Chapter 11: If you love someone . . .

"Devon" Gabby called out as she let herself into Devon's apartment using the spare set of keys that Devon had given her. Weird. She said she'd be back by now. Gabby was supposed to have dinner with Devon that evening. Gabby was anxious to talk to Devon about this ongoing fight between Devon and Ritchie. Gabby was worried about the effect it was having on Devon. And Ritchie.

Just then, the doorbell rang. Puzzled at the thought of her friend ringing the doorbell of her own apartment, Gabby opened the door.

"Abby" Reese smiled, "Have you seen Devon?"

"It's Gabby, actually." Gabby corrected Reese, more than a little annoyed. "With a 'g.' And no - I haven't seen Devon." Gabby's close friends knew that Gabby disliked very few people and said a disparaging word about even fewer. But there was something about Reese which she couldn't quite pinpoint which rubbed her the wrong way.

"Sorry" Reese smiled the rueful smile that the average movie goer regularly paid upwards of $10 to see. "It's just that I've been calling her for a couple of hours now and she's not picking up her phone."

"That's odd." Gabby commented and then looked up, "Danielle! What are you doing here?"

"What are you talking about, Gabby? You remember - Devon said I could stay here while she went out of town on business." Danielle stood behind Reese and raised her eyebrows, seeming to say Play along.

Intrigued, Gabby decided to go along - for now. "Oh right. Where was she going again?" Gabby asked sweetly.

"You know - she's trying to sign that band - the one that lives in Arizona." Danielle answered back just as sweetly.

"What?" Reese asked as he looked at Danielle. "Why isn't she picking up her phone?"

"Reese - this band is very eco-conscious. They try to live off the grid. That means they live in a place where there aren't cell phone towers for miles." Danielle lied convincingly. It was one of her many talents - the ability to lie on her feet and lie well.

"I had no idea such places even existed." Reese said wonderingly. "You and me both." Gabby said brightly and smiled. Danielle glared warningly at Gabby. Gabby only smiled wider.

"Reese - you should just go home. Devon may be a couple of days. This band is really elusive but Hollis really wants to sign them. So Devon is going to be incommunicado for a day or so. But I'll have her call you as soon as she gets home." Danielle took Reese by the arm and led him firmly out the door.

As soon as the door closed behind Reese, Gabby waited a few seconds to make sure that he was not in eavesdropping distance. Then she looked at Danielle and said, "talk."

Danielle smiled the smile that had led many a man to open their wallet for her and proceeded to tell Gabby all about Ritchie's plan.

The loaner house where Ritchie has Devon

Ritchie looked over at Devon as she slept on the couch. She hadn't spoken to him in hours, not after proclaiming that he couldn't keep her. She hadn't even said anything during the makeshift dinner he had cobbled together from the non-perishable foods that he had had stocked down here. After all, he had no idea how long it would take to convince her. At the rate we're going, I hope I have enough food to last us. Ritchie thought. After dinner, Devon had walked over to the couch and pretended to fall asleep until exhaustion had made the pretense a reality.

He walked over to the couch and knelt down beside it. Gently, he pushed her hair out of her eyes. When she didn't wake, Ritchie decided to risk placing a soft kiss on Devon's cheek. After a while, exhaustion claimed another victim and Ritchie slept, his hand on the couch above Devon's hair.

A few hours later

Ritchie woke with a start from the sun in his eyes and a crick in his neck. He slowly eased himself to his feet and rubbed at the back of his neck with one hand. He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and looked at the date and time. I guess I better call Mason and tell him I'm not making rehearsal.

As Ritchie waited for Mason to pick up, he smiled at the old school song choice his friend had picked for callers to listen to.

If you love somebody, If you love someone, Set them free. Sting's voice sang.

Ritchie closed his eyes. Then he looked at Devon and realized that she -- and Sting -- were right. He couldn't keep her here. Not if she didn't really want to be here. Not if she didn't love him.

Ritchie pressed a button on the phone to end the call and walked to the door at the top of the stairs. He took a key from his pocket and unlocked the door. He walked back down the stairs. He took out his cell phone again and placed a quick call. Then he pulled a chair in front of the couch and waited for Devon to wake up.

He didn't have long to wait. Devon opened her eyes and slowly sat up. She saw Ritchie in a chair in front of her, with sad and resigned eyes.

"You're right. I can't keep you here. So if you look, you'll see that the door is unlocked and there's a car outside waiting to take you wherever you want to go." Ritchie spoke slowly, almost as if he was unwilling to finish his sentences.

Devon got up, walked to the bottom of the stairs and looked at the open door at the top. She hesitated and then put one foot on the bottom stair.

"But I want you to understand something." Devon turned as Ritchie started speaking again, "You're wrong if you think that I don't want you to be happy. I want that more than anything, Devon. And if Reese Worthington makes you happy, then I'll be happy." Ritchie half smiled. Devon looked at Ritchie's eyes and saw truth. And love.

Ritchie opened his mouth as if to say more. But there was too much to say. And at the same time, nothing more to say. So he closed his mouth and said nothing - only continued to look at Devon.

Devon leaned forward, as if she was going to go to Ritchie. But instead, her hand on the bannister tightened and she pushed herself up the stairs and out the door.

Ritchie sat and waited in the basement for a long time. Wishing that she would come back. Knowing that she wasn't going to.