Chapter 27: Epiphany.

Six months after she had left his life Jon found himself sat outside her house in a rented Mercedes.
Six months of Bon Jovi, he was thankful of the tour. Thankful that his personal life could be piled under a mountain of interviews, tv appearances and gigs. It was easier that way.
Yet he still found himself here, sat outside her house.

'Fuck this Bongiovi, sit here any longer and you'll get arrested for being a peeping tom or something.'
Jon got out of the car and started to walk up the path, nearly turning back to the car half a dozen times.
As he knocked on the door, he semi-hoped that no one was home.

'Jon!'
God she looks good, he thought the second she opened the door. Her blonde hair was longer now, with a long fringe. She looked like she belonged in the seventies. And her tan skin...he was sure he'd dream about that later.
'Hi, Shorty......it's good to see you..'
'And you.....What are you doing...' She asked.
'Oh i...we are in Europe. Touring again.'
'Yeah i actually heard...but...' what are you doing on my doorstep? She thought to herself.
'I thought i'd see if you wanted these tickets? I'm afraid it's not quite Wembley, that had to come down the state we left it in last time!' Lame.
Ruby laughed, Jon was sure it was just to fill the un-easy silence.
'Well yeah i'll see what we're doing.'
Jon had to bite his tongue so he didn't ask, who is we?
'Sandy would be wrapped to see ya.'
'Me too, god i've missed her! And the guys how are they doing?'
'Oh ya know, same as always.'
'That's good.' She smiled.
'Well i guess i'd better...'
'Yeah sure.'
Their goodbyes were interrupted by a shout from the house.
'Roo? Roo have you seen...Jon.'
'Alex?' Jon was really quite confused as Richie's cousin appeared behind Ruby's shoulder.

'What's up?' Ruby asked as the men just looked at each other, each wondering why the hell the other one was there.
Alex turned to face Ruby. 'My watch?'
'Oh bedside table.'
What? Jon was taken aback...but desperately trying not to show it. 'I'm gonna go...busy.'
'Ok. Well it was good to see you. Might see you at the gig?' Ruby replied
'Yeah, oh yeah here's a couple of passes so you don't have to queue all day.'
Jon handed over some VIP passes, his hand inadvertently brushed hers. He looked her in the eye, and swore he could see something there.
'Thanks'.
Jon turned and walked back down the path, willing himself not to turn around. He laughed inwardly at the irony of it. Sambora....must be in the name.

---------------

Ruby closed the front door and leaned her back on it.
Alex had since gone upstairs looking for his watch.
Things are good, why did he have to come back and wreck things? she thought.

She had gone on with her life, personally and academically.
Alex had called her a week after she arrived home. They had kept in contact by phone and email and things had progressed from there. He had been and visited her several times when he travelled to swimming meets.
It didn't come quickly, it had taken time for her to get over Jon and think of Alex as anything more than a friend.
But she was happy.

I'm not going to let Jon ruin this. She thought as she took the VIP passes from her pocket and headed to put them in the kitchen bin.

---------------

After the gig Jon and Richie were having a few quiet drinks in the hotel bar in Stockholm.

'So..how is she?' Richie asked, Jon had confided that he was going to see Ruby before the gig. Richie was not pleased as it was so close to the gig later that day, he didn't want Jon's mind to be elsewhere. But he figured who was he to tell Jon what to do?
'She seems okay......Why didn't you tell me your cousin is screwing her?'
Richie near enough spat his wine in Jon's face.
'He what?'
'He was there when i went round.'
'I didn't know...i'm shocked man, when the hell did that happen?'
Jon just shrugged and downed the remainder of his wine.
'....But i mean you had to have thought she was gonna find someone else.'
'Yeah i know. And it's made me see it's true what they say Rich, you don't know what you've got till it's gone.'
'I'm sorry dude.' Richie said.
'No need. I'll get her back. There was a spark there i swear it.'
'Come on man, she isn't some trophy to be fought over. Remember how beat up she was last time? She'd be a fool to take you on after what happened last year.'
'You're right, but as usual i am going to ignore you. You are looking at the new improved Jon. He has a positive outlook.'
'Don't talk about yourself in third person man...' Richie laughed. 'Only works with cool people...such as the Sambora.'

Jon gestured to the barman for another bottle of wine.
'Well Kidd, this is an ambitious project.Where are you gonna start?'
'I invited her to the Milton Keynes gig. And Richie this is no project. This is my happiness at stake.'
Richie laughed.
'What?'
'Nothing.'
'Tell me or you're fired.' Jon joked.
'Alright...well it just that she was yours for the taking last year and you didn't want her. Now someone else has her you get all macho trying to win her over.'
Jon looked across the bar into space...he didn't look back to Richie as he spoke.
'I was in denial last year, it took seeing Diane to make me realise what i had before was nothing. I have never had a relationship where i would honest to god die for that person. Sounds bad but it's true. I want what you've got Rich.'
'And this girl is it?'
'I swear, she makes me....i don't know, but this past six months has been hell.'
Richie shook his head, 'You know he's my cousin Jon. It's a conflict....'
He stood from his stool and put his hand on Jon's shoulder, 'but you're my brother. Good luck man.'