Twenty

He blinked away the heat and smiled as the café came into view. No time like the present to grab a bit of lunch. He’ spent his morning doing a bit of shopping. Ava always got something new from each new town or country, it was his way of sharing his life with her. He liked it better when she could travel with him, but that usually only happened on U.S. soil. No way he’d bring his princess along over seas, too much could happen.

He settled himself into a table, safely under a balcony to avoid the heat of the midday sun and smiled at the waitress. After a cursory glance at the menu, he ordered then settled back to people watch. Within minutes, when no people wandered by, he groaned. Hard to people watch when there were no people. Shaking his head he reached for his leather tote, something that had become a permanent part of him these days, and pulled his laptop out. Deciding to check into email and the forum while he waited, he reached for his glass of ice water, dark brown eyes scanning the beginning of the message. The glass thunked back on the table and sloshed over his hand unnoticed as he leaned forward to read the message more intently.

“Fuck me with a feather,” he muttered as he kept reading. She knows, she fucking knows and someone helped her figure it out? He saw the link and immediately clicked the link she had gave him and watched a download start. His fingers tapped on the table as he watched the download, his mind zoning into a myriad of who what and whys. So intent was he on watching the screen, Lind’s message and his lunch were forgotten.

He opened the file after it finished and begin to watch. As it finished he shook his head, hit the play button again and sat back in absolute shock. Why that fucker. That sneaky dirty rotten curly headed fucker. I’m gonna kill him, no, I’m gonna break his fucking fingers! We can do without a keyboard, I’ll just play louder.

He growled as he leaned forward, and clicked out of the media player. He’s so fuckin’ dead. I was gonna tell her, in the right time and he’s screwed that up. I swear to God if she bolts on me I’m gonna kill him. We’ll just have to do without him.

He winced as he moved back to the forum, dreading the last of the message he knew he had to read. She was gonna tell him goodbye, she was going to tell him to get off the board, and he wouldn’t blame her. The words he found however, had his lips quirking up into a grin and his heart growing lighter. She understood? She’d keep his secret and be there for him? How many women would have told everyone they knew? Well hell maybe she would, only time would tell, but somewhere deep inside he knew she would keep the secret.

Hell yeah he was thankful, but that didn’t mean Joker wouldn’t get a little payback for his efforts. He closed the laptop needing time to consider his reply and picked up his sandwich and prepared to eat. Glancing up at the sidewalk a slight grin played over his lips as he saw a familiar body walking up. Tilting his size 13 to the side he roared as David nearly fell into a table full of people. “Bit unsteady on your feet are ya Joker?”

David straightened and stared hard at Richie. “You tripped me, you and those big elephant feet of yours.”

Richie’s brow arched. “Who me? I’m not the Prince of Tripping Cecil B. Demille.” He grinned as he watched David’s brow furrow confusedly. “What’s wrong Joker? You ain’t that young, you know who Demille is.”

David helped himself to a chair and the other half of Richie’s sandwich. “Of course I know who he is.” Bright baby blues studied the tall guitarist. “But I’m not directing any videos dude.”

Richie leaned back, his elbows resting on the sides of the chair as his fingers steepled in front of his lips. He could out David, tell him what he knew, but where was the fun in that? His brows waggled as his friend finished off his dinner. “Enjoying the meal man?”

David glanced up grinned. “Best free meal today dude.”

Richie shook his head and reached over for his laptop, the urge to hit the play button running rampant. He smiled and hit the play button, and turned the volume up a tad as he tilted his head to watch David instead of the screen. He bit back a laugh as David’s eyes went wide.

Standing he closed his laptop and slid it into its leather home before pulling some cash from his pocket and laying it on the table. As he began to stroll off, a shit eating grin on his face he called out, “When ya least expect it man, when ya least expect it. See ya at the venue.”

All David could do was watch his friend walk away, Well fuck that didn’t quite go as I expected. He doesn’t seem bothered at all. He should be madder than hell that I told his secret and he’s not, he’s stone cold calm. Fuck me, he’s gonna get me back I just know he’s gonna get me back and he’s more devious than me when it comes to payback.

He pushed the empty plate away then looked down at the table only to start laughing. There on the little bill plate were two one dollar bills. Richie had paid for his water only. “Damned fucking idiot guitarist.” Standing, he dug deep into his pocket and laid the rest of the money on the table. He knew it was just the first step, Richie had only gotten started. His little two minute video had bought him months of looking over his shoulder. God only knew what the King of Swing would throw his way.