Chapter 25

She was floating as she headed back to where her friends were all standing, goofy grins on each and every face, aware now that not only was Bean sitting behind her, but so were Beth, Dana and Nikki. It seemed all the GDs were aware of her budding relationship with Jon and had come to witness it themselves. Someone grabbed at her sleeve and she turned expectantly.

“OMG, you’re a Bed of Roses girl and Jon Bon Jovi kissed you! You are sooooo lucky.” The giddy fan excited that she’d been a witness to someone getting a kiss like that from Jon.

All she could do was smile and nod, there was no reason to explain that her kiss was much more than one bestowed on a lucky fan. “Thanks” she finally said as she found herself deluged by her friends celebrating with her. Everything rolled in slow motion as she heard the congratulations and reveled in their hugs. Her attention was drawn back to the stage after a few moments as the strains of Bad Medicine sank in and noticed Jon pointing in her general direction. Laughing as she imagined his gut was aching as bad as hers now that they’d finally seen each other again, she wanted, no, needed to be closer to him. Then the fun of a Bon Jovi show took over when Raise Your Hands started and her friends were teasing her. Mesmerized by the man on stage and his words in an unending loop in her head ‘the color of my love’ , she was antsy to get in his arms. A firm hand landing on her shoulder stole her attention, the familiar face a welcome sight.

“The boss says you’d better be waiting backstage when he gets there.”

“Hi, Kev. What about my friends?”

“They know the plan. You’ll see them after the show.” Crooking his head towards the back of her section, Amber touched Cassidy’s arm to catch her attention and saw the recognition in her eyes. “I’m going with Kevin. See you later?”

“After the show.” Beaming at her girlfriend, Richie’s strategy may have not had a chance to play out as planned, but it was even better now knowing that Jon and Amber were together.

Squeezing her hand, Amber took off at nearly a run trying to keep up with Kevin when she heard Prayer starting and knew the encore would be coming soon. Winding through corridors she didn’t know existed until she found herself in a hallway bustling with people seemingly oblivious to the show. “Where’s the stage?” She asked breathily, winded from the sprint they’d just run.

“This way. He’s going to be soaked in sweat.”

“I don’t care.” Nothing mattered except getting him in her arms again. Until he saw her and spoke those words she didn’t understand how badly she’d missed him and wanted to be with him, now that she did, she couldn’t wait. Standing in the tunnel that led to the stage she listened to the end of Prayer, Jon’s first round of goodbyes to the audience and then she saw them headed her way, Tico first, followed by David and Richie, none of them paying attention to her, then Jon came bolting towards her with a whoop that caught everyone else’s attention.

Wheeling around, Richie instantly recognized her, a wide smile creasing his mouth. “It’s about time you got here.”

Amber didn’t hear the comment, her mouth was being crushed by Jon’s, not that she was objecting, hell, if there was a way to crawl inside him she would. His sweat soaking her clothing didn’t even register with that mouth clamped down on hers inhaling her breath, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck, not willing to let him go. Fingers were cupping her face, assuring him that she wasn’t moving, the hunger that began building the moment he spotted her in the crowd almost to a point of agony that he couldn’t reach her once he hit the stage. The sweet taste of her was like ambrosia and he couldn’t fathom how he’d managed to live without her for these last months. Someone was pulling at him, attempting to drag him back to the dressing room, with a whimper they were separated. Jon being pulled, he captured her hand and took her with him as instructions were being barked at him. Finally they were inside the band’s room and his face lit up when he saw his band mates, their faces aglow with self-congratulations. “What?”

“Nothing.” David tried to suppress a smile having been in on Richie’s scheme from the beginning, even if he didn’t think flying in a bunch of women for the show was necessary.

“Amber, the guys, guys this is Amber.” Grinning widely with one arm wrapped around her back, holding her next to him.

“Hey, nice seeing you again, good thing your friend still works for Evan.”

“Cassidy?”

“Yeah, nice girl, she’s been a lot of help.”

Choking, Amber’s eyes went wide “Cassidy? Cassidy’s been a lot of help? She’s the one that forgot to give me the note from Jon, the one where his number was wrong.”

A strange expression came over Jon, “I wrote the number in the message that I sent you through her.”

Thrusting it towards him since she’d kept it, “see, no area code and the number’s wrong. I called every area code in the country. All of them, and not one of them was yours.”

Sheepishly he shrugged “did you dial sevens or ones?”

“Those are most definitely ones.”

“They’re sevens.”

“They.... are... not! Those are ones.” Stabbing at the paper as she spoke “you mean you wrote your own fucking number down wrong?” incredulous and angry now. “Besides, you know where I live, you’ve been there, you know my ex-boss and went to school with him, you could have found me if you wanted to.”

“Whooooaa. I’ve waited way too long to have you in my arms again and I’m not spending the four or five minutes between the show and the encore arguing with you. I spent all of my spare time driving all over the fucking city trying to find Freedom Street or Avenue or whatever it was and it doesn’t exist! Evan’s pissed at me cause he thinks I’m the reason you quit and you have an unlisted phone number.”

Richie, David, Hugh and Tico were far smarter men than to hang around to witness this, they needed to cool down and get ready for the next round on stage, as did Jon, but not one of them were getting between the two standing toe to toe arguing.

“I didn’t quit because of you! I quit because Evan is a male chauvinist pig and Rafael is worse than Evan. I don’t live in the city, I live in fucking Jersey just like you do and someone needs to teach you the difference between ones and sevens!” Her eyes were flashing at him with frustration and anger, while he was fighting a losing battle in a war he had no heart to fight.

Knowing his time was limited and refusing to continue this, he pulled hard against her causing her to fall against him “I’m not going to continue fighting.” His lips sealed over hers, his tongue thrusting into her mouth to silence any protests while he held her tightly and swallowed all her objections until she softened in his arms, submitting to the need she felt as strongly as he did. While her senses were still reeling and the flames licking at her core were at their peak, Richie’s voice broke into their heated exchange.

“Jon! You have about 30 seconds to change. There’s not enough time for make up sex now.” Laughing when a middle finger salute flew his way, Richie tossed a towel over Jon’s head and got ready to go back to the stage.
Stripping off his shirt and drying off best he could, Jon grabbed the one offered him and slid it over his head, using another towel to dry his hair since he didn’t have time for a proper drying. “Wait here!”

“I want to see the rest of the show!”

Grinning, he grabbed her hand and pulled her along. “Kev will take care of you.” Giving her a quick kiss, he handed her off then as he refocused his attention on his adoring audience impatiently waiting for him; Amber looked to the man she was finding herself in the company of regularly.

“Come on.” She followed to the stairs leading to the back of the stage and discovered she had an unimpeded view of Jon’s backside. Laughing to herself that Rita would be jealous, she settled in and sang along with the music, completely unaware that the pits were filled by those in purple wristbands.