A Rock & Roll Romance

Chapter Sixteen

"Johnny. It's beautiful... and I had no idea that I would be staying with you? I'm more than happy to look up an AirBnb or something?" "Nonsense. This place has like 12 bedrooms and it's just me, and Stephen, sometimes G and maybe the kids if I can get them back out here during school." He smiled as they continued walking round the grounds. It was Meghan's first full day in Italy. She didn't get to see much arriving late the night prior but the view now made up for it.

"I feel like I'm in a movie, not working on one." "Well no day is the same in this industry." Johnny replied happily. "Is everything ok with your room?" He continued before lighting up a cigarette, he pulled a pack of straights out of his back pocket and silently handed her one making her smile. "I've lost count the amount I owe you now." She giggled as he lit it for her before she took a drag and said "the room is beautiful, thank you." He nodded before beginning to walk again.

"Coffee?" He asked approaching the terrace. "Yeah but I'll get it, you sit, you've done enough for me and you're still meant to be going easy on that fucking ankle." She giggled. He sat as she approached the little table that had been set up by the staff with coffee. She poured him his and then a cup for her, she carried them carefully to the vacant seat beside him and sat down, sliding his cup over to him on the table. "You know how I have my coffee?" He questioned with his eyebrows high. "Yeah I guess I do. After days of making it on the bus it kinda stuck."  She said shocked at her own actions. "Now I feel like a right ARSE." He said smirking. "That was so British!" She giggled. "Says you! You throw in a casual oh my goodness every now and then!" "Hey! Our Nanny was English, I'm allowed!" She smirked sipping her drink, "Your Nanny?" "Yeah.. the woman who looked after us." "Ohh.." "yeah once Mum and Dad divorced, she apparently didn't feel as maternal, and so she hired this woman who had emigrated over. She was wonderful, I loved her very much." "See British again!" Johnny said smiling, he then paused. "You say LOVED, you don't anymore?" He questioned. "She passed away a year ago, my brother and I went to the funeral." "Oh doll I'm sorry." "Don't be, she had a good life although it was cut short from cancer, she was happy, she accepted it right up until the end." Johnny smiled raising his mug. "Well here's to her." "Thank you."

"Johnny stop! Stop! Stop!" Meghan giggled. "Come on take it back. Barbossa is not a better captain than me!!" Johnny chuckled holding the ice bucket ready to throw it. It was late afternoon, and they had just been served a chilled bottle of local wine from the staff sat on the terrace when Meghan had made the bold claim. She giggled once more, daring Johnny to throw the ice water over her. He gave her a smirk before she said "Of course I'm lying. Jeeez Captain Jack is the best. By far." "Thank you Luv." He slowly placed the ice bucket down on the table and sat back down. A few minutes later whilst he was distracted by his cigarettes, she grabbed an ice cube out the bucket and placed it down his shirt making him smirk. "Oh you!!" He said chuckling trying to get it out. "Pirate." She smirked making him smile widely. "I'll say. You would make a fine addition to me crew." The rest of the afternoon was filled with laughing, joking and enjoying one another's company. Something they seemed to be doing more and more.

"Hi! It's good to see you guys again!" Meghan said throwing her arms around Gina and then Stephen. "So sorry we weren't here on your first day but we had a lunch booked for ages with a friend the other side of the lake and decided to stay over there with them last night. "Oh nonsense don't be silly. You've not missed much." Meghan smiled sitting back down besides Johnny before standing again. "Do you want some wine? Shall I grab more glasses?" She said trying to earn her keep. "Doll it's ok. Sit, relax, they know where everything is." Gina smiled thanking her anyway. "I don't relax very well." Meghan said sheepishly. "I'll say, I don't think you ever stop do you?" "Not unless I'm asleep." They both chuckled and continued their conversation.

The next morning, Meghan woke fairly early due to jet lag. She donned her running Lycra cropped leggings and a black sports bra, grabbing her head phones she planned to head out for a run. She wasn't the fittest of people but still enjoyed keeping fit and maintaining it. She tied her hair up in a high pony tail, donned a cap, and put her sunglasses on as she headed down the stairs quietly. "God, you don't stop do you!" Gina whispered coming out the kitchen. "Ha. Jet lag. Why are you up so early?" "Couldn't sleep too much to do today." "Oh I'm sorry is there anything I can do?" "No darling don't worry. We'll sort it." Meghan smiled and headed out the front door blaring some of her favourite tunes loudly in her ears.

Meghan ran just over 5k before slowly retreating back around the lake towards the house. She felt so lucky to be in this scenario with so many wonderful people, she couldn't believe it was just over two months since Alex gave her the ultimatum, she assumed she would be more upset and still crying into a tub of Ben & Jerry's after breaking up with the guy she assumed she would be with forever, but actually it felt like the best thing she had ever done with her life. She got to the slight incline of the entrance to the house and gave it her all before finishing. She slowly wandered through the gardens to the terrace of the house, pulling out her hair, she was proud of her achievement as she hadn't ran in just under a week when she noticed somebody lingering.

"Good Morning." "Christ Johnny you made me jump. Why on earth are you awake this early?" She placed her hair band and sunglasses on a nearby table, before beginning to stretch. "Haven't slept yet." "What?!" Meghan said shocked as she stood up and grabbed her ankle bringing it up to her rear to stretch. "Insomnia. I laid there for a while and couldn't drift off so I came down to read and sketch a few hours ago. What about you?" "Jet lag. And besides I like to get out, clear my head." "Ha, I'll take your word for it, I've never been one to majorly work out." "Really?" Meghan said shocked. "Why are you so surprised?" "It's just umm, errhh." "Come on spit it out." Johnny smirked. Meghan smiled and stood up tall leaning against the wall.

"It's just, you look like you work out. You're in such great shape, I mean, look at the size of your arms. They are huge." She said almost blushing. He smirked and bit his lip at the compliment. "Well thank you... and I would love to take the credit but I inherited them from my father. He's the same. I guess it's how us Depp men are built... we are just well built."  He said shrugging his shoulders. "I'll say." Meghan said, she knew it was flirty but then again she was stood in front of him in a sports bra and tight Lycra. She felt she knew him well enough that they both had a laugh with one another. Johnny took a few steps closer to her, "I wouldn't...I'm not in the freshest of states." She said and he smirked before saying "Some men find that attractive." His eyes widened at his own comment. Johnny was shocked he had said that out loud. He noticed her eyebrows furrow before he continued "Have you been to Italy before?" "Once on a holiday years back. Why?" "Well I thought to show you around, maybe we could go to this nice place for dinner tonight on the lake, the food is out of this world." Meghan's eyebrows shot up. Was he asking her out? "Of course I'll have to check with G, it is her last night here." He added quickly. Meghan nodded slowly and smiled. "Of course. That sounds wonderful, thank you." She couldn't fathom what that empty feeling within her was. Was it disappointment that it wouldn't just be the two of them?

*You have been spoilt today with three chapter updates on this story! Don't expect that every day... although I do try to post as regularly as possible!*