The following weeks were agonizing, for both. Every time they hugged and kissed on stage, held hands during Landslide, or just looked at each other made it harder. The tension that was between them was once more palpable. Only that everybody around them knew that this wasn't the usual tension that came with Stevie and Lindsey not talking or fighting.
They all knew that something was about to happen. They were talking, Stevie was spending an unusual great amount of time in the same hotel as everybody else again, not leaving once, even though the band knew that she preferred some hotels over the ones they had stayed in.
Tonight they were in Phoenix, and things had gotten even harder, already throughout the show. Phoenix still somewhat being her hometown, and having family and friends attending, Stevie had poured her everything into her performance. The looks between Lindsey had her had been more intense, just as her little dance part during Gold Dust Woman.
She had tried to stay a bit further away from Lindsey as usual. That hadn't been what it turned out to be. She had come closer, nearly bumped into him. It had taken all of Lindsey to not reach out and pull her close, and totally forget about their show. What was even worse was the ride back to their hotel. Against both of their better judgment they had decided to come and go together.
"I'm sorry."
Stevie whispered after a while, quitting to look out of the window and finally turned to face him. And she could see that he was confused about her apology.
"For what?" He asked.
"For the show. The way my little dance turned out." She explained. "I didn't mean to come this close. I actually planned to stay away from you. I knew it would be more intense, so..."
"I figured it would be like this." Lindsey had to laugh. "I know you, after all."
"Yeah, but I... after what I said, you know..." She had no idea what she actually wanted to say. "I didn't want to make it harder than it is."
"I'll live." He reached for her hand, squeezing it and than placed their joined hands in her lap. "You know what we agreed on."
"I know."
"It's in your hands."
"I know." Stevie nodded again. "I just don't know how long I can stay sensible."
"Maybe we shouldn't anymore."
"You know we can't."
"If you say so." He dismissed her reply.
"I just... I don't know."
Her own frustration over their current situation made them laugh. She didn't know what she wanted. She still found it was too early for them to begin anything. On the other hand they were finally in a position in which they could do whatever they wanted, without feeling guilty. They were both single again.
"What do you know?" Lindsey wanted to know.
"I don't know." She looked up as if she was going to find an answer in his eyes. "I'm just conflicted about this whole thing."
"You're not having second thoughts?"
He had to know. He hadn't had her back completely, and he wouldn't lose her again. Before of after they could try to work things out.
"No... god, no I'm not having second thoughts." Stevie hurried to tell him. "It's just this whole when is the right time thing."
"Do you think that there ever will be the right moment?"
"I hope."
"This won't bring us anywhere, you know that?"
"Then let's not talk about it anymore."
She suggested, and true to her word, she continued to look back out of the window again. The rest of the drive was spend in silence. They weren't talking as they made their way to the floor that had been blocked for the band. Only when they stood in front of Stevie's room, she turned to him.
"Good night."
And then she surprised him. Stepping closer, Stevie hugged him close to her. So far everything was fairly normal. It had happened all those times when he had accompanied her to her room. What was new was that she leaned up, placing a kiss on his lips.
"Good night, Linds." With that she slipped into her suite, leaving him standing in the hallway, wondering what was gonig on in her head.
Poor dear being left standing there... Have a nice sunday, love, Dani
