Sunday 26 October 2014

Chapter 6



Let's make a date


Not sure, of restaurants in Teri’s area, outside of the famous Wooster Street Pizza place Pepe’s. Richie had his assistant Deni make a call; she got them a private table. Frank Pepe always had a private table at the ready. The establishment was used to famous people, who, stopped in for a slice or two. From President’s, to Rock Stars they all ended up at Pepe’s private table at some point. Hell, Frank, and Dean ate there. In Richie’s mind, that was the highest praise. Casual it is. There is enough time for nice dinners, and all that hearts and flowers crap. This is a first date. I may not even like her outside of a great lay.  Richie decided.

Teri had tried a few times to reach Richie through the day. She finally left a message for him to call when he was free, and she would try to be available. Susan, Teri’s Production Coordinator took Teri’s phone and kept it with her so this important call wouldn’t be missed. Teri being Teri would most likely, put the cell down, as she does her walkie-talkie. Lose it, and miss Richie’s call.  Teri added Wanted as Richie’s ring tone. It had them both humming the Bon Jovi song all day.

When it DID ring, it was of course, the most inopportune time. Susan had decided on a coffee run, word got out among the crew. She was picking up coffee for fourteen people. All with different wants.
Muttering under her breath, as she waited at a nearby Starbucks. Macchiato, Frappuccino, double espresso, mocha latte… this bullshit gotta stop. Next time it’s Dunkin Donuts Box of Joe, or nothing. She planned to talk to Teri about it at their morning wake up Teri, meeting tomorrow. Susan started to hum.  Yikes, THAT’s another thing I’m  gonna tell Teri. Wanted is stuck in my head. I’m still singing… Crap it’s the phone not my singin’!  Susan dug for the phone in her pocketbook and actually got it in time.  
“Teri’s phone.”She warned. 

There was no way she was going to answer and have Richie say something, she really didn’t need to hear. As it was, Susan wondered if she could see if any other band member was single. They were all sexy bad boy rockers.

“Hey, she around? This is…”

Susan cut him off as she got her drinks and started to her car with her cell under her chin so she could carry the beverages.

“I know who it is. I’m at Starbucks, and you’re on speaker, cuz, I’m trying to juggle fourteen different fucking coffee concoctions, to my car. This is the last time I say out loud, I’m doing a coffee run. They’re like locust!”

“Want me to call back?” Richie asked as he grinned. The band was the same way.

“Nah, just give me a second. I parked in front hold…. FUCKIN’ A!”

Richie waited, he figured she probably dropped everything; He listened for the fourteen cups of coffee concoctions to hit the ground.

After a few moments, Susan was back on the phone.

“Sorry about that. I forgot to take my keys out of my pocket, had to put all this shit down on my car.”

“No drop?”

“No drop. I’m not Teri’s PC for nothing my friend.” She said in a smug tone.

Richie laughed aloud. He heard the car start and figured she was on her way back to the theatre. He would hang on. Richie wanted to know how things were going for Teri.

“She doing okay?”

“Actually, better than okay. Usually by now, she is a bear to live with. It always seemed nothing is good enough for her. It could be perfect but, she always pushes for the best performance we can give her.  For SOME reason, she is very happy today. Any idea why?” Susan asked. She knew the answer.

“No clue Suzie.”

Richie said, as he adopted a pet name for her. Susan hated the name Suzie, but for Richie Sambora to say it… It’s all more than good.

Susan made it back to the theatre in no time. She talked with Richie about this show a little bit. Susan filled him in on a few of Teri’s ideas. He was intrigued.

“Hang on; I gotta call for back up. No way in hell I’m gonna carry all this inside.” She put her phone on top of the coffee, and used the walkie-talkie to get some help. The words ‘I’m back with coffee!’ had people running to the stage door to give a hand. She grabbed her own coffee and Teri’s, then went to find her boss.

“Hey Ter, I got your coffee and your boyfriend.”

“Thanks for the coffee. I don’t have a boyfriend.” Teri replied as she took her caffeine from Susan’s hand.

“No problem Ter. I’ll just tell Richie I’m free to date him.”

Teri’s eyes got wide. A grin engulfed her whole face, as she put her hand out for the cell. Susan obliged and gave her the phone.

“Hey you! Sorry about that. I gave my cell to Susan, so I wouldn’t miss your call. I lose my walkie-talkie all the time. Didn’t want to misplace the cell too.”

Richie grinned at another little piece of information. Teri put’s stuff down and forgets where it is.

“No worries Darlin’. Suzie and I were just gettin’ better acquainted.”

“Suzie, huh?” Teri questioned a she looked at her PC with a raised eyebrow.

Susan shrugged.

“Your timing is great. I was just thinking about a break. Hang on,” Teri called out to the crowd. “Ten minutes everyone. Grab some water, a smoke, or whatever. Back on stage in ten.”

As she walked away from the stage, she heard Al her stage manager reiterate Teri’s break.

“You heard the lady, ten minutes and we are back. Enjoy your break.” He then grabbed his own coffee from the dwindling pile, and went to sit down, to relax for a bit.

Teri meandered outside through the lobby. She knew smokers would be by the stage door. She wanted a little privacy, and decided on the front of the theatre for a smoke, coffee, and Richie would work.
Richie got quick to the point, as, he knew his time was limited.

“Okay, since I only know of one place for dinner out in Connecticut. I got us a table for Wednesday night.”
Teri cringed a little. She usually gave the cast Friday off before Saturday opening night not Wednesday. She didn’t even think of it ‘till just now. She changed around some daytime meetings but never thought about tech rehearsal.

What the fuck am I going to do? I totally forgot about Wednesday rehearsal when I made plans with Richie… FUCK! Why didn’t I put that in my calendar? Cuz you always remember tech Wednesday dufus.

“It’s totally casual. I figured we could go there, and just hang out for dinner,” He continued not knowing Teri was in a dilemma. “Do you like Pizza? I got us a table at Pepe’s.”

Teri pulled the phone away from her ear and looked at it. First, date and its pizza? From a normal every day guy sure. But I thought …. Oh, forget it. Answer his question.

“Love Pepe’s. You got a table?”

“Yeah. Frank Pepe’s an old friend.”

“Aaahhh… Sounds good. It will be fun to go. I usually do take out. The wait for a table is regularly hours long. This will be a blast.”

They talked a few more minutes. Both knowing time was not on their side.

“Hey Richie?”

“Yeah?”

“Bring your toothbrush.” Teri simply stated.

Message received. He smiled his dimple smile into the phone.

“I will. See you soon Bright Eyes.”

It was Teri’s turn to smile into the phone.

“Yeah, see you then.” Her voice was husky.  

After they hung up, Teri took a sip of coffee, and looked over the small grassy area in front of the theatre. She stamped her feet like a little kid.

“YYYYIIIIEEEE!” She screamed.

She hugged herself, and swayed back and forth. With a smile as big as big could be.
I have a date with Richie Sambora!!




Sunday 19 October 2014

Chapter 5 - The Boys Are Back in Town



On the way home, the girls discussed their stay in the city. It was a great time for both of them.

Teri was listening but she really didn’t listen.

“Ter, you can come back to earth now.”

She grinned at her friend, and shook Teri’s leg a little.

“Sorry Glor. Still reliving last night.”

“I bet you are. And?”

Teri sighed. Then grinned at her friend.

“He was so much fun to be with. We laughed, teased, and talked. We had breakfast at this little hole in the wall that had the most amazing food. We stopped by Central Park on the way back to our hotel. Glor, we’re gonna see each other again. Playing it casual. Nothing serious. Richie said, he’s got a lot on his plate.  I’m not exactly twiddling my thumbs either.  As you know, we’re gonna have dinner Wednesday night.

“Do I get any more details?”

Teri smirked.

“Nope.”

“Nothing?”

She grinned at Gloria.

“The rumors are true. Moose is an accurate description. “

Both laughed… hard.

They spent the remainder of the trip talking about anything and everything. As best friends do. These two were no exception.

Once they got home. Teri spent the rest of the day on the phone, as she worked on her production. There were a zillion details, which she needed to address. Teri jumped right into it after she changed clothes and made something to eat. And, of course, a pot of coffee. By nine p.m., the director thought it was time for dinner, and some down time. She had to be in her office at the theater, early in the morning.  Teri had a full day of interviews, and meetings. These last few days before hell week were the worst, but the best. This is what Teri thrived on.

As she settled in front of the television with her dinner of Chinese take-out, she decided to watch something mindless. This just gave background noise; she let her thoughts go wherever they felt like. Which of course was to Richie.
                                         ***        ***        ***        ***        ***        ***
 “We done?” Richie asked of their producer, who was working preliminaries on the new album with him and Jon.

“Yup. We’re good. I’ll see you two tomorrow.” The three stood and made for the door

“Rich, feel like grabbing dinner?”

“Nah, thanks. I’m heading back to the hotel. See ya tomorrow.”

“Got a girl waiting?”

Jon didn’t know when THAT would have happened. Rich told him that he left his “date” at her hotel this morning. There was no time. He must have called someone during one of their breaks.  

Richie, just grinned at Jon, as he took off out the front door, and hailed a cab to his hotel. Once in his room, he poured himself a drink, ordered room service, and got comfortable. He picked up a nearby guitar, and mindlessly played as he waited on dinner. His thoughts were not on his guitar, but on the night before.  Dinner arrived, and, he made short work of eating. Richie poured a second drink, and picked up the phone to call Teri. As promised, Teri answered Richie’s call. She grinned when she answered, as she knew it had to be Richie.

“Hello?”

“Hey baby.” A sultry voiced Richie purred.

Fuck! If he growls, I am sure to have phone sex tonight. Teri thought with a smile.

“Hey yourself, hot stuff. How was the session tonight?”

“Good. We worked on laying tracks, so when the boys show up, it’s ready to go. A couple of more days and then the boys are back in town.

Teri laughed.

“It wasn’t that funny.” Richie stated.

The Boys are back, the boys are back in tooowwwnnn.  Boys are back in town,” Teri sang “That Thin Lizzy song from the late seventies. You know it right?”

Score another point for Teri. Richie thought. She knows her music.

He laughed aloud. Then, settled more comfortably on the couch. He was looking forward to their conversation.

They talked for over two hours. It was after midnight when Richie needed to get off the phone.

“Baby, I can talk to you for hours, But, I still have to call my kid, and get some stuff done.”

“No problem Richie. I need to do the same. Well, not call my kid, but I have early meetings, and some press tomorrow. I need to prepare for those and a rehearsal tomorrow night, Hell Week starts.”

“No problem baby. I’ll call again,” he was running the day through his head. “Maybe in the afternoon tomorrow.”

“Hmmmm… Let me call you. Tomorrow is going to be touch and go on my end.”

Richie agreed. His voice got low and sultry.

“I miss you not here in my bed tonight.”

“That’s it gotta go!” Teri exclaimed as she jumped off her couch.

“What?” Richie questioned.

Confused. In his mind, what he said was a GOOD thing.

“If we keep this up, I can see phone sex in our near future, and I’m kinda a more, do it for real type of gal.”

Richie grinned. She had spunk.

“Well, you could come out here. It’s not that far.”

“And be back for a 9 a.m. interview, composed, and not looking like I just left your bed? Not to mention, the two plus hour commuter rush hour drive? Sorry baby. Not tonight. Though, if you want to come here…”

Richie sighed.

“No can do Darlin’. I have to be at the studio tomorrow. Same issue on my end.”

They kept on talking for another forty-five minutes. During that time, Teri straightened up, and put her dishes in the dishwasher. Her housekeeper would be in the next morning. However, Teri liked to at least tidy up at the end of her day. Once upstairs, she sat on the bed and continued her conversation with Richie. Finally, sleep began to take over. She shook herself awake.

“Richie, I gotta go. Falling asleep on the phone with you would probably not make a very good impression.”

They both chuckled.

“Okay, baby. I’ll talk to you tomorrow. G’Night”

“G’Ni…” Teri never finished the sentence. She fell asleep.