Chapter 74

"I'm done." Jon announced. "Let's get going." He nudged Richie on the couch next to him.
He may have dozed off as he waited for Jon. "What?" He sat up.
"Get your lazy ass going."
"Don't insult my ass, it's a lovely ass." He said as he got up from the couch, ready to go for sound check. "You finished the set list then?"
"Yeah, threw in some Springsteen."
"Nice." Richie agreed as they walked out of the dressing room and headed to the stage.

On stage he picked up his guitar, looking it over as he walked to his spot on the stage, ready to get going.

"You've got that smile on your face again." Jon told him as he tested his microphone.
"Sorry, can't be too happy around you." He tested his own microphone in return.
"What are you guys yapping about?" David's voice came from behind them.
Jon turned around to face him. "He's just standing there smirking around, being on a cloud or something."
"Let the boy be on his cloud Jonny." David told him before heading off to his keyboards.
"Alright, let's get this started." Jon said determined to get on with what needed to get done.

After sound check Richie headed back to his dressing room to prepare for the concert, he had to change, phone Sarah and have dinner. He had enough time to do it all, with time to spare so he could bug Jon some more.

His phone call home went quickly, he made sure Sarah was feeling okay and getting enough rest. He reminded her to ask her mother for help with Daniel if she needed more help or to let Noah help out more around the house instead of being holed up in his room all day. The boy needed more social interactions anyway. At the end of the call he promised to call her after the show or at least text her. As if he would be able not to do so. It was another whole week before she would join him.

Once he ended his phone call, he headed across the hallway again. He knocked on the white door and waited for an answer before he opened the door.

"Are you having dinner yet?" He asked Jon who was deciding on an outfit to wear.
"Sure, I can eat. I'll go with you but I want to eat here in peace."
"Oh." Richie said as he walked back out the room with Jon right behind him.
"I didn't mean you. I just meant all the other people, I don't want to eat with everyone else. Besides, I need your help for the setlist."
Richie sighed. "You finished it."
"Your cheerful face changed my mind."
"So, 'cause I'm happy, you're switching up the setlist?" Richie asked. "Why can't I just be happy?"
"I was kidding." Jon said. They walked into the cafeteria and started picking out their dinner. "Just tell me why you're happy." Jon pleaded as they headed back down the hallway.
"I can't." He wasn't sure if he could or couldn't. Should or shouldn't. There wasn't much time to discuss with Sarah if they should tell anyone yet.

The show went great, even with the setlist change but Jon was right, it was only a minor change.

Afterwards, it was a rush to get out of the stadium and into a van so they could get to the airport. They were on a tight schedule until then.

They shared a van as usual but kept quiet for the most part of the ride. Richie felt uncomfortable from standing for hours and now sitting in a van with not enough legroom, it hurt his knees. He watched Jon take some painkillers, sure he felt the same aches. For a moment he considered it but then decided he would get to relax soon enough. Instead, he let Sarah know he would be on the plane soon enough.

"How's Sarah?" Jon asked when he noticed Richie texting.
Richie smiled before answering.  "She's good. Keeping busy with Daniel, it's tiring."
"I bet. Those little ones are full of energy."
Richie nodded, agreeing wholeheartedly. "He sure is."
Jon looked at him. "You've got that smirk again."
He rolled his eyes.

The plane was fairly quiet, everyone had wound down from the concert and was ready to get to the hotel and head to their beds. Another city was waiting for them. Several times during the flight as he was occupied on his phone he noticed Jon watching him quizically. After a while he gave in. "Let it go Jon." He told him.

Their van parked outside of the hotel, it was past midnight by now and he wanted to get to bed. He was glad when their road manager brought them room keys so they could head into the building. They were all on the top floor but Rich and David on the low end of the hall and Richie and Jon on the opposite end of the hallway. They said their goodnights at the elevator and headed down the hallway.

Once by their rooms, Jon turned to Richie. "You know what? I'm glad you're happy. It's good to see you so happy and I should just be glad for that." Jon said. "You don't need to have a reason to be happy, you're right. It's just obvious you're feeling good and I'm glad you are. I wouldn't want you to be sad and mopey to be on tour with us."

It made Richie feel good to know but he still sighed, deciding on what to say in repsonse. Did he just thank Jon for understanding and leave it at that? He watched Jon unlock his door and push it open, he hadn't done the same yet.

"Good night." Jon said as he pushed the door open further and stepped into the room.
"Sarah's pregnant again."
Jon stopped and turned around, letting the door bounce off his back. "What? She is?" He pushed the door open again. "Get in here and tell me."
Richie followed him into the room, letting the door fall closed behind them. "I'm not sure if I should tell you or not because we didn't really get a chance to talk about that so you are sworn to secrecy right now."
"I won't tell anyone."
"So yeah, she's pregnant." He was sure his happiness was obvious in his expression as he said it.
"I didn't even know you guys were wanting another kid. Daniel isn't even a year old."
"He will be in two weeks and we kinda did. We figured with our age it wasn't a high chance so weren't trying trying but I guess I'm better at it now than I was 17 years ago."
Jon frowned in thought. "Yeah, I remember that struggle. It's not always as easy as they make it sound."
"Yeah, well," Richie said uneasily, not really wanting to talk about the difficulties him and Heather faced back then, "I'm glad for it now at least."
"Congrats man." He hugged him a real hug, compared to the usual half hugs they and most men did. He felt genuinly happy for his friend and he needed to show that.