Chapter 12

Chapter 12

While Richie was heading home, he battled with guilt for his lack of feeling and for being a dick to Denise. He was fully aware of what he was like tonight. He just needed something with a disconnected feeling to it. Harley had his head and heart spinning. Richie saw his phone light up on the seat next to him. He picked it up and saw a message sent from Harley an hour ago. “Hey, did you watch the show? Brad was great, right?” His heart sunk to the floor. Feeling like the ultimate asshole. Wondering, do I answer or ignore her and then maybe this feeling will just go away. But if he ignored her, he’d hurt her and piss his buddy off too. He wanted to answer her, really he did. “Hey darlin’, I did! You both were great! Congrats!”

After the awards show, everyone was going to the after party. Harley just planned on going home, but because she won, she felt obligated to attend. Who knows maybe she would have a good time. A couple of glasses of champagne later and meeting up with old friends, she had a very good time and nobody spoke of Tim. Which was what she was really avoiding most. While having a quiet moment in the ladies room she pondered. Does she text him or does she wait for him? He text her yesterday. So would that be so wrong? “fuck it, Harley! Break the ice!” she talked herself into it. “Hey, did you watch the show? Brad was great, right?” as every minute passed she felt angry at herself for even doing it. Maybe once he left, he thought better of liking her. Wishing she could delete it and take it back, but once it’s out there, it’s out there. Trying to continue socializing, she was more focused on her phone.

While saying her goodbye’s, as she was ready to head home to a hot bath and a soft bed, her phone went off. Excusing herself from talking with Reba McEntire she opened her handbag and pulled out her phone. It was Richie, “Hey darlin’ I did! You both were great! Congrats!” her smile faded a bit. Why the sudden emotional shut down, she wondered. How in the world would she reply to this? Not answering right away, due to being at a loss, she put her phone away, went back to Reba, continuing with the lunch plans they were making. They hugged and she started to the door. Brad stopped her, “Hey, leaving without a goodnight?” he asked. “Sorry” she told him, “I’m just tired and perplexed by your LA friend.” she explained. Brad frowned “perplexed? By Richie? Why’s that? Or do I not want to know?” he asked not too sure she wanted to share these things with him. She shook her head and said “Nothing! It’s all good. Gnite Brad. You were spectacular tonight!” she leaned in for a kiss on his cheek. “I was, wasn’t I?” he said jokingly boastful. “Dork” she said as she walked to the limo that was waiting to take her home.

Sitting alone in the back of the limo, she decided to text him back “Thank you! How are you?” by then Richie was home, checking in on Ava, who was sound asleep. He grabbed a cold bottle of water, took his phone and iPad out on the balcony that was off his bedroom, overlooking the vast pool. He read her text and replied “Fantastic! You must be on cloud 9 right now!” When Harley read that she got irritated. Richie had logged onto his Twitter to see what was happening. He had started tweeting recently and he was great reception from his fans. He so wished he could answer them all personally. Harley’s next text cut off his Twitter. Richie raised both eyebrows to her text. “I’d be better if you’d stop being a generic jerk!” she was pissing him off now. Who the hell did she think she was? He planned on ignoring her and went back to Twitter, this time using his iPad. He couldn’t concentrate. Harley decided against her bath, it was late and she was exhausted. After washing her face, she sunk into her bed. Waiting for a response, but it wasn’t coming soon enough. What was up with this guy? He was being such an asshole and that wasn’t the man he appeared to be this morning. ‘God-dammit!’ he said to himself. Out of shear frustration he hit the call button on his phone. Harley damn near jumped out of her skin when it rang. It rang 3 times before she answered. “Hello” she greeted his call with a sweet but firm voice. “Generic jerk? Seriously?” he asked, sounding annoyed. “yeah, usually when you want to get to know someone, you give more than ‘Fantastic’ to a ‘how are you?’ question. He took a deep frustrated breathe “fair enough, but you don’t know what kind of day I’ve had, darlin’” trying to hold a fair argument with her. “your right! I don’t, but I believe I was trying to find out, Richie. So sorry I bothered you. Have a great night, wallowing. Bye” and she hung up. Near tears because he wasn’t the man she’d thought she saw when she looked into his eyes.

At first Richie couldn’t believe she hung up on him and then thought about what a dick he was really being. He was so scared to fall so deeply in love and knew there was a strong possibility of that happening with her. He just wasn’t sure how ready for that he was. Feeling the guilt, yet again, he dialed her back, this time, she didn’t answer. So he left her a voicemail. “Harley, I’m sorry for being such a jerk. You were being nice and simply asking how I was. Honestly, I’m really battling something. But I don’t mean to take it out on you. I won’t behave that way, if you call me back. Bye darlin’” he said with a completely different tone in his voice. When Harley listened to the message, she knew that was the man she met. What had him so out of sorts today? He was fine this morning. She called him back. “Hi Sweetheart, I’m sorry” he answered “Are you always this erratic?” she asked. “No, generally I’m pretty even keeled” he tried to reassure her. “Then what has you all worked up?” she asked and he liked her concern for him. “Honestly?” he asked. She giggled a small one and said “You’re a tough one, aren’t you? Yes, honestly! I only do honest.” she informed him. “Well honestly, you, darlin’” he confessed. “Me? Why me?” she asked him. “I mean we were fine this morning, right?” she reminded him. “Yeah, baby girl. We were fine. I like you, Harley. I think I could like you a lot more to be honest. And that kinda freaks me out a bit, ya know?” he admitted. “Awww, Richie, I like you too, sweetie. Don’t think for one second you don’t scare the hell out of me. Matter of fact, didn’t we talk a little about this yesterday, when I freaked out? You said what to me? You gotta do it scared! Isn’t that what you said?” she asked. “Yeah” he said, “that’s exactly what I said”. She took a deep breathe, “then we will do it scared together? Cause I do like you so much, Richie.” He smiled “I like you so much too, sweetheart.” they continued talking for about an hour, when Richie could hear a change in her breathing, “Harley?” he said softly. She mumbled and he grinned. She was asleep. Now that was a first. No woman had ever fallen asleep while talking to him. He had a feeling Harley was going to give him a lot of “firsts”. He liked knowing that comfortable feeling she had with him to let her guard down to sleep. He listened for a minute more. He wished he could feel her breath on his neck. At that moment Richie made the decision, he was no longer going to see Denise and really give it an honest go with Harley. His mind drifted to her sleeping, maybe dreaming of him….sweet Harley, gnite.