Chapter 9

Richie glanced up from the sheet music as the door to the studio opened, a quick grin sliding onto his lips. “Hey! You made it.”

Jon rolled his eyes. “I said I’d be here asshole.”

“Yeah if you could get away. No blonde in your bed today, you fu—uh.” Richie cleared his throat. He’d gotten so used to Alex watching him for the last few days, he was starting to fall back onto habits that would catch a whippin’ from his mama. “Sorry, this way Jonny.” He motioned for him to follow.

Jon waved at Was and rounded the corner into the lounge area. A laptop and sketchpad littered the table along with a Nordic blonde that he had to actually look up at. Jesus, she was a tall one. He glanced down at her oddly bright blue shoes peeking from her severe black pantsuit. A white t-shirt with a wild matching swirl of colors stretched across her chest, but was hidden by the same black severe cut top to said suit.

It was the eyes that were arresting. Gold as a one of those coins on that stupid pirates’ movie that Jake made him watch over and over again. They were hidden by oversized glasses that…he glanced down then back up. Talk about matching. He held out his hand. “So you’re the infamous Alexandra Walker.”

Her hand lifted automatically and grasped his, before firmly shaking. "That would be me, not so sure about infamous, and you must be dickhead. Or was that asshole?"

Jon's eyebrows shot skyward into his hairline. A slight smirk stretched his lips. "So, Richie talks about me?"

Her gaze swept over him in an instant as she forced back the laugh. he was dressed a lot more casually than she'd have thought a business man would be. She let go of his hand and nodded. “Occasionally, when he thinks no one is listening."

Richie's jaw dropped. She made a joke? She made a fucking joke at Jon’s expense? He quickly shot a look at Jon and found only humor in his tired eyes. He laughed, "Artists, man." He shrugged. "Alex has been hanging out with us way too long at this point. Was and I are no good with the internal censor."

Jon walked over to the water cooler in the corner, pulled a small cup from the wall and filled it. "Nah, I can be a dickhead. Refreshing to hear it said to my face than behind my back," He took a sip of the ice cold water and grinned. "I think."

She took a step back and willed the blush away. Good God, she'd just popped off like that? In front of a well known person she didn't even know? Jesus Alex, way professional!

She shook her head and tried to backtrack slightly. "I'll just get back to work." She nodded to them both and turned quickly before the embarrassment started to shine. "I'm sure you have things to discuss."

Jon stepped forward. "No, no. Now I have to know what this guy's been saying about me."

"Shut up, asshole." Richie said and set his guitar into its stand.

She stopped dead and took a deep breath before turning. "I'd think, after a few years of working together you could tell me correct?" She started to smile. "As a matter of fact I'm sure you could tell me a lot more about that one," she nodded towards Richie, "Than he's willing to admit too."

"Well yeah, but I don't have anything to do with this album. He doesn't have to listen to my opinions." Jon folded his arms. "I should be off the shit list for once." He looked at Richie. "You want to know more about the open book?"

Richie rolled his eyes. "Jonny thinks I talk too much."

Her brow arched as she studied the two men. He talked too much? He barely talked at all. Hell it was like pulling teeth sans anesthesia to get information that wasn't relating to a song on the album. "You talk too much? You?"

She turned to Jon a moment, "Maybe you don't think your opinion matters, but there have been one too many phone calls to you during recording for me to think he doesn’t care about what you think."

Richie frowned. She thought he was verifying shit with Jon? Did she listen to the conversations? They had such different writing styles when it came to their solo work. "Well, Jon knows when I'm off base better than anyone."

Jon rocked back on his heels. "Besides, we're usually talking football and Soul stuff. I am here to listen to a song today though." He kneaded his shoulder. "I've been waiting for Richie to get some of the stuff he was working on during the tour out of his thick skull."

"Eat me," Richie retorted. "Have you even picked up a guitar lately?"

A singular brow arched at the playful undertones to the serious conversation. "Well I'll let you two get too it." She moved towards her computer and settled into the couch, her fingers beginning to tap before she was seated. Of course he relied on his friend, that’s what friends did, even when they didn't want to admit too it. Sure they probably talked about anything other than music when they talked, but she knew somehow that just like a painter, touching base with that all important main friend could sometimes spark what was needed.

Jon watched Alex go back to her computer as he followed Richie into Was' domain. Jon slapped Don's back. "How you doin'?"

"Can't complain, Jonny." Don leaned back in his chair. "Richie's turned into the same kind of taskmaster you are though."

"Is that right?" Jon laughed and turned toward Richie. "You been hangin' with me too much."

Richie snorted. "If that ain't the truth. Now if I start playing like you do, we need an intervention."

"Aww, suck ass." Jon tipped his head back with a deep belly laugh. He could always count on Richie to even out the rough edges a shitload of paper work and meetings could cause.

Her brow flicked up as the conversation filtered into her through the small speaker. Didn't they realize they hadn't turned it off? She wondered for a moment or two if she should alert them, or listen into their private conversation. Sighing, she stood, she couldn't do that, it wasn't polite or professional. Stepping to the window she tapped upon the pane of glass, her hand gesturing to the speaker.

Richie turned; her glasses had fallen down her nose for a moment as she leaned into the glass. The sharp tug at his chest surprised him. She was always so aloof, so removed from the whole atmosphere of the room and to see her there, so close but still on the outside kicked into his brain. She was an interesting woman on the all around, yet didn't seem to want to connect with him at all. He leaned into the mic, "Sorry, Lex."

She smiled his way, knowing he couldn't hear her and nodded; "didn't want to intrude on private moments," she mouthed, hoping he could maybe read lips if only partially.

Jon turned to Was and mouthed, "Lex?"

Was just rolled his eyes and started fiddling with the board again.

Richie watched her mouth move, the slick dark red of her lips spelled out that she didn't want to eavesdrop. He frowned, staring a little too long at her mouth before nodding with a genuine smile to match hers. When he turned around Jon's face was a little too interested. "Fuck off."

"I love when you speak to me so sweetly." Jon dropped into one of the extra chairs in the room. "So what ya got for me?"

Richie sat down and rubbed his hands. "You know I was talking about that..." and they fell into their usual short speak, finishing each other's sentences as they listened to the song and the weak spots a few times.