Secluded Affair

Chapter 33

I ran over to the door and looked through the peephole, and I didn't see anyone standing on the other side; just as I turned to head back to the sofa, the doorbell rang again. I unlocked and pulled open the door. Richie stood on the other side of the door; I pulled him in for a massive hug. It felt like forever since I had last seen him.

"Hey fucker, you going to invite me in or just continue hugging me."

"Fuck Rich, I thought you would ring me when you landed?"

"I was, but you already gave me your address, so I thought I'd surprise you."

"Come in; Cori's asleep on the sofa." We walked into the kitchen, and I looked over to see Cori beginning to stir on the sofa.

"Is she ok, Jon?"

"Yeah, she had a busy day and needed to rest. You want a drink?"

"Yeah, man, I'll take a beer if you got one."

"Yeah, think I will join you in that" I go to the fridge, grab a couple of beers, and pass one to Rich.

"Come on, let's go out onto the balcony, and we can talk out there."

We walk out onto the balcony and take a seat; Rich pops his feet up on the railing and crosses his ankles. He pulls out his cigarettes and lights one up.

"Do you want one, Kidd?"

"Yeah, man, not had one in since I got here" I pop it between my lips and light it, taking a slow drag into my lungs and breathing it slowly.

"Come on, Kidd, tell uncle Rich everything and how you got a hot chick like her to fall for your ass."

"Fuck off, Sambora, you cheeky git," I said jokingly, punching him in the arm.

"When we first met, it took her a little bit to figure out who I was, but she did eventually. However, it still did not stop her from giving me her sass and giving me a run for my money. We spent almost all our time together, getting to know one another. It was nice not having to pretend to be anyone else around her, and I could finally breathe and be me. I began to open up to her, and I let her in."

"Fucking hell Kidd, how did it feel opening up to her? I know you don't open up to anyone."

"It was freeing, Rich; I can't describe the feeling it gave me. She was the same as me; she had been hurt badly in her past, locked her emotions and feelings away, and just got through life on autopilot. She made me feel again, made me feel alive."

"Damn, I can't wait to meet her, man; she sounds like a firecracker. I might need to get tips off her on dealing with your moody, stubborn ass."

"Fuck you"

We sat outside and drank a few beers, just catching up on each other's lives. Then, finally, the door slid open, and a sleepy, dishevelled Cori walked through the door.

"Jonny, you out here?"

"Yeah, sleeping beauty, I'm out here."

"Who are you talking to?"

She walks onto the balcony and looks towards Richie, and recognition flashes through her eyes.

"Holy fuck, man, you never said she was a wild animal," Richie said, laughing to himself.

"Shut up, Rich."

"R-Richie S-Sambora."

"The one and only sweetheart,"

"Shit," was all she said and ran back into the apartment; I heard the bathroom door slam shut a few seconds later.

"Well, aren't you charming," Richie says, laughing to himself; I look at him and raise my eyebrow.