Chapter Two

Chapter 2

Shutting his laptop, Jon raised his head when he heard the door ding. He couldn’t help but watch as the beautiful woman entered the restaurant. Her long blonde hair blew back from her face as she opened the door. Large black sunglasses covered her eyes from the summer sun. Light pink full lips set perfectly on her milky white skin. Simply dressed in a purple ribbed tank top and black straight jeans that seemed to be made for her slender yet womanly figure. He continued to watch her speak softly to the waitress. She took off her sunglasses as she walked toward him, her green eyes doing a quick scan of the room, and she took a seat two tables down from him in the corner.  Deciding that he liked the view Jon ordered an ice tea and opened his laptop again.   

Gigi’s stomach was starting to rumble after a day of shopping in SoHo. So, she decided on Lucky Strike, a little restaurant/bar. It wasn’t a spacious place; a bit cozy you could say. When she walked in there was a bar area to her right and many tables cramped into the place.  Walking to the waitress she asked if there was an open table and took a seat in the far right corner placing her bags on the bench between herself and the wall to her left. Thanking the waitress and taking the menu she looked it over.  

A few moments later the group of people that were between Gigi and Jon’s table stood to leave. Jon raised his eyes from his computer and watched her scanning the menu.  She placed the menu on the table and looked in his direction. Making eye contact Jon smiled. She smiled back, looking up at the waitress that seemed to just appear at the table. Taking the order the waitress put her order in and left Gigi to herself for a bit.

She could feel him glancing at her, and decided why not pass the time. She giggled to herself then looked over at him. Just as she thought he was looking right at her. She stood up and walked over to his table. When she made it to the table it finally hit her who he was. What the hell are you doing? It’s Jon Bon fuckin’ Jovi. Jesus, you are an idiot. Oh well, you’re here now. Play it off, ya dumbass.

He watched her get up from her table. Hearing her heels click on the floor. Oh God, is she coming over here. Look at that body. Jesus, she is hot.

“Hi” she said as she set her hands on the small table and leaned forward a bit. “Hi” he said wondering what she was doing. “So, do you wanna come over and have a bite with me or do you wanna just keep doing this little peek a boo game?” She had no idea where this was coming from or why the hell she was doing this; she was just going with it.

He let out a small laugh and leaned back “Took you long enough to ask.” He smiled a huge smile. “I’d love to keep you company. If you don’t mind.” She smiled back at him. “Come on over when you are ready.” She said and turned on her heels walking back to her table.

Jon got his things together, putting his laptop into his bag and swinging it over his shoulder. He made he way to her table.  As he sat down the waitress put Gigi’s order in front of her. “Oh, switched tables on me?” She smiled “Yeah. I couldn’t let this pretty lady eat all alone.” He said with a smile. “So, does that mean you want to order something to eat or do you just want another ice tea?” She said as she took her pad back out of her apron. “No, I will just have another ice tea, thanks.”

The waitress left to get his drink and Jon looked at Gigi. “So sweetie, what is your name?”  “Gigi” she said with a smirk and taking a bite of her club sandwich. “Well Gigi, thanks for letting me keep you company. My name is Jon.” He smiled wondering if she knew who he was. He couldn’t tell for sure. Deciding to once again go with it she acted like she didn’t know him. “Hi Jon. Pleasure is mine.  It’s such a nice day out today why not enjoy some lunch with a new friend in the city.” “Does that mean you are new to the city? Seem to know your way around already by the look of all those bags.” He looked in the direction where the mountain of shopping bags was sitting. “Yeah you could say that.” She smiled chewing her food and putting a hand on the bags. “Retail therapy. It’s a way us females deal.” She giggled.  “Care to elaborate on that?” He asked as the waitress set his ice tea in front of him and quickly left. Popping a fry in her mouth she replied “Which part? The retail therapy…….” “ The part where you said you are new to the city….care to elaborate on that?” He took a sip from his drink, keeping his eyes on her. “Oh, I guess I was a bit vague on that.” She smiled again. “I am originally from upstate New York and use to come down here to the city all the time. I practically lived here. I loved it….Still do.” Popping a fry in his mouth Jon spoke “Use to? So, where did you go to and are you back her now?” He had no idea why he was so curious. He just was. “I went to California and now I am back. I decided I missed the east coast and I am staying in a local hotel till I find a place.” “Well, Welcome back. Us east coast folks are a rare breed.” He gave her a wink and smiled again. “Yes we are” She couldn’t help but giggle again. “Do you want anymore Jon?” “Excuse me?” He wasn’t exactly sure what she meant. Laughing she pointed to the plate “The fries. What where you thinking?” “Oh…ummmm Fries of course. No, I am good.” He could not stop smiling. “Well, I better get my bags back to the hotel. My feet are killing me and there is a bottle of bubble bath with my name all over it. Thanks for keeping me company. It was a pleasure to meet you.” She stood smiling and extended her hand to him. “Thank you, Gigi.  Enjoy you bath.” “Thanks”

With that she paid the check and was out the door. He sat for a moment digesting what just happened. It had been so long since he even wanted to talk to a woman. He wasn’t exactly sure what it was about this one, but for some reason he wanted to know her. Yeah she was hot. Maybe that was it. Must be more behind it, right? Ahhh man here I go again thinking too much. He shook his head, swung his bag over his shoulder and headed out the door.

As he walked to his apartment he thought how beautiful Gigi was. I should call her. Oh you are a genius, he thought, you didn’t even get her number. Shit. Well, she is staying…..where the hell is she staying? Don’t even know that. Oh you are smooth all right. First woman in 2 years you are drawn to and you get no information on her what so ever. Fuckin’ genius. 

Chapter One

It was a warm summer night in New York and there was a light breeze in the city air as he walked from his neighborhood bar back to his apartment. Seemed to be a ritual over the last year. Since the tour and marriage ended, he didn't want to sit at the apartment alone. Instead he chose to drink at the local bar, sometimes he would bring his laptop, and sometimes he would just sit and think.

Tonight was a thinking night. He sat reminiscing about what had happened in his life. How he got to this point. Where it was going. He had so much more to give both professionally and personally. The professional part he could do, that wasn't the issue. It was the person al part that was eating him. Feeling a bit lonely he decided to do what he always did. Go back to work.

On the way back to the apartment his mind was swarming with what the next album should be like. He wanted to rock, to let out some of this tension he was feeling. It was gnawing at him and he needed to release it. As he reached the steps to go into his apartment building he was already putting things into motion in his brain.

In California a similar situation was happening. Only Gigi was walking from her kitchen to her bathtub with a bottle of wine and a glass in hand. This was her ritual now that her marriage was over. Wind down in a tub of bubbles and a bottle to help push the pain away. She needed to do something and she knew it. 

It came to her as she sank into the warm water and the sweet scent of the wine hit her nose. She needed to go back home, back to New York. It had been years since she had been there. The ex didn't like the east coast much. It was time, she thought, to go find herself again. A trip back east was just what the doctor ordered.