Chapter 86

“Daddy!” Hector rushed into Jon’s suite in Miami and launched himself at Tico.

“Hello hijo. Did you miss me?” Tico picked the five year old up.

“Yes.” The boy whispered and leaned his head against his father’s shoulder. Kim smiled. The boy was totally focused on his father and ignoring everyone else in the room.

“Kim? What are you doing here?” Fran’s voice made her turn around. She grinned.

“I flew to Atlanta yesterday and surprised Jon after the show.” She gave her best friend a hug and watched her moving back to Richie immediately.

“What about work?”

“They told me they have someone else for the shift.” Fran looked at her in disbelieve.

“They really try to push you around now that you told them you quit, right?” Several heads turned.

“You quit your job?” David asked surprised.

“Yes, for now it seems the right thing to do.” Kim said calmly and smiled at Jon, who pulled her close for a short kiss.

“Wow, you two really wanna make this work, huh?” Rich looked at his band mate.

“Yep, do you mind?” Jon laughed.

“No! It’s fuc…uhm ….absolutely fine with me.” Rich stopped the cursing when he saw Alejandra giving him a warning look. Hector was listening to the conversation really interested now.

“Kim, Fran…I think you haven’t met my wife and son yet. This is Alejandra.” Tico chose the moment to introduce the women. “And this shy guy here is Hector.”

“Mi amor, these are Kimberly and Fran.” The women greeted each other smiling and were eyeing each other curiously, while Hector was hiding his face in Tico’s shoulder.

“Where’s you better half, Lema?” Jon wondered.

“I have no idea.” David said and pulled out his phone to hit the speed dial. A ringing could be heard from the other side of the door.

“Hold your horses.” Lexi said when she pushed the door open and entered the room.

“Where have you been, woman?” David asked theatrically.

“Well, what do you thing Mister? A plane and a car.” She replied dryly before placing a long kiss on his pouting lips. Dave sighed and wrapped his arms around her.

“So, how about we get some lunch?” Richie asked after David and Lexi finally parted and she greeted Fran and Kim.

“Good idea. We have to leave for the sound check in Tampa in a while anyway.” Jon agreed. Hector frowned and put his arms tighter around his father’s neck.

“Don’t leave, Daddy.”

The men turned to the little boy and sighed. Sad kids’ eyes were the worst thing in their business. Kim squeezed Jon’s hand softly. He hated it to be away from his kids and you could see David, Tico and Rich were feeling the same.

“How about you fly with me to Tampa. Just us men. The girls stay here. They come to see the show tonight.” Tico suggested in a throaty voice and searched his wife’s eyes. Ali nodded with misty eyes.

“Can I play drums?” the boy asked excited. Tico smiled.

“Sure, baby.”

“Well, that’s settled. What do you girls wanna do?” Jon asked. The four women looked at each other and grinned.

“Shopping!”

The men groaned when they heard the answer.

“How do they do it? They just met?” David wondered while pulling out his credit card and handing it over to Lexi.

“No, idea. Genetics?” Tico speculated and got a sweet kiss from Ali for giving her his black visa card.

“Don’t argue with me.” Rich said when he handed his card to Fran. She stared at the card and hesitated.

“Please, darling.” She sighed and nodded.

“Thank you.” She gave him a hug. Kim grinned. Even though Fran didn’t know it, she just gained points with Lexi and Ali who watched the scene interested.

“Kimi?” Jon grinned and waved with his credit card. She laughed.

“You’re sure I shouldn’t lend you some money to fill up the tank of your jet, baby?” she teased him. He laughed while Ali and Lexi watched her confused. Seemed their men hadn’t told them about her parents yet.

“Nah, I’ll be fine, hon. But maybe you can tip the driver later.” Kim giggled when he pulled her close.

Fran watched the others joking and laughing. She bit her lip and stared down at the credit card in her hands. Kim shot Rich a look, but before he could say something Lexi stepped closer to Fran.

“Girl, believe me. We all needed some time to get used to it.” She linked arms with her and pulled her along.

“But we deserve every single penny. We have to put up with them and their craziness.” She continued to joke and eased Fran’s tension.

“When I think about it…” Lexi stopped in her track and turned around to look at David. “…I think I’m underpaid.” The men roared with laughter.

David gasped in played shock and put his hand over his heart before falling on the couch.

“I’m dead. My heart is broken. My life is over. The light…I see the light.”

“Well, Lexi. I think that’s it.” Kim said laughing after grabbing David’s wrist and checking his pulse.

“Oh, dammit. I’m too young and beautiful to be a widow.” Lexi grinned and carefully took a step towards the door.

“Isn’t this Billy Joel guy single again?” she asked innocently.

“OH! YOU…..” David jumped to his feet and rushed after her when she ran out of the room the minute she finished her sentence.