Chapter 17

Emmie cracked open her hotel room door, plodded tiredly over to the bed and falling face first into it with a groan. She was exhausted! The pace at which Richie lived while on the road was full throttle with no rest stops in sight! how did he do it day in and day out? She’d been  on the road with him now for a little over a week and she was ready to seriously drop dead in her tracks.

She looked at the clock and sighed. Richie would be out for at least another two or three hours, he always was after a show. Tonight she just couldn’t do it, she had to get some sleep so she’d told him so and excused herself from the party. She knew Gia thought she was crazy leaving him alone there with all those wild women and seedy characters toting their drugs and expensive alcohol. But, Emmie wasn’t worried, as crazy at it seemed she trusted him. She knew, eventually, he’d drag his lanky, half buzzed to hell butt through the door and into bed, slide between the sheets behind her, pull her close in his arms and fall asleep. Pulling herself from the bed, she padded slowly to the bathroom and took a quick shower, then dressed in her pajamas and slipped into bed closing her eyes. She was asleep in minutes.

Richie slowly, quietly opened the door , tiptoeing into the darkened room, his swagger was a bit on the unbalanced side for countless shots and beers . Dropping his key on the table , he started to walk around the table but ran directly into it  his knee connecting with the oak coffee table a slew of curses flew out of his mouth . , bending down to rub it , he almost fell onto the couch .

Emmie startled out of her sleep, wide eyed, blinking rapidly in the dark she saw his shadow. “Richie? “ she asked sleepily “What are ya doin?”

Richie fought to regain his equilibrium , as he stumbled to the bedroom  “The damned coffee table jumped out at me “ He replied in a drunken tone . He flopped down on the bed , tried to reach down to kick of his boots and nearly stumbled over. “The fuckin’ room needs to stop spinnin’ “

She cleared her throat, not wanting to laugh at him but finding it hard to keep a straight face. This was not the only time he’d been this wasted. While he hadn’t drank all that much while in Jamaica, it seemed he always had a drink in his hand out here. “Lay down honey”  she crooned softly, “It’ll stop spinning soon. I think....” she raised an eyebrow when the scent of alcohol infiltrated her nose.He musta drank the bar dry tonight! She climbed out from under the covers and removed his shoes and socks for him, then she unbuttoned his pants for comfort and his shirt she slid off over his head with alot of yanking and struggle but she did manage and finally had him laying down and at least somewhat more comfortable than he was before.

Richie swayed back with a thud , his head hitting the back of the headboard “Fuck!  I’m sorry baby , we had a party can’ ya tell ?  It was one of the road crew’s  birthday and well , just had a few drinks is all “ He continued drunken ramble “ Wish you been there baby . Jesus! Wish the room would stop spinning “

Emmie took a deep breath and sighed, thinking hard before speaking. “I’m sorry, I just needed a little sleep, maybe next time?” She really wished he wouldn’t do this to himself quite so often. Ok, so he wasn’t drunk every second of everyday but still, of the 9 or so days she’d been traveling with him he’d been wasted at least 5 and this time seemed to be the worst. “Or, ya know... maybe next time we could just skip it all together, come back here, just you and me...”

Richie rolled over “Oh fuck , shouldn’t have done that “ he muttered while reaching for her “ Yea we can do that baby . You mad ? Please don’t be bad -- I mean mad. This is what we do “ he chuckled “ C’mere I need you “

She snuggled down next to him, laying her head on his chest. The scent of alcohol mixed with the manly musk that drove her wild. She closed her eyes. She wasn’t mad, not really. Upset, maybe a little. It was more worry than anything. This life was so vastly different than anything she ever imagined. It wasn’t all glitter and gold, not at all. It was fast and harsh and it seemed to be very little reward for alot of hard work. She knew he loved his job, she could see it in his eyes when she watched him on stage, watched him feeding off the energy of the crowd as his fingers flew effortless over the fretboard. All the crap he dealt with, the intrusive interviews, chicks trying to sneak into his hotel room--even with her there some didn’t care they still tried-- little to no sleep day after day, he did it all just to get that 2 and a half hours of stage time and the feedback of cheers from the sold out house. He lived for that little space of time each night. She just didn’t understand why he had to play so hard before and after. “I’m not mad baby, I just... I worry about you.”

“Thanks baby , I maybe you were , when you left . I know I should have came back with you “ Richie grinned sheepishly “Was gonna after one more -- well that led to two more --hell I forget how many more after that “ He snuggled her soft tresses “ You should see the rest , if you think I’m bad “ letting a deep hearty chuckle vibrate near her ear.   He really had hoped she wasn’t angry , it is and was a world that took a bit of getting used too , “No need to worry baby , really “ his hand slowly stroking her arms in a comforting , reassuring matter .

Emmie chuckled and closed her eyes. “If they are worse off than you are, I can’t wait to laugh at em all in the morning.”

“We might find half them passed out everywhere but their rooms . I can say at least I made it to ours “ RIchie laughed , his eyes growing heavier each moment. “The next day isn’t fun so I’m apologizing now if I’m a grump ass “

“It’s ok, I can handle it, just go to sleep now ok? “ she slipped her hand up around his neck and tugged gently on his ear before curling her fingers in his hair.

Richie’s eyes slid shut “You’re so good to me baby , I love -- “ Was the last word he spoke before drifting off into hard slumber , a soft snore echoing the room was all the noise Em heard.