144 - You Got To Hide Your Love Away

“Was that a dog?” Cara asked.

“Yep.”  

"C’mere Meatball.” Her furry pal hopped up on the oversized chair she was sitting in.

 

“Meatball? What kinda frigging name is that? Besides, whose is it?”

 

Ariana laughed into her phone, “Romeo’s, he got him for his birthday, but he stays with us.”

 

“And you named him Meatball?”

 

“No, you big doof, Romeo did. Hold on.” Taking the phone from her ear, Ariana lifted Meatball into her arms and snapped a picture, then sent it off to her friend. “I just sent you a picture. He really is a cute little pup.”

 

“kay, putting you on speaker so I can see it while finishing cleaning up the studio.”

 

“What’s new with you? How’s J?”

 

“He’s good. Busy as ever. Between the two of our schedules, we are barely in the same place for more than twenty-four hours.”

 

“That sure puts a dampener on your sex life.”

 

“Ne t’inquiètes pas mon amie, we more than make up for it.” The chirping sound had her tapping the incoming message, “Holy mother of Pearl Ari, that’s not a puppy, it’s a miniature horse!”

 

“Oh, stop it. He’s not that big, but isn’t he adorable?”

 

“He is kinda cute. But tell me this, if he’s Romeo’s dog, how is it you are taking care of it?”

 

Ariana gave her the short version of Doggie-gate and how she may or may not have had a hand or mouth in Jon making his final decision. Not that he didn’t like the dog, because he did, even if he tried to put up a front and deny it. She had caught him one too many times, baby talking to him or looking over his shoulder to see where he was.

 

“Well, I just hope my little princess will not be eaten by gigantor.”

 

“Oh, stop. Lily will be fine.”

 

"You better not let that furball be licking all over her. Remember, they lick their private parts all the time. C'est dégoûtant!"

 

"Alright already!" Ariana laughed. 

 

“Speaking of Lily, you look amazing. How are you feeling otherwise?”

 

“Fantastic, actually. My nightmares have lessened a bit. I still get them, but not that often and definitely not as bad. We hired a doctor to travel with us. Her name is Dr. Cummings. My pressure is still a little high, so she’s monitoring that. I’m eating again and don’t care about it. It is what it is.”

 

“Are you sure you’re my friend or are you some imposter who has invaded her body?"

 

"It's really me. I'm just in a happy place right now."

 

"Good for you. You sound great and look like you swallowed a pumpkin….”

 

“Gurl, I swallowed more than that.” Ariana mumbled.

 

"Oh, my lord, did you just say that? Spill!"

 

"I don't know, it's like I woke up one morning and all I wanna do is suck."

 

"You are so bad!"

 

"What? It's not like you've never."

 

"Oh, I have, trust me, I have. But what exactly are we talking here...? A little to get things going, maybe a quickie before or after the show?"

 

"More like three times already today."

 

" You're shitting me?"

 

"Nope."

 

"Mr. Rockstar must love this."

 

"He hasn't complained yet."

 

♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱

 

“Ton! Have you seen Jon?” Matt slapped his hand down on his older brother’s back.

 

“Nah, man. Check catering?”

 

“Not there!” Hands on hips, Matt pondered Jon’s whereabouts. “Where the fuck could he be?”

 

“Getting laid?” Tony cracked, not looking up from the screen he was programing.

 

“Nope. Just saw Ari in the dressing room, she’s talking to Frenchie.”

 

“Did you ask her, dumbass?”

 

“Fuck you!”

 

“Maybe he’s taking a shit. Now leave me alone, I need to get this programed for tonight.”

 

Matt walked away in frustration. Where the fuck could he be? It’s not like he didn’t have enough shit to do. Now he had to play hide-n-fuckin-go-seek and look for Jon. Pressing the button on the black walkie attached to his shoulder, it put out an all call.

 

“Any of you fucktards seen the boss?”

 

“Who you calling a fuckard, dickhead? Van two.” The familiar voice that cried out over the radio belonged to Rew. 

 

“You, prick. What’s he doing in the vans?”

 

“The fuck do I know? Stop bustin' my balls! I have work to do.”

 

The radio chatter went back to business as Matt made his way through the corridors of the arena and out the door to the back parking. The brawly looking security guard that stood at the door nodded his head to the vans parked across the lot, as if he knew why Matt was outside. Matt reached into his front pocket and pulled out the pack of Marlboros and his lighter. Tapping the box on his wrist, he put the white stick in his mouth and lit it while making his way to the vans.

 

He walked in and out between the row of vans, peeking into the windows as he did. When he reached the third one, he found Jon. He was sitting sideways in the back seat, his legs stretched out in front of him, with his head against the window. His eyes were closed. With the back of his fist, Matt pounded on the door, startling Jon as he opened the door.

 

“What the fuck are you doin’ out here?” Smoke billowed from his mouth as he stood with his hand on top of the door.

 

“Hurry, get in and shut the door first.” Jon swung his feet off the bench, making room for him to sit. “Did anyone see you come out here?”

 

“What’s gotten into you?” Matt took a last drag and flicked the cigarette to the ground before climbing into the van, closing the door behind him.

 

“Did anyone see you?”

 

“Door police over there. What the fuck's wrong with you, you look like shit?”

 

With the heels of his hands, Jon rubbed his eyes, then dragged them through his already tangled hair. “Tired as fuck!”

 

“No shit! Your eyes have more bags than Sambora. Everything cool with Ari. Her nightmares aren’t still bothering her?”

 

“If only...” Shaking his head, he sighed. “You can’t repeat what I’m about to tell you. Got it?”

 

“Really, man! Do you even have to ask that?”

 

“I’m not kidding. No wisecracks either.”

 

“Fucking spill it already!”

 

“It’s Ari, man. I don’t know what’s gotten into her. Every time I turn around, she’s trying to suck my dick. I swear to God, the skin's wearing thin on it.”

 

Matt laughed and laughed and laughed some more. He laughed for a good ten minutes straight and until tears ran from his eyes. Even now that he seemed to have his hysterics under control, he couldn’t look Jon in the face without laughing.

 

“Are you done yet?” Jon snarled at him.

 

“Sorry, Bro. You gotta admit, that’s some funny shit!”

 

“To you maybe.”

 

“C’mon… What man, of sound mind would ever complain about having his dick sucked too much, let alone hide from his wife because of it.”

 

“I’m. Not. Fucking. Hiding.”

 

“No? Then why are you sitting alone in a van with darkened windows, instead of in your dressing room, like always.”

 

“I came out for a smoke and there were some fans lurking, so I hopped in here.”

 

“Bullshit!”

 

“Whatevah. You wouldn’t understand.”

 

“Actually, I don’t. Why dontcha explain it to me, Obi-no-wanna-sucky.”

 

“In the last forty-eight hours, the Captain here…” Jon grabbed his crotch, “has seen more action than possibly the whole Slippery Tour. Heck, three times already today!” He waved three fingers in Matt’s face. “I woke up with her already attached to it. Trust me, I’m not complaining, but holy fuck! Come up for air, will ya?”

 

Jon laughed at his own pun. Now that he thought about it, it was really kinda funny.

 

“Jesus H. Christ. Three? I haven’t had three in the last six months, if that. Lucky prick.” Matt laughed and nudged his brother.

 

“Lemme ask you this, when Dez was pregnant, did she get like this? Ari swears its hormonal cravings. She wants nothing else.”

 

Matt laughed, “in the beginning maybe. But at what, Ari’s five months now,” Jon nodded in agreement, “not a chance, my only action was right here.” He gave a wave of his right hand.

 

"Didn’t need that image, thank you very much." Jon set his elbows on his knees and place his face in his waiting hands.  

 

“Dude, listen! Stop complaining and just go with it. If not for yourself, for fuck’s sake, then for the rest of the brotherhood." Matt pumped his hands in the air, chanting, Rudy! Rudy! Rudy!

 

"Knock it off, asshole!"  

 

He flicked his hand at his brother to move. They had work to do, and it would not get done sitting in the van. Matt climbed out first and waited as Jon stepped down before he slammed the door. Retrieving another cigarette from his pocket, he offered the pack to Jon, who took one for himself. Cupping his hand around the stick hanging from his mouth, Matt took two puffs in to get the thing going, then passed it off to Jon. A cloud of white smoke drifting from his mouth as he spoke.

 

“Here’s a thought. Maybe Ari needs another distraction, something other than your limp dick.”