girl that's for sure . That will make how many times she has called on this vacation alone “ she complained , picking up it and glanced at the number “Um no its not Kelly “ then flicked it open “Hello, wondered when I was gonna get a call “ 

“Kinda surprised you answered,” Richie replied on the other end, nodding to Jon. “Can we talk? All four of us, I mean.”

Lily mouthed ‘It’s them’ “ I suppose “ she pressed the speaker button “ Have your say . We’re listening “ she replied curtly.

Richie sighed, this was gonna be tough. “Baby, or, ladies,” he corrected himself, “You have to believe us when we both say how sorry we are. In all honesty, at first yes we were just looking for a fling, but then we got to know you and really enjoyed spending time with you.” He looked at Jon, raising his eyebrows and inviting him to speak. 

“We never meant to stretch the truth . It’s just we got caught up in the normalcy and we didn’t want it to end. You don’t know what its like to be in the spotlight . “ Jon paused “ I know before you say anything we did choose this life . But sometimes its really nice not to be recognized . Almost like if we could actually go into a grocery store and shop. “ 

“We understand what you’re saying but it doesn’t take back how it made us feel. And two we are angry with ourselves for giving a shit . We came to New York to have fun and now I - I just don’t know “ Lily answered quietly.

Claire sighed, finally deciding to join the conversation. “We came to New York to have fun, and while doing so met two very sweet, very charming and very sexy men that we trusted enough to want to get to know. And what happened? They listened to us, learned our stories, and then fucked us. The end.”

Jon winced at her cold,bitter tone then shot Richie a ‘we’re fucked ‘ look “ Tell us what can we do to make it up to you ? “ 

“I dunno I told you something I never tell anyone - Hell I didn’t tell Claire until we had been friends for months and even then she had to pry it out of me . So I don’t know what you can do to fix this.“ Lily answered , pinching her eyes shut, Fuck Lily don’t you dare cry , Not for any man again .

Richie heard the pain in Lily’s voice and wished he could wrap her in his arms. “Darlin’, I am so, so sorry I hurt you. Honest. I would do anything to fix this.” Anything? Fuck dude you’re deeper in this than you thought.

“But don’t you see I don’t know what can fix this ? “ 

Jon piped in “ Please can we all start over ? Please “ He put extra emphasis on Please, Shit Jon when have you begged for anything , What the fuck is up with that ? 

Claire sat up, glancing at Lily and nodding. “I’m all for second chances, really. But you know we’re leaving here in just a few days, right?”

“Yea, we do. And so you know we’ll be starting a huge tour in just a few months “ Jon replied back . “We have a new album coming out in November “ 

“Yes we read about it online.“ Lily answered “ I don’t see how anything can work . You’ll be on the road and we will be in Charleston working “ 

“Do you want it to work?” Richie asked softly, “In all honesty?”

Lily eyes watered “ This is insane you know that right ? We just met - but yea I think I do “ 

“Me too. How about you two, now?” Richie added, meaning Jon and Claire.

“I would like to try “ Jon answered though Lily was right , about it being insane . “Baby- I mean Claire whatta say ? “ 

Claire huffed, squeezed her eyes shut and leaned in towards the phone. “Hi, I’m Claire Fitzpatrick. And you are?”

Jon smiled “ HI Claire Fitzpatrick , I am Jon Bon Jovi or my real name is J O H N Francis Bongiovi “ 

Claire snorted, “I may have to start calling you Francis.”

Richie guffawed, “Yes! Please do,” he said, nudging his friend. 

Jon shot him a dark look then smacked Richie in the shoulder “ You just just love that wouldn’t ya fuckhead and baby if that's what you wanna call me - You and only you can “ 

“Okay now don’t be a kiss-ass,” Claire joked.

“OH Lordy what we get ourselves into C “ Lily snorted “By the way I’m Lily Rose Martin “ 

“Hello, Lily Rose Martin,” Richie said slowly, his voice deepening, “Richard Stephen Sambora at your service, darlin’.”

Claire giggled, “Y’all don’t wanna know my middle name. God Lily, can you imagine the hell these two would give me?”

Lily burst out laughing “C’mon C I mean we all gave ours up - I mean I got two flowers for my name “ 

“Yea baby tell us we promise to behave “ Jon encouraged as he crossed his fingers 

Claire sighed, rolling her eyes. “It’s Melody,” she said quietly, laughing.

“Melody huh? See its fate we know all about Melodies. Don’t we Dean ? “ Jon chuckled 

Richie shrugged, wagging his eyebrows. “I like pretty flowers better, no offense.” he replied. 

Jon groaned “ Oh hell who is kissing ass now “ 

“I happen to like that it was sweet “ Lily retorted . 

“You would,” Claire winked, elbowing Lily.

“So since we are forgiven , Can we come over ? “ Jon asked as he shot a grin to Richie .

Lily paused for a moment and when Claire nodded “ Sure “ 

Both girls looked up as there was a knock on the door. “You’re shitting me,” Claire said, standing up and padding to the door and opening it a crack. “Can I help you?” she joked.

Jon grinned “Yea we were in the neighborhood and thought we stop on by “ as he braced himself against the door framed and peeked in.

Richie laughed from behind his brother, “I am staying here, if you remember,” he added, “we’re not total stalkers. Just a little.” he smiled.

Claire stepped aside and let them in, “Uh, huh, creeps.” she giggled.