We've Got Tonight

“Deep in my soul, I've been so lonely

All of my hopes, fading away

I've longed for love, like everyone else does

I know I'll keep searching, even after today

So there it is girl, I've said it all now

And here we are babe, what do you say?

We've got tonight, who needs tomorrow?

We've got tonight babe

Why don't you stay?”

The words of the Bob Seger song fell from Richie’s lips, and made him feel as if his heart was being ripped to shreds.

He hadn’t meant to push her away…but well he’d been hurt before and it was just in human nature to shy away from hurtful things.

Richie could see her from where he stood and sang, did she realize that the words he was singing were for her?

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Every word he sang pierced her heart like a thousand daggers. She knew that he was doing the song for her.

She wanted desperately to go to him and hold him and have the conversation that would make things right between them again, but she just couldn’t.

The hurtful things he’s said to her still rang in her ears. She knew he was hurting, but that didn’t give him any right to lash out and hurt her.

“I know it's late, I know you're weary

I know your plans don't include me

Still here we are, both of us lonely

Both of us lonely

We've got tonight, who needs tomorrow?

Let's make it ast, let's find a way

Turn out the light, come take my hand now

We've got tonight babe

Why don't you stay?

Why don't you stay?”

Turning to leave just as the ending notes of the song played. She felt the tenuous hold on her emotions break.

She’d love him forever, she knew that in her heart.

She just couldn’t and wouldn’t allow a man no matter who he was to treat her the way he had.

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Richie knew he fucked up…Just as the ending notes of the song were playing he saw her turn and walk out. Pause at the door, a sob making her entire body shake, then keep going.

He wanted so badly to run after her, to grab her and apologize to her. To try and say something that would make things right between them.

However, his mistress called him, in the form of another encore…

He could only watch her as she walked away from him…forever.