A Rock & Roll Romance

Chapter Thirteen

Boston, Massachusetts.

"Oh my god, I can't believe I'm gonna be late to meet my ex fucking boyfriend for the key to my ex fucking apartment." Meghan said rushing out the meeting that was being held in Alice's suite about the recent rumours of the cancelled shows. "Woah woah. Calm down. Make him wait." Tommy said holding her by the shoulders. He had fast grown to become like an elder brother to her. "He's not the kinda guy who waits." Meghan said rummaging in her bag for her phone. "I'll never get an Uber in time." "Take Travis. He's got an SUV waiting for me." Johnny said from beside her. "What?" Meghan said confused turning to face the man. "When you return we can go grab some dinner, me, you, Tommy and whoever else is hungry. We'll wait," Johnny smiled as he pulled out the key to his room. "Are you sure?" "More than sure. Now go." "Thank you so much!!!" She said hugging Johnny then Tommy before rushing off with Travis.

"This all feels a little bizarre." Meghan said grabbing her coffee from the Starbucks counter and following Alex over to a table in the corner. "I could have come to your office or apartment, you didn't need to come meet me somewhere." "No I thought it was for the best, neutral ground and all that." Meghan nodded slowly before sipping her drink. "Now tell me again why you have that beefy bodyguard with you?" "Oh he's not my bodyguard silly.. he's Johnny's, he just gave me a lift." "Right. He gave you a lift? Johnny Depp just happened to spare one his vital members of staff for you?" Alex said skeptically. "Believe it or not Alex, famous people are generally quite nice, and anyway it's like a family on tour we all help one another out." "I'm sure you do." "Right well do you have the key?" Meghan said loosing her patience with his attitude. "Yes I do. It's here. I've boxed up most of your things but I had to stop at some point to focus on my own move, you'll find everything fairly self explanatory. I've cut off most the utilities baring in mind I'm here most weeks now, so you won't find much to do there." "Ok.." Meghan said quietly. He was discussing their home of 2 years like some business transaction. "And I would umm appreciate if you left the key with Mable across the hall. She's agreed to look out for the place in our well my absence." Meghan nodded once more, so she could have got the key from their elderly neighbour, there really was no point in this awkward meeting at all. "And another thing..." Alex said as he began playing with his hands. "I wanted you to hear it from me, not from rumours or social media... I'm in a relationship." Meghan's eyes widened, hadn't they only just broken up?!! Jesus her stuff wasn't even out the apartment yet. She tried to compose herself and bite her tongue before saying. "You're dating?" "Yes. Leah and I are very happy, hopefully she's on the same page as me, and unlike you, she does want the same things." Meghan's eyes widened further. Leah? His colleague Leah, Jesus could he get more any cliche? "Well good for you. I hope it all works out..." she stood before adding rather loudly "I hope she doesn't have to fake it like I did, and just remember only dogs belong on leashes." She grabbed her coffee and walked straight past a smirking Travis who had heard everything, she headed out onto the sidewalk from the Starbucks to the car, leaving Alex with his mouth wide open.

"Fucking hell it was epic. She deserves a fucking Oscar!" Travis said chuckling from the sofa in Johnny's dressing room later on. "She pretty much announced to the entire starbies that he never got her off, and told him to remember that dogs belong on leashes." Johnny smirked at the latter knowing the comment had come from him weeks prior. "I could barely hold it together." Travis said before sipping his coffee. Their conversation was interrupted by a timid knock on the door. "Come in!" Johnny yelled. "Oh I'm sorry I thought you would be done by now.. I'll come back." Meghan said slowly closing the door. "No don't be silly, I was late sitting down. Emily is just wrapping up." Johnny said smiling. "If it isn't the woman of the hour." Travis said smiling. "It's just you're the only one who's not finished the Q&A and there are only two more shows." "Oh shit of course. Let's do it now. Emily are we done?" Johnny's make up artist nodded and stepped back allowing him to stand. "Shall we?" He said gesturing to the couch, and budging Travis out the way. "I better go check in with Sean and Mark." "Sure thing. See ya later." Johnny said without even looking at the man who was leaving.

After the pair had wrapped the Q&A, Johnny stood and lit another cigarette. "So now the last show is in sight... Will I get to see you again?" He said ever so charmingly. "Of course." "I'm coming to Sweetzer next weekend aren't I?" She smiled before excusing herself. Johnny picked up his phone from the table and dialled.

"Ness it's me..."
"Yeah I'm good thanks. Look there's been a slight delay on things, do you mind if I fly out Sunday night rather than Saturday?"
"Amazing, I'll come straight by to get them ok? I just need to wrap a few things first."
"You're an Angel, thank you."

He then fired off a text to Nathan his assistant.

Can you change my flight to France to late Sunday? Something has come up. Still plan to leave for LA Tuesday evening though!!!

Sure thing. Will sort it first thing. 👍🏻

After the gig had ended the band and the immediate crew rushed to the nearest airfield where Air Vampire a nickname for the private plane the band had been using, was waiting on the tarmac. Everyone climbed aboard and found seats, Meghan was busy ramming her holdall into an overhead locker when she lost her footing, it didn't help Tommy was barging past her to get to the galley to steal snacks before they were served. She fell straight into Johnny's lap, luckily his hand reflexes were impressive and he caught her. He smiled before gently holding her by the shoulders and standing her up. "Are you ok doll?" "Yeah sorry about that. Clumsy and tired not a good mix." "Well here sit your rear down. I've got this." He nodded, and stood noticing the large bag still sticking out the overhead bin. Maybe it was her hormones, maybe it was just the kind gesture but she felt like crying at his kindness, she refrained but bit her lip, smiled and slid into the seat beside him by the window thanking him profusely whilst he easily reached up and stowed her bag. "Now you see why I wear those heels." She smirked knowing he had commented on her footwear more than once since they met. "Yes I guess so. I've never known anyone quite as short as you." He chuckled. "I'm not that short." She said attempting to hide a yawn.

The plane took off smoothly and everyone pottered about doing their own thing. Meghan was curled up in her sweatshirt, as she listened to the gentle hum of conversation between her uncle and Joe. Johnny was to her left sketching and Tommy was sat behind her chatting to Sean. Before she realised what had happened she had fallen asleep leaning on Johnny's shoulder.

"I'm worried about her." Alice said in hushed tones. "Her?" Johnny said tilting his head trying to avoid waking the woman beside him up. She had sweetly lent on his shoulder and he didn't have the heart to move her so continued sketching when Alice began the conversation. "Yeah... she doesn't do well by herself, she had him for 6 years and before that she was dating some guy from college that nobody liked." "You're saying there were some family who liked Alex?" "He was an ok kid to start with, it's only in recent years he changed. A lot." Johnny nodded. "She seems pretty well adjusted though." "Yeah but you have to be when your mother and step father just waltz out your life." "I thought she was pretty close to her family?" "Well she is.. kinda but her mum got this man and then as soon as the kids were through college that was it, they decided to travel around the world. They've been doing it for the past 8 years or so." "Wow so she doesn't see her?" "Not really. Most holidays she comes to us. Her elder brother is more independent and he's settled so he goes to his in laws a lot. They are in Seattle, and her little sister well she went off on some gap year somewhere in Bali and has been gone on and off for the past 3 years!" "Nice. Jeez." "Yep. So Alex was all she had, I think that's why she was so determined to make it work you know?" "Yeah I know." Johnny said taking a deep breath knowing the feeling. "She's a good kid. That's why I wanted to give her this opportunity. Make her feel important again, make her feel needed and powerful." Johnny smiled "I think she's done a fantastic job." "She has. I knew she could do it with her eyes closed, the work side of it wasn't what I was worried about." Johnny nodded before continuing to sketch. "Of course I worry about her as if she's still a little girl. She's not. She's got her own life. I just hope she knows how loved and validated she is without that dick. She doesn't need him." Johnny smiled before looking at the peaceful woman on his shoulder. He was half tempted to kiss her head or at least stroke her hair but thought against it. He didn't want to be weird especially with a relative so close-by.