Chapter thirteen

The next morning Richie woke up to the bright Helsinki sun, Sarah had moved while she slept, her back was now pressed to his chest.

It was past 10 already, if he wanted to take her to see the city, they’d better get going or they won’t have any time.

He carefully got up but like every time before, she woke up anyway.

Sarah turned around to see him. “Morning.” She said as she sat up.

Richie wished her a good morning too, and then noticed something by the door. He turned away from the bed and walked to the door; he bent over and picked up the papers that had been slid under the door. He read the first one, and then leafed through the others.

“What did you get?” Sarah asked from the bed.
“Top 10 things to do in Helsinki.” He read the title of the first page as he walked back to the bed and handed Sarah the papers.



When Richie returned a few minutes later from the bathroom, Sarah was still reading. He liked the view he got from the bathroom door. Sarah was still in the bed, her knees pulled up, resting the paper on her thighs. The white sheet pulled up to cover her bra. She seemed so comfortable, not only in the softness of the bed but with herself too. He was glad to see her like that and hoped he had a little to do with it.

“Anything you want to do?” He walked in to the room with a towel wrapped around his waist.
“There’s a few we can do.” Sarah looked up at him as she said it, he looked breathtaking, she handed him one of the papers. “There’s a few museums but I like the national museum best and they have a tour in English too.” She was more than a little excited about it. “And something you’d like too.” She teased.
“Yeah? What would I like?” He asked, sitting down next to her.
“It is Finland,” she shrugged before she went on, “so saunas.”

She got the reaction she wanted when Richie raised his eyebrows and went on with her explanation. “There’s public ones but it also says every hotel has one and I think I’d like that better.”
A bit surprised Richie asked, “You want to go to a sauna?”
Sarah nodded, “If you want to.”

“The English tour starts in an hour.” He pointed to the time on the paper. “So we can go to the sauna afterwards, the hotel must have one.” He suggested.
“And we’ll have time afterwards for you to get ready.” Sarah added.
“We better get ready then.”

Sarah reached over to kiss him. “Thanks for doing this. You probably have other ideas than a museum.”
“Anything with you is fun.”



They arrived in time at the museum for the English tour. Their guide told them all about the history of Finland. Sarah found it very interesting, she hardly knew anything about the country’s history and was happy to learn since they wouldn’t be able to explore more than this.

At the end even Richie had liked it and not only because he could hold her hand to let everyone know she was his.



“Still want to go to the sauna?” Richie asked when they were on their way back to the hotel.
“Yeah.” Sarah answered not too excited, but she did want to.
“You sure?” He asked uncertain.
“Yes.” Then she reached in to kiss him. “You can wear a bikini in a sauna, right?”
Richie chuckled. “Yes, you can.”

She had made up her mind but the sauna wasn’t the place for it. It needed to be private, their room, maybe tonight after the concert or tomorrow.

What would he be like after the concert? In Germany he had been relaxed but he wasn’t after the concert in Sweden. What would he be like tonight?

In the sauna they were alone, even though it was open to everyone at the hotel. Richie picked out one of the wide wooden benches to sit; he padded the space next to him.

Carefully Sarah sat down so her towel wouldn’t come undone.

“We’re all alone you know, it’ll get hotter.” Richie said. Anything to see her almost naked, and now, sweating too.

Sarah did what he suggested and let her towel fall behind her and tried to relax in the rising heat.

To no avail when she was almost boiling, 20 minutes later, unlike her, Richie looked perfectly fine.

“It’s so hot in here, how is this relaxing?” She complained.
“Come here.” He pulled her closer to him.
She stopped him. “That’s going to be even hotter.” She complained when he did pull her closer.
Richie didn’t listen and wrapped an arm around her, lightly stroking his fingers up and down her side.

Almost instantly she relaxed against him.

“I love how you do that.” She sighed appreciatively.
“Me too.” He loved that he could relax her with just his touches. “Remember that other bench we always sat on.”
“It wasn’t that hot there.” Sarah pointed out.
“No, but it was nice, like this.” Richie remembered.
“Yeah it was.”

After a while, when Sarah could finally relax, he rested his hand on her hip, his fingers trailing the edges.



Reluctantly they left the sauna but according to the instructions they shouldn’t stay too long and it was getting time for Richie to get ready.

This time Sarah was excited about the concert, she really wanted to see him play again. Not only that but the songs too, she liked the songs and finally started to know some of the lyrics. She found the last concert very fun and couldn’t wait for the next one.

While Richie showered and dressed Sarah thought of her plan. She was determined to do it tonight before she lost her courage, although she didn’t think she would. She was sure if he touched her like he had, she wouldn’t be able to tell him to stop, as long as he kept her pace and took it slowly.

She was overthinking it, like the first time she ever had sex, it had been nice for five years. This would be like the first time, lovingly and sweet. Then again, sex was overrated and maybe she was romanticizing it too much. To her sex still was an act of love, she couldn’t understand how people hopped from one to the next. That’s why she needed to know Richie loved her.

“What are you thinking about?”
She hadn’t noticed Richie come back in the room. “Hmm?”
“You seemed lost in thought.” He said.
“Oh.” She was still trying to get back to the present.
“Are you alright?” He asked a little confused and worried now.
Sarah shook her head to clear her mind. “Yeah I’m fine.” She told him, sure of her answer.
“Okay then, are you ready?” He asked.
“Good to go.” She got off the bed.
“No fashion advice?” He asked.
“I have a feeling you love me no matter what I wear.” Sarah told him.
“Or what you don’t wear.” He added with a big smile.

Sarah loved his smile, so beautiful; she wasn’t going to tell him her plan though.



On their way to the stadium they shared a car with Jon again. Jon and Richie discussed the songs they were going to play, Sarah listened for titles she might recognize. She wasn’t sure what her favorite song was yet, there were a few she liked but the ones he played last month for her were more meaningful to her. She knew it was very unlikely that those got played, especially his solo, The Answer, which was her favorite of that night.

Only when they arrived did they seem to notice her presence in the car.

Like last time Richie brought her to her own place behind the side screen. Also like last time, there stood two chairs.
“Still no dancing for you.” He teased.
“Like you’d notice.” She dared him.
“I watch you all the time.” Richie said honestly.
“It helps the sprain though, to move.” Sarah told him.
“Uhu.” He nodded. “I’ll wait till you have your medical degree to believe you.”
“If I was a doctor now, you still wouldn’t let me.” She pointed out.
“True, ‘cause I love you and don’t want you in pain.” He explain, honesty noticeable in his voice.
“I know and because I love you, I’ll sit down.” She did as she said so Richie had to bend to kiss her before leaving.

From her seat she watched the band go on stage. Richie started the opening to the first song, one that Sarah was getting to know. The next few songs were also songs she had heard before. She liked the fact she was getting to know them.

Finally her favorite part came around, which they called ‘the jukebox part’, she liked the playfulness of it.

The next one sounded familiar but not as familiar as the rest did. Although it sounded beautiful, the meaning of it spoke to her. She tried to concentrate on the words but a painful “Ah” had her looking up, first to Richie then to Jon.

Worried, she looked back at Richie, even though he wouldn’t know either.

She watched him walk closer to Jon. For a few seconds they seemed to talk until Jon walked back to his microphone.

Maybe it wasn’t so bad but when she looked at Richie, he looked concerned. Jon kept on playing even though he was obviously in pain. Richie kept looking back at Sarah too, he felt a little helpless, not more than he could do but play on.

At the same time, Sarah felt bad for Jon but admired him to keep playing.

They kept on playing for what seemed like hours, finally they left the stage.

Instead of waiting for Richie, Sarah got up and walked to the back of the stage. She easily found him with the other people that were standing in front of a dressing room.

“Would you all get the fuck out of here?” She heard Jon shouting.

Mostly everyone turned around and walked away immediately, except Richie, trying to test his faith.

“You too and close the curtain.” Richie was told.

Finally he did turn around and saw Sarah.

“Is he alright?” She asked a little worried.
“Don’t know, Dean wants to see what damage he did this time.” Richie shrugged. Unlike last time, the tour was only starting, not ending.

They both looked over Richie’s shoulder when they heard more screams of pain followed by more swears.

“What did he do last time?” She wondered.
“Pulled his calf muscle.”

Sarah made a painful expression. “Auch.”
Richie chuckled. “Considerate doctor Matthews.” He hugged her.

Another couple of swears and Dean walked out of the room, Richie gave him a questionable look.

“We’re going to the hospital.” Dean said and walked away.

Richie looked over at the curtain of the room, then to Sarah, what was he going to do?

“Rich!” Came from the room.

Richie was still thinking about what to do.

“I know you’re still there, I need you.” Followed a little nicer when Richie didn’t answer, at least he seemed to have calmed down.

“And I needed to go to rehab, he should get anger management.” He whispered to Sarah.

“I heard that! Get in here.”

Richie shrugged and went to Jon.

Sarah felt bad, she could see Richie debating something. He wasn’t the only one. What would happen to her plan now?

Only a minute later Richie was back.

“Do you mind if I go along?” He didn’t know what Sarah would do on her own but Jon was his best friend. She’s a grown woman, she can stay by herself, a voice in his head said, sounding annoyed.

“No, go, he’s your best friend. I’ll be fine.” She assured him.
Richie smiled and reached in to kiss her, thankful. “You’re the best, thank you.”

He went back inside and a minute later they walked, more like hobbled back out, Jon leaning on Richie’s shoulder heavily. Jon had changed into shorts, on the outside his leg looked fine but he couldn't even bend his knee, which Sarah knew wasn't a good thing, there would be more damage on the inside.

She couldn’t have said no to him, Jon was his best friend; he should be there with him. At least he seemed to be the one to understand him.

“I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

Sarah smiled, they turned and she watched them walking away.

She was the best, if he only knew what she had planned for their night.