Chapter 63

The next morning he woke up early. On tour early, which was 11 am. Anything before noon was a win and counted as early enough. Going to sleep at 2 or 3 in the morning, warranted sleeping til almost noon.

He felt more energized than he had the day before and wanted to use that energy. He grabbed his phone from his night stand and for a change in habit, texted Jon first this morning.

11:02 What are you doing?

A notification popped up as he wrote his text to Sarah,wishing her a good morning and asking if she had a good rest the night before.

Jon Bon Jovi Cell:
11:03 Getting up, breakfast, then run. You?

He quickly typed out his response and started getting dressed, ready to start his day and kick it's butt.

After breakfast, he changed into some work out clothes and headed down to the gym of the hotel. He had been sure Jon would already be there but he found himself mistaken as he entered the empty room. He didn't mind being there alone and decided to get a head start on Jon. This time he wasn't going to try and keep up, he didn't have anything he really needed to prove. He shouldn't, even if it was to himself.

He was lifting some weights when Jon walked into the room to join him after all.

"Almost thought you were bailing on me." Richie said, putting the weights back on the rack.
Jon shrugged in response. "Had some things to do."
He put his weights away and gave his friend a puzzled look. "Everything alright?"
"Oh yeah." Jon waved it off, not thinking much of it or wanting to share. "How about you? You seemed pretty down last night." He got onto the treadmill and started the machine.
Richie followed him onto the machine beside him, setting the speed on his treadmill as he spoke. "Yeah, I just got wrapped up in my own head."
Jon frowned at him. "Don't do that man." He started his run.
"I know." Richie sighed as he slowly started up. "Sometimes I just can't escape it."
Jon nodded before he spoke. "I know that feeling. It's stupid how it's your own mind. It's yours, it should support you, not start doubting and working against you."
Richie chuckled in response. "Yeah." He set the machine to a pace he could keep up with and started to run.
"So, you excited to head to Vancouver tomorrow?" Jon asked him.
"Oh yeah," Richie nodded excitedly. "I've been talking to Caleb, probably going to pick him up from his work and then go for dinner together, catch up, you know."
"Sounds good," Jon said, keeping up his pace, not faltering once, "he'll be coming to the show then?"
"I think so."
Jon nodded, Richie could see he was thinking but waited for a continuation. "I suppose you don't want to do press then?" He finally asked after all. "If you're seeing Caleb."
Richie frowned, not sure how it was an issue. "I can do press with you, Caleb has school, I don't want him to skip classes for me."
"Alright, it's not a lot. One TV interview and I think a magazine or two."
"Sounds good to me."

They finished their work out an hour later and both headed up to their own rooms for showers. Richie showered quickly, then wrapped a towel around himself and went back to his main room to phone his wife as he got dressed.

Hearing her voice always made him feel good. Right now, he couldn't wait to see her in person. Just a few more weeks before he could see and hold her again. The L.A. show wasn't that far away. He'd get some family time tomorrow evening with Caleb, which wasn't nearly the same but he was excited about it as well.

As he talked to Sarah on speaker phone and got dressed again, he packed up his bag. Soon he would leave for the venue and he wasn't coming back here tonight. All he needed to do was pack up and his bags would magically be in Vancouver tonight. Sarah chuckled when he told her, she loved his cute and silly side.

Once he was ready to go, he left his hotel room open with the bar between the door and headed out of the building, meeting everyone outside. As always he shared an SUV with Jon.

"Ready?" He asked Jon as he got into the vehicle.
"Pretty sure I was born ready."
"Uhu, sure." Richie said. "Setlist is ready then?"
"Shut up." Jon grumbled.
Richie chuckled in response. "I have to ask you something though."
"Sure." Jon said, they could feel the car start moving, it wouldn't be a long drive.
Richie hurried and got his seatbelt on. "After our show in L.A., think the plane will have space for 3 extra people and a baby?"
"To Vegas?"
"Yeah. Ava wants to come for the weekend so I asked Sarah as well. She'd probably join us with Daniel for the remainder of the leg."
Jon got a little excited at that. "With Daniel? Of course, don't see why that'd be a problem. We like that kid."
"I'm pretty fond of him too." Richie agreed with him.
"Go for it, it'd be great to have them join us and we'll get to celebrate his birthday, right? What should I get him as a gift?" Jon said even more excited, actually looking forward to it.