Chapter 75

Late morning he woke up in his hotel bed, strangely feeling motivated to start the day off well instead of staying in bed. He got out of bed and got dressed in running shorts and a t-shirt before heading out of his room to knock on Jon's door.

He waited a few seconds before he heard scuffling inside the room, followed by the door finally opening for him.

"Hey," Richie said cheerfully, "want to hit the gym with me?"
Jon sighed, rubbing his face with his hand. "Not really."
His response made Richie frown back at him, he was always up for a run. "You alright?" He asked genuinely concerned for his friend.
"I feel like shit."
"Oh, well I guess I can just go on my own." Richie suggested instead.
Jon shook his head. "Nah, I'll go with you."

Their work out didn't last too long, which was alright with Richie. For once he didnt have to watch Jon run double the time he did. He stuck to his thirty minute run instead of pushing his body, he wasn't in high school playing football or basketball. He didn't need to be in competition physique.

"Maybe you should just have a nap." Richie said as they rode the elevator back up to their floor after leaving the gym.
"Maybe." Jon agreed. "I think I'm going to phone Dorothea first. Seems like that always make you feel better."
"I prefer talking Sarah but it does." Richie admitted because it really did make him feel better when he got to talk to Sarah, especially now that he was a little worried about her. "Go do that." Richie encouraged. "You've got time before sound check."
Jon nodded and headed into his room as Richie went into his own.

He picked up his phone and texted their road manager asking for some breakfast to be brought to his room since the hotel stopped serving it at 10am already.

He undressed and showered quickly, in case breakfast arrived faster than he anticipated.

In his room, he got dressed again, the weather here was different than it was at home so simple jeans and a tshirt would do just fine for today.

His stomach growled just as he heard a knock on the door. Perfect timing, he thought.

But instead he found David waiting at the door for him.

"Hey man, we need to talk." David said urgently as Richie let him into the room and they walked over to the main part of the area.
"What's up?" Richie asked as he sat down, discombobulated about what David needed to talk about.
"I was just thinking," David started, "if Daniel and Sarah are joining us on tour next week, we should throw him a birthday party."
"Oh." Richie didn't know what to say. He hadn't expected this to be what David needed to talk about and hadn't given it much thought himself yet.
"Yeah." David said resolutely. "Now I know it's between two shows but we have that day off so I'm thinking we go big."
"He's turning one." Richie pointed out, not thinking it needed to be huge.
"Exactly." David agreed. "I'm thinking balloons. Loads of those helium balloons, we'll get black, green and silver. Good colors. We'll make them the theme colors."
"Oh." Now the party had a theme.
"Yes, so balloons of course. Whatever hotel we are at will have a meeting room so we get that, stuff it with balloons for him. Decorate everything in those colors, including tables and chairs."
"Sounds like you've got this planned."
"I'm a good godfather, thank you." David said. "For cake though, do you think we should do cake or should we be modern and get cupcakes cause we could easily get cupcakes with colored frosting."
"Sure, cupcakes sound great, easier for Dan."
"That's what I was thinking too."
"You know what," Richie started, "Since you are such a good godfather, why don't you plan the whole thing? I'll let Sarah know you're on top of it."
"Awesome." David agreed excitedly. "It's going to be the best birthday party he's ever had."
"He's never had one before." Richie pointed out the obvious as it was Daniel's first birthday.
"Details." David waved it off. It would be the best birthday party either way. He was going all out for it.

They both heard the knock at the door and Richie was sure it would be breakfast this time. He got up and went to open the door.

"Thanks." He said as he took the bag.
"Just the person I need." He heard from behind him as David walked to the door. "See ya, Rich, enjoy breakfast." He walked out the door, padding their road manager shoulder. "We have a birthday party to plan."

Having the prospect of next weekend in mind, made the half week go by much faster for Richie.

The concerts they played were full of energy and his time off was spent by burning off calories at the gym with or without Jon, as well as listening to David plan a birthday celebration for his godson. He loved how excited David was to set up the entire hirthday party. He had to be honest and admit that David was most likely more excited than he was. He was excited for Daniel turning one but David surely topped his excitement.