Chapter 9

The next afternoon, when he got up and walked into the living room, he caught a glimpse of the neighborhood outside his window. Most driveways were empty as people were still at work but there was a car in Sophie's driveway. On a Friday afternoon? He was sure by now that she worked weekdays, it had seemed like that anyway.

He continued on to the kitchen, perhaps he was paying too much attention to what went on at Sophie's house. He didn't know any of his other neighbors, Sophie was the only one. Maybe that's why he was curious he decided as he started to make himself some breakfast. It didn't mean anything. He was simply bored being at home and being alone and out of all the people on his street, she was the only one he had ever spoken to. If he didn't count the neighbor to the left that gave him a wave last week when he was shooting some hoops when dusk was setting in in the early evening.

Carrying his breakfast plate back to the living room, he tried to contain his snoopiness and watched TV as he ate. Unfortunately for him, early afternoon was full of soap operas, which were too cheesey according to him and it was too early to make them interesting with some weed. Thankfully for satellite television, he could access West Coast channels and everything in between, flipping channels until he found a game show he could at least slightly enjoy as he had breakfast.

After breakfast, he went back upstairs and showered, getting dressed afterwards. He went casual with a comfy pair of jeans and hoodie.

Perhaps Lori was right and he should go to Jon's birthday party tonight. He had spent the last 2 years day in day out with him. They had become very close friends on the road. Although he didn't want to see any of his band mates with any musical instrument or the pressure of work, a birthday party could be fun.

Having spent the last two weeks at home alone. Peacefully. He had settled in his own kind of routine. Wake up around 2 or 3 in the afternoon, have breakfast, watch a little TV. Then he would try to go outside for a little while even though it was still the middle of winter. He could always shoot some hoops and there was something soothing about sitting in the backyard on a patio chair with a cup of coffee and watching the water. He'd give a little wave at boats passing by and a few days ago, he swore he saw a seal's head pop out of the water. Later on, he would wander back inside, give his mom a call, watch some TV, maybe get a little high or a little drunk, perhaps even both and around midnight his guitar would start whispering at him.

Not much later, he was outside, in the driveway shooting his basketball at the net hanging above his garage. Living the big rockstar mansion life, he thought to himself.

When he missed his ball's rebound and had to chase in from going to the sidewalk that lead to Sophie's, he couldn't deny his curiosity anymore and picked up his ball when he finally stopped its steady roll. Tucking it under his arm, he walked over to Sophie's and rang the doorbell, then waited for a response. He knew she was home, her car hadn't moved all day.

"Hey." He said cheerfully when she opened the door a moment later. "I noticed your car here and thought you weren't working and I'd say hi."

Sophie chuckled at his little rant. "Hi. I have a day off from work today, I never get weekdays off and when I do, I end up working at home."

"It's your day off. Come out and play." He suggested quickly.

He made her chuckle again. "How about you come in for a coffee?" She offered instead.

Richie nodded, agreeing. "Sounds good too." Then put his basketball down in the corner by the door and followed Sophie into the house.

Just as last week, she lead him to the living room where he sat down on the couch. From his seat, he noticed he could see his own driveway from here but he was sure Sophie wasn't as curious about his driveway as his returned curiosity.

"Or do you want hot chocolate again?"

His eyes lit up at the suggestion. "Yes. That sounds great."

He happily accepted another hot beverage from Sophie as she joined him again in the living room.

"Are you enjoying being home again?" Sophie asked him.

Richie shrugged as he sipped his hot chocolate and almost burned his lips. Too hot. "I like being busy but I've been so busy for the last 5 years, it's been non stop. Being home feels strange but it's always with me, it's a part of me. Three weeks ago I would have said I wouldn't touch a guitar again for months and that lasted maybe three days. Now I'm up all night playing it. I can't put it down."

Sophie frowned a little. "Guitar?"

Richie frowned back, confused at her reaction and her own confusion "Oh, you don't know? I'm a musician, Lori knew, I would have thought you knew too or that she would have told you if you didn't."

Sophie chuckled a little and took a quick sip from her own mug. "No. How do you know Lori?" She asked curiously, then continued on quickly. "Are you a famous musician?" Her next question came even faster. "Should I know you?" She chuckled but looked thoughtful, as if she was thinking of every musician she knew. "Most of the music I know of, I'm told about by 19 nine year olds."

Richie laughed at that. "Nine year olds?" He asked confused. "Nineteen of them?"

"I teach third grade." Sophie clarified for him.

He clued in with a smile on his face, nodding. "That sounds as hectic as touring the world in a rock band. I can't believe Lori didn't at least tell you."

Sophie shook her head. "She's been on cloud nine since she got married in November. So you play guitar in a band?"

Richie blinked, his heart sank. "What?"

"Do you play in a band then?"

"No," He said. "well, yes but Lori's married?"

Sophie nodded quickly. "Yes, I was her maid of honor, She got married November 25th. They just celebrated their three month wedding anniversary, it was very sweet."

Should he tell her what had happened? What had happened several times even. He couldn't believe it, he had actually liked Lori and learning she was married was the last thing he expected today. Sure he liked Sophie as well but at least he wasn't in a seriously committed relationship with anyone else as he slept around.

"Are you alright?" Sophie asked when he didn't say anything in a few minutes and looked like he was starting to get angry.

Richie shook his head quickly. "Yeah, I am. She never mentioned she was married."

"Oh." Sophie sounded surprised now too.

"Anyway," Richie said quickly, trying to let that go and continue on, "I wanted to ask if you wanted to join me for a birthday party tomorrow."

"Who's birthday?"

"My friend Jon. He's turning old, he's catching up on me."

Sophie looked interested in his invitation. "Would it be like a date or like a friend's kind of thing?"

"Like a date."