Part 18
12/31/87
Ashley’s birthday stared out with a flower delivery from Richie. They were beautiful, a mixture of red roses and babies breath. A full dozen in a big green vase with a red bow around it.
The card simply read, Happy Birthday to a wonderful lady. Love Richie. She smiled to herself and sat them on her kitchen table and kept the card tucked down inside. She poured herself a cup of coffee and sat down on the couch in the living room. Every few minutes she turned to look at the flowers and finally decided that they needed to be in the living room.
She sat back down on the couch and stared at them, thinking about the man that sent them. She sighed and shook her head, still unable to decide if she was going to go to his party tonight. She laughed, knowing she didn’t have any other plans. She canceled them all after he invited her. She knew she couldn’t let herself get sucked back into what they were doing before she left. But, she did leave that night open. Deep down inside she wanted to be with him, but she just couldn’t go down that road again.
“Oh fuck, I can’t go there tonight,” She grumbled to herself, resting her head back on the couch. She knew that would be a big mistake. She got up off the couch and bent over smelling the roses again before she took a shower.
When she stepped inside the shower, she heard the phone ring. She ignored it and continued with her shower. She took her time and enjoyed the hot water on her skin. Then she wrapped in a robe and wrapped her hair in a towel when she got out.
Gathering all of her fingernail polish she sat down on the couch to paint her toenails. The phone ran again. She reached over and picked up her cordless.
“Hello?”
“Hey Darlin.”
She instantly felt her heart skip a beat just hearing his voice.
“Hello?” He said.
“Hi.” She said softly, “How did you get my number?”
He laughed, “I have my ways.”
She closed her eyes and bit her lip; her hands were shaking as she held the phone to her ear.
“I just called to wish you a Happy Birthday,” He said.
“Um, I got your flowers,” she said her voice cracking just a bit.
“Great. I’m glad they arrived in time then.”
“Thank you,” She said on the verge of crying.
“You’re very welcome. Now, you are coming to the party tonight, right?’
She cleared her throat and wiped the single tear that managed to fall.
“I don’t think I will.”
“Ashley, please. You have to come. It’s your birthday and I went out and bought all of these cute party hats to wear,” he said with a cute giggle.
She laughed, “Party hats, ugh?”
“Yeah, they say Happy Birthday on them and I even got the blowers too.”
“Are you going to make everybody wear them?" She asked.
“Yes, in honor of your birthday I am.”
They both laughed. “Richie…” she said softly.
“Ashley stop. It’s just a birthday party. Okay, it’s a New Year’s Eve party too, but we are celebrating that, your birthday and a new year.”
She shook her head; still trying to reason with him was hard to do.
“And besides, you want to come,” He added with a confident chuckle.
“Excuse me? I want to come?” She asked him.
“Well, yeah. Tell me one reason why you don’t want to come.” He was being overly persistent with her.
“Well…” She said thinking for a minute.
He laughed, “See, there is none. Just admit that you want to come. Hell you don’t even have to admit it. Just show up at my house.”
"What is it about you Sambora? Don't you think a woman can turn you down?" She asked him.
Richie laughed, “Not when I beg, like I am practically doing now. Ashley…I want you to come, okay? Is that what you want to hear me say?”
She blushed at his words. “I…never said that.”
“The party starts when you get there. You have my address. It’s on the back of the card that was sent with the flowers. Don’t make your guests wait too long,” He said then hung up the phone.
She shook her head as she turned the phone off. She smiled as she picked up the other bottle of nail polish, switching from her previous choice to dark purple. She knew exactly what she was going to wear too. She bought it a few days ago with that party in mind. She had Richie in mind too.
She went upstairs to her closet and pulled out the outfit that was covered in plastic. She tore it off and laid it down on her bed. It was a pants suit, but not just an ordinary pants suit. The pants were made of velvet and fit her like a glove. The top was a purple and black lace camisole with thin black lace spaghetti straps. It was fitted at the breast with a criss-cross V and then fell just at her hips. She wore high heels and left her hair down with loose and sexy waves. The choker around her neck completed the outfit perfectly
She stood looking at herself in the mirror and laughed knowing that this was probably going to be a big mistake. She called for cab and then poured a shot of liquor to help ease her nerves.
In her mind, she told herself not to even flirt with him. ‘We are just going to be friends. Nothing more.’ She said as she downed her second shot.
When the cab arrived she felt better, slightly lightheaded but she was undeniably relaxed. She pulled her long coat on and then went downstairs giving the cabbie the address, she sat back against the seat and enjoyed the ride to his house.
The cars were lined up along the drive way as the cab pulled up an hour later. She was in awe of how nice his house was, surprised by it at the same time. She paid the cabbie for the fare and gave him a tip for his trouble. She got out on her own and stared up at the house from the driveway.
It was a two story colonial with a stone walkway leading right up to the front door. A leaded-glass skylight graced the spot just above the double entryway. The outline of the roof broke the skyline with various peaks and valleys. Two bay windows at the front of the house were located on the upper and lower levels directly above one another. The lower one was glowing softly from the light within.
She pushed the door bell and then turned around to look back out at the driveway, and the trees covering it. She heard the door open and she turned around. Richie opened the glass door and smiled reaching out for her. He looked amazing in a black silk shirt, unbuttoned showing off his chest and tight blue denim jeans. She gulped and smiled at him.
“You did make it,” He laughed as he took her in his arms and hugged her.
“I didn’t have a choice,” She said breathing in his cologne.
He pulled away from her. “I didn’t force you.”
She laughed. “No, but it would have been rude to not show up at my own party, now don’t you think?”
He nodded his head and pulled her with him inside the house. He simply took her breath away, making her dizzy all at the same time. She heard laughter and music from inside the other rooms.
“You have a nice home,” she said looking around at the earth tone ceramic tile they were standing on.
“Thank you. Like Jon, I just moved in not that long ago. I’ll show you around after I take your coat,” he said winking at her.
She felt her cheeks become warm and she wondered if it was him or the liquor she had drank. She pulled off her coat and handed it to him. He looked her over, slowly moving his eyes from the top of her head over her velvet covered body right down to her feet. He swallowed the lump in his throat as he fought to control his body’s reaction to seeing her in the clingy outfit that left nothing to his imagination. He longed to take her body in his arms and run his hands over the soft purple material and the body underneath it.
"You look magnificent," se said softly.
“Thank you,” she said when their eyes met again. She smiled. “So do you.”
“Richard!” A woman’s voice called from the other room.
Ashley’s eyes widened and he laughed. Before he could say anything, a woman appeared from around the corner. She was short with thick black hair, piled on top of her head. Ashley smiled knowing she must have been his mother.
“Yes, mom?” He said slightly embarrassed that she called him Richard.
“I was looking for the corkscrew,” She said to him then directed her attention to Ashley.
“It’s in the drawer,” He said quickly.
His mother and Ashley stood uncomfortably staring at each other and Richie was in such a state of confusion he didn’t introduce them.
“Aren’t you going to introduce me?” She said to her son.
Richie shook his head, “Sorry. Mom this is Ashley, Doc’s daughter. Ashley this is my mom, Joan.”
Ashley smiled and extended her hand to Mrs. Sambora. “It’s nice to meet you.”
She smiled and took her hand. “Richie’s talked a lot about you. It’s nice to meet you too.”
Ashley gave Richie a questioning look and he laughed. “I told her what a good friend you have become and about you’re modeling career.”
Joan laughed and put her arm around his waist, “Oh dear, you did leave out just how beautiful she was though. I’m sure you didn’t do that on purpose now did you?”
“I thought I mentioned that?” Richie said as he smiled at Ashley.
“No, I don’t believe that you did. Oh well, okay. I need to go get that corkscrew before you father tries to open it himself.”
She kissed Richie on the cheek and turned back to Ashley and smiled at her. “I’ll leave you two alone.” She smiled and walked back around the corner.
Richie shook his head at his mom and when he turned around Ashley was smiling at him.
“She’s nice,” She said.
Richie laughed, “Yeah, she is nice. Sometimes she’s too nice. So come on, now you have to meet my dad, cause she’s in there telling him all about you.”
She followed Richie out of the foyer, down a short hallway into the kitchen where his mother and father were. They were talking and then his dad stopped and smiled at them. They were standing at the center island with a bottle of wine.
"Can't you two wait until the rest of the company arrives?" Richie joked.
His dad laughed, “Aren’t you going to introduce me?”
“Dad this is Ashley, Ashley this is my dad, Adam.”
Adam smiled and came to her to shake her hand, “It’s nice to meet you.”
Ashley smiled and shook his hand, “It’s nice to meet you too.”
“Would you like some wine, Ashley?” His mother said as she poured some into the glass that was on the island.
"I'd love a glass. Thank you." Ashley responded.
Joan poured her a glass and then handed it to her and smiled.
Richie went over to the island and poured himself a glass. “If you two don’t mind, I’m going to show Ashley the house before everyone arrives.”
Joan and Adam nodded their heads and then Richie led her out of the kitchen into the living room. The living room was a large sunken room with two steps leading down onto the floor. The fireplace was surrounded with marble. A balcony from the second level overlooked the entire room. The furniture was an oversized sectional couch in the center of the room and a big screen TV was along the far wall beside a sliding glass door.
He led her up the staircase and they stopped to look over the side of the balcony.
“It’s beautiful,” She said to him shaking her head.
“Thanks.” He answered.
He took her by the hand and showed her the entire second level. Three guestrooms and two guest baths. He had a library that he used for his music room. Numerous guitars lined the wall and he had a small mixing board set up.
The last room was the master bedroom at the far end of the house. A soft light was on when he opened the door. “This is my bedroom,” He said as she followed him in.
Her eyes widened at the opulent suite. It had a private sitting room; two walk in closets with windows. The bed was enormous, covered in pillows and a dark spread that had a blue, burgundy and green pattern. The entire wall the bed was on was a mirror, from the ceiling to the floor.
Moving into the master bath, it had a double vanity, indulgent corner garden tub that was marble along with the floor of the bath. The shower was in the opposite corner.
“My lord you could put another bed in here,” She laughed.
“I like my space in the bathroom,” He said.
“You live here alone. That’s all the space anyone could ask for.”
He grinned and they walked back out into the bedroom. He drew the curtains back from double French doors and unlocked them. “It’s too cold, but just come out for a second,” He said.
She stepped outside and he directed to the edge of the balcony. “OH MY GOD!” She said.
She was looking down upon a massive pool area complete with rocks that held a waterfall when the pool was open. Now there was no water at all inside it.
“I thought you’d like the pool,” He said.
She shivered in the cold wind, “Like? You can’t just like it. It’s beautiful.”
“Come back inside, I just wanted to show that to you,” he said taking her hand again and leading her back inside the warm room.
She walked inside to the middle of the room and finished her glass of wine as Richie closed and locked the doors. He was drawing the curtains back when she turned around.
“Your house is beautiful. Congratulations.”
He smiled, “Thank you. It took me forever to find what I was looking for.” He stopped at his dresser drawer and opened it.
“You seemed to have found it,” She agreed.
He turned to her with a black velvet box in his hand, “I want to give you this now, before everyone gets here,” He said walking towards her.
She gulped, “What?” She asked.
He smiled and handed her the box. “I got you something for your birthday.”
“Richie, you sent me flowers. That’s enough.”
“No,” He shook his head.” There’s nothing that is enough for you.”
She was in shock and she stared blankly up at him.
“Go on, take it. It’s yours.”
She smiled and took the box from his hand. She slowly opened it and inside was a delicate silver chain bracelet with a heart on it. She looked up at him in bewilderment.
Again he smiled, “Read the heart.”
She looked down closer at the heart and saw her name engraved inside it. “Richie, this is beautiful.”
He came closer to her and took the chain out of the box. He unhooked it and held it out for her. She gave him her left wrist and he fastened it for her.
She smiled, “Thank you.”
“Happy Birthday,” He said and kissed the left corner of her mouth softly.
Ashley closed her eyes feeling lips gently touch the corner of her mouth. As a reflex, her hands touched his waist and he pulled her to him, moving his lips away as he hugged her. He could feel her heart beating outside her chest as he did. She battled to keep composure, feeling her legs tremble as she held on to him.
Before he pulled away, he kissed her temple. She stepped away from him and looked down at the bracelet. She picked up the heart with the other hand and ran her thumb over her name.
It was written in a very fancy script. The sounds of guest arrived filtered into the room and she looked up at him.
“Are you okay?” He asked her when he saw her expression.
She nodded her head, “Yes.” She bit her lip and laughed softly.
“What?” He asked taking her hand in his.
She looked up into his eyes and felt dizzy, she smiled and pulled away. “We better go back downstairs.”
Richie smiled and nodded. He had a pretty good idea of how she was feeling, he felt the same way. He took her hand and when they got to the door he stopped and turned around to her.
“Thanks for coming tonight.”
Ashley grinned, “Thanks for inviting me.”
He winked and then opened the door and they joined the rest of the party downstairs.
Dave had turned up the music and was handing out cigars. When Ashley stepped off the staircase Jon grabbed her.
“Happy Birthday!” He said laughing as he picked her up off her feet.
She was laughing when he sat her back down. He handed her a bottle of wine. “I got you something I knew you would use,” He laughed.
She took the bottle from him and nodded, “You boys are going to turn me into an alcoholic.”
“Nah,” Jon said laughing.
Dave made his way over and kissed her cheek, “Happy Birthday. I didn’t know what to get you, so I didn’t get you anything.”
Ashley laughed and he continued, “Except for this kiss on the cheek.” He said and kissed her again.
“I like this. I think I need more birthday’s,” She joked and everyone laughed.
Ashley ventured into the kitchen in search of the corkscrew to open the wine Jon had got her. She found it lying on the counter, so she used it to open the bottle. Some girls that she didn’t know, where standing in the kitchen and they were talking about Richie.
"I’ll tell you this much, he sure knows how to please a woman," Said the one with short close-cropped red hair.
"Yeah," laughed the curly-haired brunette. "He pleases you all night long!"
Ashley felt uncomfortable hearing them talk that way because she knew it about Richie. Still, she couldn’t just leave and so she listened as she opened her bottle and poured a glass.
"Not lately," said another taking a long drawl off her cigarette.
"You mean he’s losing his touch?" Said the redhead.
"Not at all," responded the blonde standing next to her taking a drink from her glass of wine.
"So he’s been with you recently?" Asked the one with the cigarette.
"Nope, and as far as I know he hasn’t been that way with anyone. He broke up with Caitlin the other night though."
"Well he must be doin' someone we don’t know then. This is Richie Sambora for goodness sake!"
The group of women burst out laughing and as one they rejoined the party leaving Ashley standing alone in the kitchen. She giggled to herself as she downed her glass of wine. It took her breath, being it was a different taste then the one she had before. She sat her glass down on the counter and leaned her hands on it, her face twisting at the bitter taste.
“You’re not sick already, are you? The party just started.” Jon laughed as he walked over to her.
She shook her head and tried to laugh, “I just downed my first glass of this wine you got me,”
“Why down it? Wine was meant to be sipped,” He laughed as he poured her glass full again.
Ashley winced, “I was forced to listen to a conversation I didn’t want to hear.”
“I’m not even going to ask. I know who just came out of here,” He offered her a sympathetic smile and then handed her the full glass.
“I’m going to smoke.” She said and traipsed off into the living room, leaving Jon looking at her backside.
He sighed to himself wondering how long it would be before she and Richie got their act together.
Ashley found her jacket pocket and pulled out her cigarettes.
“Hey.” She heard Richie say behind her. She turned around and he motioned for her to follow him. “We are starting to play cards downstairs.” He looked down at her cigarettes, “And you can smoke, its warmer there.”
She nodded and then followed him down the basement steps. He opened the door for her and she walked in first and then followed behind her. She saw three cars lined up side by side. They had to walk around the black Porsche. The other two cars were a white Ferrari and a gray Jeep.
She turned to him and smiled, “Which one is your favorite?”
They were inches apart and he was busy concentrating on the lips he longed to kiss, shaking his head coming back to the moment, he said, "You mean car?"
Her grin was wide and she giggled, feeling her cheeks burn. “Yes the car.”
He laughed, “Sorry. Umm…” He was now having a hard time concentrating on the answer.
She pressed up against him. “I like the Ferrari,” She whispered.
He looked down at her and started to kiss her, but the door to the game room swung open. The girls that were in the kitchen earlier were coming out and they stopped talking when they saw Ashley and Richie together.
Ashley moved away from him and went to the car to look at it. The girls then went up the steps whispering. She couldn’t make out anything they were saying, but she knew it was about her.
Richie came up behind her, “I’ll take you for a ride if you want.”
She turned around, “No. I don’t want to make anyone mad.”
“What?” He asked rolling his eyes. “That’s nothing for you to be worried about.”
"Sambora you gonna play with us or Ashley? Get your ass in here!" Jon yelled from the game room.
Richie laughed at Jon’s comment and then laughed harder when Ashley gasped.
He pulled her hand and she tried to pull it away from him. “I don’t know how to play cards,” She protested.
He turned around to her, “Just another thing I get to teach you.” He pulled her arm and laughed.
When they entered the game room, Jon, Dave, and Tico were sitting around the card table.
"It would be more fun to play with Ashley alone but she wants to play with all of us," Richie said.
“Richie!” She said slapping his arm.
“You can play with us Ashley; I don’t mind that at all,” Jon said grinning at her.
She narrowed her eyes at Jon, “I’m sure you don’t.”
Richie grabbed her hand, “Sit here beside me and I’ll show you how to cheat.”
“That’s great, Sambora just move on in. I wasn’t done yet,” Jon said
“Snooze, ya loose buddy,” Richie said patting his back as he sat down beside Jon.
“That leaves me out then,” Dave said throwing up his hands.
Ashley smiled at Dave, “Now Dave, I can always make room for you, if that’s what you want.”
Richie raised his eyebrow as he turned to look at her. She laughed and lit her cigarette, “You boys have all your fun, and I’m going to have mine too.”
Jon laid his head down laughing, “We have created a monster.”
“Yeah, and I blame you all.” She laughed. “I need something to drink if I am going to do this.”
“Don’t tell me you’ve drank that whole bottle already!” Jon asked her.
“That bottles upstairs.” Richie said, “Do you want me to go get it?”
She shrugged her shoulders and he got up, “I’ll be back.”
When Richie left the room Dave was shaking his head. “What is it with you Ashley? Men just come to your every need?”
She smiled and blew out the smoke from her cigarette, “You have to know how to ask for it, Dave.”
"Are you saying you're asking for it?" Dave asked staring straight at her.
Jon snickered and lowered his head. Ashley never batted an eye. “Depends on what IT is.”
Dave shrugged his shoulders, "Damned if I know. Whatever Sambora's got."
She smiled and took another draw from her cigarette and Richie walked back in the door, followed by the three women from earlier.
"What is it about you Sambora? Look at that they follow you like bloodhounds."
"That’s because he smells so damned good," purred the blond.
Richie grinned and handed Ashley the bottle of wine and gave her a small wink. She took the bottle from his hand and smiled. Lifting it to her lips, she took a drink.
“Hmmm, no glass.” Dave laughed. “My how things change.”
"Didn't I tell you that was a sipping wine?" Jon said laughing.
She blinked and laughed, “I don’t know where my glass is.”
“You left it in my bedroom,” Richie said.
The table got quiet as they stared at Ashley and then Richie. Richie laughed, “Get your minds out of the gutter.”
"Yeah Sambora cut the shit. I saw her with a glass in the kitchen," Jon said when he was done laughing.
Richie sat down next to Ashley, picked up the deck of cards and began shuffling. "Are we gonna play or what?"
“What’s the game?” Jon asked lighting a cigarette.
Shuffling the cards a smile came across Richie’s face. “Blackjack. Sixes and Nines are wild. Losers have to take 5 drinks from their drink at the table.”
Everyone agreed and Ashley sat quietly watching as Richie laid a single card face down in front of each player. The second card he placed up. He leaned back in his chair, his arm rested around hers and he pulled her to him.
He whispered the rules of the game in her ear. Dave rolled his eyes, “No favorites, Sambora.”
Richie laughed, “What is it about favorites this evening?”
Ashley giggled remembering the conversation in the garage. She picked up her card and looked at it then placed it back down on the table.
“Got it?” Richie asked her.
She nodded, “I understand.”
Richie nodded then sat back up and looked at Jon.
Jon looked at his card that laid facing down. He added the numbers of both in his head and came up with a total of 12.
"Hit me." He told Richie hoping the card he’d get would be a nine or under.
He shook his head and flipped the card over when Richie dealt him a king making him go bust with 22. Next up was Dave who stayed with 17. Tico had a 10 and a 2 he asked to be hit and Richie dealt him a 7. He nodded indicating he’d stay. He sat back and lit up a cigarette confident with his 19. Richie looked at Ashley waiting for her to decide.
"Do you have the hang of it?" He asked her.
"I think so. Jon’s going to be drinking Tico and Dave are waiting to see. Now give me a minute and let me decide."
Her top card was an 8; underneath she had a 7 for a total of 15. Richie’s top card was an ace. She bit her lip while she thought whether or not she should take another card.
"Not a very good poker face, Ash." Jon laughed.
She blushed realizing you weren’t supposed to show indecision and flashed her eyes at Richie.
"Hit me," she said taking the gamble.
She kept a straight face seeing the six come up. Richie said they were wild but even if they weren’t she still had 21. "Okay I’ll stay." She said using the term she’d heard from Dave.
Richie flipped over his hidden card to reveal a 4 giving him a total of 15 or 5. He took another card, this one a queen. Now he had 15.
"One more," he said flipping the last card to give him a total of 23.
When all was revealed Ashley was the winner of the round.
"Drink up boys!" She said laughing.
“Cheater.” Dave snapped and then started drinking his vodka, straight.
She batted her eyes at him, “What ever do you mean?”
“Richie helped you,” He said in between drinks.
“Dave your just jealous,” Richie laughed.
Dave looked at both of them, “If it happens again, I’m separating you two.”
Richie winked at Ashley and she laughed, “Dave come on. How the hell could I cheat? I didn’t know how to play the game until now.”
Richie had gathered all the cards and then handed them to Jon.
Jon looked around the table and asked who was in. Everyone nodded their heads and the next game began. Richie won that one and so everyone else drank.
The blonde girl was sitting behind Richie moved up beside him, “I want some of this action too,” She said sliding her arm around him as she made a space between him and Jon.
Richie smiled at her and poured some of his drink in with hers. She laughed, “That’s not a good mixture.”
He shrugged his shoulders and took a drink from his glass.
Several games later, Ashley had lost them all and was feeling very good. When the other girls tried to sit on Richie’s lap she didn’t even pay them any attention.
Richie was laughing at them, “You girls need to settle down. I can’t play cards with you all in my lap like this.”
“You can come sit on my lap Andrea,” Dave said.
The girl with the short red hair got up and then sat down on Dave’s lap and smiled.
Dave looked down at her chest. “I have an idea. Let’s get naked.”
The dark haired girl who was still unnamed smiled, “Oh, I am definitely in for this.”
The comments from the table were to now play strip poker. Everyone was getting new drinks for themselves when Ashley got up from the table to leave. She was laughing at Jon who could hardly hold his head up straight when Richie bumped into her. “Don’t leave now the fun it just beginning.”
She laughed, “I’m sitting this one out.”
When she got out in the garage, Richie put his arms around her waist and pulled her back against him. He had her against him and smiled as they started walking slowly.
“What are you doing?” She asked him, resting her head back on his shoulder.
“Coming with you,” He answered her.
“You’re not going to play strip poker with the slut sisters?”
Richie laughed, “Who’s that?”
Ashley giggled and closed her eyes, “What time is it?”
“I don’t have a watch. Oh wait,” He steered her with his hands to the Ferrari and then looked inside, “Shit, I don’t have my keys.”
“Fuck,” Ashley mumbled.
“What?”
She turned around to him and gave him a pout, “I forgot my cigarettes at the table in there.”
“I’ll get them for you,” He said.
She nodded her head and then he went to get them. She then headed back up stairs into the house where the rest of the party was. She went into the kitchen and glanced up at the clock. She did a double take when she saw it was only 10:00 PM.
Obie walked into the kitchen and waved at her.
“Obie, where have you been?”
He laughed, “I just got here and was saying hello to everyone. Where’s the guys?”
She smiled, “Downstairs playing strip poker.”
Richie walked into the kitchen from behind her. “I’m not. I’m being a good boy. However, you might not want to go down there right now.” He handed Ashley her cigarettes.
"What are you kidding!" Obie exclaimed. "If ladies are getting naked that is exactly where I want to be!"
“Um, that’s not all they are doing, Obie.”
Ashley backed away from the conversation and went out into the living room. She ended up in a conversation with Adam and a few of the family friends. Richie walked in a saw her and smiled. Keeping up with her was hard to do for some reason. He began to wonder if she was avoiding getting close to him. He joined the conversation as they were talking about him as a kid.
Ashley looked over at him and smiled, “Obie go downstairs?”
He nodded his head and laughed, “I told him he better have them all decent by midnight.”
“What else do you have to drink?” She asked him.
“Why don’t we go find out?” He took her by the hand and then went into the kitchen.
Richie found more wine that he had stocked in the refrigerator and he opened a bottle and poured her a glass as he asked her about modeling and how she liked it. He stayed by her side the rest of the night as they mingled in with groups of others, joining in on some of the conversations. Most of the guests upstairs were family friends and childhood friends aside from his parents.
Thirty minutes before midnight, the group from the game room emerged. Ashley was just coming from the bathroom and she passed by Jon, who looked like he was feeling no pain.
He smiled a slow lazy smile and patted her cheek. “How’s things?” He asked.
She laughed, “What things?”
Jon tilted his head back and laughed a cocky laugh, “Ashley, Ashley, Ashley.” He said. He then looked at her and shook his head just before he walked away.
Ashley then moved away from the door and turned to go back to where she left her drink. She laughed as she saw the blonde headed girl talking to Richie. She was nearly standing on top of him and they were laughing. Ashley had enough alcohol in her to give her self-confidence that she usually didn’t have. She strode right up to them, making eye contact with him; she took the glass from his hand and finished it off. Richie was staring at her, his attention now away from the blonde. Ashley winked and walked off into the direction of the kitchen smiling to herself. She felt so silly, like she could do anything and no one would stop her.
She went for open bottle in the refrigerator and the cold air hit her wine induced warm face. She poured her glass only half full, knowing she really didn’t need anymore wine. She was feeling flushed and all she could do was smile and giggle. She closed the door, and when she turned around Tico ran right into her.
“Oh shit, I’m sorry,” He said softly.
“So’kay, I didn’t feel anything,” She giggled.
He put his arm around her, “Are you having a good time?”
She nodded as she took a small sip of wine.
“Where did you have Richie all night long? He’s always where the naked woman are,” He asked her.
She smiled and shrugged her shoulders, "Mmmmmmmm, guess he wanted to do something different and be with a clothed one," She giggled.
“Well, I certainly don’t blame him. You two should hook up, you seem to like each other.” He said taking a drink from his Martini glass.
Ashley shook her head, “Don’t even go there,” She said holding her hand up. She moved away and laughed.
Tico smiled, “It was just a thought. Perhaps you could tame him. He’s a wild one alright.” He looked up and saw Richie approaching them and he nodded at him, “Ain’t that right Rich?”
“I’m not answering, until I know what you’re talking about.” He said reaching for the boxes of champagne.
He put the boxes on the counter as Tico slapped his back. “I was telling Ashley she should tame you.”
Richie laughed and pulled out the bottles sitting them on the counter. He turned around and leaned back with his arms crossed at his chest. He looked at Ashley, “So what was your answer?”
“Give me a whip and a chair and I'll think about it,” She said as a smile formed on her lips all the while she stared up into his eyes.
That remark raised Richie’s eyebrows. “Is that a promise?”
“Oh Jesus! I can’t witness this” Tico laughed and turned away.
“Whatever you want,” She said eyeing him as she took a drink from her glass.
Tico laughed at Ashley's remark to Richie. "You know, if you two were serious I think I'd be scared."
Ashley giggled, “I would be to, I have no fucking clue how to use a whip and I’d probably hurt him.”
Tico rolled with laughter and Richie added his own as he shook his head at her.
“I mean, I’ve done a lot of things but whips and chains...” She continued.
Richie put his arm around her and covered her mouth, “You better stop now, Darlin.”
Tico had tears in his eyes from his drunken sense of humor, “Actually, I think she’s probably telling the truth.”
“I know she is.” Richie agreed with him. "And I'm not sure we want to hear it," Richie added laughing.
Ashley rested her head on Richie’s shoulder and closed her eyes.
Richie moved and she opened her eyes laughing at what she almost said. Richie shook his head and flashed his eyes at her as he started opening up the bottles of champagne that he had bought for the midnight toast. She gave him a wide grin and sat her glass of wine down and started helping him.
When all the bottles were opened, Richie and Ashley poured them into the champagne glasses sitting on the kitchen table. He took the bottle away from Ashley and shook his head, “You just go tell people to come get their drinks.”
She shrugged, “Fine.”
When all the glasses were poured and served, Ashley got her own and went into the living room as the TV was turned onto the New Years Eve Countdown with almost ten minutes left. She stood by the fireplace, leaning against the wall for support.
Richie moved through the crowded living room, looking for Ashley. The blonde headed girl grabbed him and pulled him to her. “How about a midnight kiss?” She said running her tongue around her full red lips.
He laughed and removed her arms from around his waist, “Not tonight Saranda.”
She pouted and he patted her back, moving on though the living room.
He then spotted Ashley by the fireplace and smiled going to her. She saw him coming, and was suddenly aware of how hot her face became. He stood right in front of her as she leaned her head back on the wall, looking up at him.
“Are you going to be okay?” He asked.
She giggled, as she slowly nodded her head. She reached out for him and pulled him to her as the lights were dimmed. The only light came from the TV. He draped his arm around her waist and stood beside her, pulling her closer to his side.
Everyone in the living room chanted with the TV as the countdown began. Soon it was “5…4…3…2…1….Happy New Year!” everyone did in unison.
“Happy New Year,” Richie whispered in her ear.
As he pulled away she turned to look at him. When their eyes met so did their lips. Richie pulled her closer to him as the kiss became more then just a quick celebration kiss.
Ashley giggled and pulled away, “Happy New Year.”
He smiled down at her and caressed her long hair at the back of her head. They clinked their glasses together and drank the Champagne. Richie finished his, but Ashley only took a sip.
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