Chapter 5

Valerie reluctantly wakes up from the dream she is having about Richie. She wants to roll back over and continue sleeping until she sees the time on the clock. It’s almost ten, her friends will be there any minute. She forces herself to get up.

She grabs some clothes and heads to the bathroom to take a shower. She’s tempted to run downstairs when she smells the coffee brewing, but decides she better get her shower out of the way first. The warmth of the shower relaxes her. She can’t help but close her eyes imagining Richie. Damn he’s sexy. She still can’t believe he’s showing an interest in her. Valerie can’t wait to see him again.

She finishes up in the shower. When she steps out of the tub she hears the door bell ring. Knowing that her friends are waiting for her, she hurries to get dressed. Instead of fussing with her hair, she puts some mousse in it which brings out the natural curl, then runs a comb through it. She puts on some makeup, and sprays on a little perfume.

Once Valerie is satisfied with her appearance she goes back into her bedroom to put some shoes on, then heads downstairs. The first thing she does once she gets into the kitchen is pour herself a cup of coffee. Her friend Nikki is sitting at the counter on one of the bar stools chatting with Chris.

“Where’s Michelle?” Valerie asks when she notices that Nikki is alone.

“She called me this morning, said she was sick. Did you take long enough getting ready?” Nikki teases Valerie.

Valerie gives her a dirty look as she reaches into her purse to grab her pack of cigarettes and a lighter. She picks up her coffee and walks out to the back patio to have a smoke. Her friend follows her outside.

“Chris told me you guys went to the bar last night. Why didn’t you call and invite me?” Nikki asks as she sits in the chair beside Valerie.

“Sorry . . . I guess I got a little distracted.”

“Distracted?”

“I told Chris I’d get up on stage with him to sing backups. So I was a little nervous about making a fool of myself and didn’t think to call and invite you... sorry.” Valerie replies while she lights her cigarette and takes a drag off it.

“Yeah...right, you just didn’t want me there making fun of you.” Nikki teases her.

“That too.” Valerie shrugs smiling.

“So did you guys have fun?”

“Yeah we did. I met a guy there and Chris got offered a record contract.”

“Chris mentioned that he finally landed a record contract. You met a guy? I thought you had sworn off men for awhile after what happened with Brad.” Nikki asks.

“I wasn’t looking to hook up with anyone, it just kind of happened.” Valerie answers her question.

“Are you sure you’re ready to get involved with another man?”

Valerie can see the concern in Nikki’s eyes. Nikki has been like a sister to her since they became friends early in high school. Valerie can talk to her about anything, and at least she’s not as overly protective as Chris is... usually.

“Yeah I’m sure. It’s time to move on. This guy is different, I know things will be better this time. Chris is already giving me the third degree about it.” Valerie responds, the frustration evident in her voice.

“Well, I can’t say that I blame him. He saw first hand what Brad did to you. If it would have been me to find you like that, I would have killed the bastard, instead of ruffing him up like Chris did.” Nikki replies venomously.

Valerie had no doubt in her heart that Nikki meant what she said, and was only glad that she hadn’t been there that night. As bad as that night was, it would have only been worse if her best friend had been carted off to jail for murder. Valerie stares off into the distance as images of that night flash into her mind. She hears the screaming, and then the begging for him to stop. She can feel the pain from the blows all over her body, and then just before the blissful darkness overtakes her, she feels him ....

“Hey....Val, are you ok?” Nikki startles her out of her reverie.

Valerie looks at Nikki as a shiver courses through her body at the haunting images. “Yeah I’m fine.” she replies darkly, frustrated that after 6 months she still can’t forget.

“It’ll get better.” Nikki tries to reassure her.

“I hope so, don’t know how much more of it I can take.” Valerie mutters before taking a long relaxing drag from her smoke.

“Do you still have the nightmares?” Nikki asks, concerned.

“No, thankfully they seem to have subsided for the most part.” Valerie is relieved.

“That’s good. So .... this guy you met. Do I know him?”

Valerie smiles at the mention of Richie, welcoming the change in topic. “Umm, kind of, but you won’t believe me if I tell you.”

A look of confusion crosses Nikki’s face. Valerie can tell she’s racking her brain trying to figure out who it may be.

“He wanted to get together today and hang out, so I told him he could meet us at the mall later.” Valerie tells Nikki, while a smile plays at the corner of her lips. “I hope you don’t mind?”

“No, that’s cool with me. I’d like to meet this mystery man.” Nikki responds, still trying to figure it out. “Speaking of the mall, we should probably get going. Are you done with your coffee yet?”

“Yeah, just a sec.” Valerie downs the last little bit of coffee in her cup, and takes one last drag from her cigarette before snuffing it out in the ashtray.

Nikki follows her as she walks back into the house and puts her empty cup of coffee in the sink in the kitchen. Valerie then grabs her purse from the counter and tells Chris that she’s leaving. Both ladies walk out to Nikki’s car chatting as they leave for the mall.

*******

Richie slowly wakes up from the erotic dream he is having about Valerie. His morning wood a painful reminder of the effect she is having on him. He has to figure out how to get it under control or else he’ll be sporting a perpetual hard-on every time he’s around her. He really doesn’t want to scare the lovely lady away.

After climbing out of bed, Richie heads to the bathroom to take a cold shower. He doesn’t allow himself the luxury of relieving his annoying little problem this time. Luckily the cold water does the trick. When he finishes in the shower, he grabs a towel then goes back into the bedroom to get dressed. He puts on some blue jeans with holes in the knees, and a black T-shirt. After he’s dressed, he grabs a comb to run through his long brown hair.

Richie grabs a few things off the dresser, shoving them into his pockets before heading downstairs. He is a little surprised at how quiet it is in the house. He walks into the kitchen and finds Dorothea sitting at the counter reading a newspaper.

“Where’s Jon?” Richie asks, startling Dorothea.

“He left a couple hours ago. Said he was going to breakfast with Tico and Dave. I thought you were with him.”

Richie looks up at the clock, noticing for the first time that it was already after noon. He didn’t realize he had slept that long. Although it was no wonder considering how late it was when he finally fell asleep.

“Did you want something to eat?” Dorothea asks.

“Na, I’m fine. I’m heading out to go meet someone. I’ll get something to eat later.” Richie responds.

“Ahh ... Your new girlfriend?” Dorothea teases with a smile on her face.

Richie chuckles. “I don’t know if I’d call her that yet, we still have to get to know each other first.”

“Jon told me about what happened last night. He thought it was amusing, the idea of you taking it slow with this girl.” Dorothea wasn’t too sure of Richie’s abilities at slowing down herself. She’s heard all the stories.

“Yeah, he doesn’t think I can do it, but I’ll show him.” Richie shook his head. He can’t believe his best friend is giving him such a hard time about this. No doubt he’s telling the guys all about it, and they’re laughing at his expense. “Well I better get going.”

“Ok, have fun.” Dorothea smiles. She thinks it’s cute. Richie is actually taking his time with a girl. She must be something special.


Richie walks outside to his car. Before he takes off, he checks his pocket for the paper with Valerie’s number on it. Reassured that it is still there he takes off towards the mall. When he’s within a couple miles of the mall, his cell phone starts to ring. He glances at the caller ID before answering the call.

“Hey Tico ... what’s up?” Richie answers.

“Hey man, you missed breakfast.”

“Yeah I know, I kind of over slept.” Richie replies.

“So I heard. So what’s the deal with this band Jon wants to bring with us on tour? They any good?” Tico asks.

“Oh yeah .... a hell of a lot better then the band we have now.” Richie reassures the drummer.

“Your not just saying that cause you want to get into the pants of the singer’s sister....are you?” Tico questions.

“I guess Jon told you about that too, huh. No, they really are good.”

“Yeah Jon told us about the guy’s sister, that she’s a real knockout, and that you were drooling over her. He thinks it’s hilarious that your planning to take it slow with her. He even started a bet with Dave and I, on how long you’ll last before you’re in her pants.” Tico informed Richie.

“That little fucker.... So how much you in for?” Richie ground his teeth cursing Jon.

“Jon bet a grand that you wouldn’t last two days, Dave bet 3.....I gave you the benefit of the doubt and bet 4"

“Thanks a lot guys. I’m glad to see I have your support...... I tell you what, if I last more than four days then you’re sharing the pot with me.”

Richie could hear Tico chuckling. “Sure man, just as long as Jon doesn’t win.”

“Oh trust me. He isn’t going to win. Even if I have to wear a damn chastity belt for the next week.” Richie replies, peeved at Jon for making him look like a fool.

Tico laughs at Richie’s last remark. “Ok, well just thought I’d check with you on the band. I’ll let you go now.” Tico manages to get out between bouts of laughter.

“That’s good cause I need to give Valerie a call to let her know I’m at the mall where I’m meeting her.” Richie replies as he pulls into the parking lot.

“Ok man, just remember to keep your dick in your pants.”

“Yeah, yeah .... Talk to you later.” Richie hangs up the phone before Tico can make another remark. He finds a parking spot then dials Valerie’s number.

*********