Be my Starr (Ringo Starr)

Chapter 5 part 2: Man Whores

Susan was open-mouthed and absolutely taken back. The memory of giving Ringo her number flashed before her eyes and not in a million years did she think he'd actually call.

"R-ringo." She stuttered. "Sorry." She sighed. "I just didn't think you'd call." She thought she sounded stupid and babyish.

———

Ringo was in his room at the time, laying on his bed and still fully clothed.

"Why did you think that?" he asked whilst getting a cigarette from out the pack.

"Don't make me say it." Susan could think of a thousand reasons why Ringo wouldn't call but she decided to keep it simple. Ringo knew full well why she was surprised.

"I said I'd called." He remarked and lit the cigarette between his lips.

"You're a real gentleman," Susan replied with a genuine earnest. Not many guys would've called let alone any famous ones. "I thought you'd have better things to do with your time that's all."

"Not really." He shrugged, staring intensely at his cigarette. "I was just thinking of you." He commented.

Once again, Susan couldn't believe what she was hearing. A good looking man actually saying that he was thinking of her. She was still contemplating whether this was a dream or not. "Really?"

"Yeah course." He replied. "I can still see you laying on that grass." He teased, smiling to himself as he thought of that exact moment. That was the first time something like that had happened in Ringo's life and he only wanted more of it. Susan seemed like the key to more fun and laughter, the kind of laughter he hadn't felt in ages and craved to feel again.

Susan laughed at his joke. "Please don't remind me." She begged. "I promise you I'm not always like that."

"I wouldn't mind if you were." Ringo grinned and took a drag of his cigarette.

"I don't actually wear those kinds of clothes," Susan admitted.

"I didn't like the dress either," Ringo said honestly, taking another drag.

"Oh." Susan sounded offended. It was hard getting past Ringo's honesty but she was glad he had the guts to say it.

"Sorry, Luv. It just wasn't for me." He said casually.

"Well, it's not for me either." Susan retorted. "It was my friend who did it all for me anyway." She looked over to check if Barbara was still asleep. Yep. Thank god she didn't hear her say that she thought. "And she did my hair," Susan added with sass.

"You should have told her that you didn't like it then." Ringo deadpanned. "I would've told ya." Susan rolled her eyes.

"You've told me enough things already."

"Ay, I was just saying," Ringo said sharply.

"Yeah well don't," Susan said simply.

"Remind me not to get on your bad side again." Ringo took a needed drag of his cigarette. He didn't expect Susan to have a fire in her like that let alone a fire at all. He saw her as just the nervous, cute type. She proved him wrong. "So, when will I get to see yer again?" He asked.

Susan shrugged. "I don't know. Do you want to see me again?"

"Why do you think I'm asking?" He said jokingly. "What about tomorrow?"

Susan sighed. "Sorry, I can't tomorrow. I'm going to my mums."

"What about after you see your mum?" He challenged.

"Okay." Susan smiled.

"I'll pick you up from your mums," Ringo said and took a drag of his cigarette.

"No, you can't," Susan said abruptly.

"Why not?" He questioned.

Susan was silent for a moment. "My mum thinks you're all a bunch of..." She went quiet.

"Well go on." Ringo pushed.

"Man whores," Susan said in a quiet tone.

Ringo laughed. "You what? Why does she think that?"

"Because every time she reads the news or watches the television, there you all are with a new woman by your side." Ringo thought for a moment. She had a point.

"Well, your mums not exactly correct my dear. Those girls are just girls who were there at the time. We don't bring them with us." Ringo defended him and his bandmates even though he wasn't completely telling the truth. He was about him though and that was enough.

"But you take them home." Susan countered.

"Not always." Ringo deflected. "I don't." He said with a smirk.

"Fine. You can pick me up at my mums BUT." She stopped for a moment. "You're not coming in."

"I wasn't-"

"Because if you do then my mum will lose her marbles and she will chase you will a spatula." She explained making Ringo laugh. This was the fix he needed. "Trust me, she said she'd do it and my mum is a woman of her word." Susan couldn't help but laugh with him. It was nice talking to him about things including her mum.

"Now I definitely want to meet her." He laughed.

"You'll have to come at 3 pm. Is that alright?"

"Perfect." He smiled.

"Great." She said. "I'll see you tomorrow then."

"I'm counting the seconds already." Ringo flirted.

Susan was about to hang up the phone when she decided to say something. "Goodnight Ringo." She said.

"Call me Ritchie," Ringo said abruptly.

Susan frowned. "I thought-"

"You're my friend so."

"So I'm your friend am I?" Susan smirked.

"For now." Ringo grinned.

Susan smiled to herself. This man was something else entirely. "Goodnight Ritchie."

Ringo smiled to himself. God did it feel good to her say that. For some reason, she said it best and it made him feel a way he couldn't describe. "Goodnight Susie."