Lotto

21

Time Jump

October 16, 1981

Freya was six. She was in kindergarten at her mom's school, but she was six with gorgeous blonde curls and big brown eyes she was small and petite very much like her mother but she was a fire cracker and Lindsey loved her. She was the best thing in the world to him. But he just turned 32 and now being in his thirties he woke up, looked in the mirror and decided he needed a change so when he got off work at the Record Store he went to the barber shop.

It was drastic, very drastic but he was tired of feeling childish. So he shaved the beard and chopped the curls. And not to mention he was angry because they were stuck in a rut. And he still wanted a child and he was starting to think of not so gentlemanly thoughts so he could get one. He'd never act on it, but he couldn't help but wonder what it would be like if he slept with someone else and she got pregnant. Then there'd be no way for Stevie to deny him a second child. It was petty and selfish but it was the truth.

He walked into the kitchen and he didn't even pay any mind to Stevie who was cooking dinner but he did jump when he heard the pan in her hand clatter to the floor.

"Steph?" He cocks an eyebrow and then she starts crying and he cautiously walks over to her.

"Why would you do that." She sniffles hitting his chest.

"What?"

"Cut your hair, why would you cut your hair." She cries.

"You're crying actual tears over my hair?" He asks.

"It was my favorite part of you." She whines.

"Steph it was a nest on the top of my head. I needed a change." He shrugs. "Do you not like it is it ugly?"

"No, it makes you look sexier, I just wasn't prepared for it. I loved your hair. And your jawline, Oh my god." She whines.

"Okay then." he turns around and goes back to the fridge to pull out a beer when he heard little tiny feet run into the kitchen.

"Hey peanut." Lindsey smiles as she hugs his legs.

"Daddy you look different."

"I got my hair cut." Lindsey nods. "Do you like it?"

"I love it." She cheers.

"Well momma, it can't be that bad if she loves it." Lindsey picks her up and kisses Freya's little cheek.

"Daddy are you coming to the Fall Festival tomorrow?" Freya asks.

"I am. Are you excited?" He asks.

"Yeah, I can't wait to bob for apples." She grins.

"Oh yeah, maybe we can talk mom into getting us some caramel apples too hmm?" He asks.

She just giggles in response.

"Alright why don't you two go get washed up for dinner." Stevie sighs bending down and picking up the pot that had fell to the floor. She was making Chicken Alfredo for dinner. And she had the noodles in the colander in the sink and she was going to put the pot back on the stove when she saw him.

Lindsey and Freya came down the stairs and Stevie dished them out their food. She poured Freya some apple juice and she poured herself some white wine and they ate dinner silently but Stevie kept casting her gaze over to Lindsey. She hated that he cut his curls but he looked oh so sexy with the haircut and the tight jeans he was wearing the blue button down complimented his eyes and she found herself just staring at him chewing on her lip.

"Momma you're being weird." Freya says as Stevie lightly turns her head.

"Huh?"

"You're looking at daddy how Ginny begs for food."

Lindsey starts laughing at the statement that came out of their daughter's mouth.

"I just um...I just think that daddy looks really good with his hair cut." Stevie sighs a slight moan behind her words. Causing Lindsey's eyes to widen even more.

***

The alarm beeped and Stevie groaned rolling over laying herself on Lindsey's naked back as he slammed his hand on it.

He rose up slightly and turned his head to look at her. "You probably should've put your nightgown back on last night."

"Why, you don't want to see my naked body in broad daylight?"

"No, not even close...Freya." He answers.

"We locked our door last night." Stevie informs him kissing his shoulder blade.

"Doesn't matter. Come on let's get up we've got a big day ahead of us." He nods his head.

"I don't want to get out of bed. You did a number on me last night." She tells him.

"That wasn't my fault." He laughs.

"Yes it fucking was, cutting your goddamn hair." She ruffles it and pushes off of his back and heads for the shower.

"Do you want me to join you?" He calls.

"Please do." She turns around and looks at him.

As Lindsey was washing her hair he smiled, "You know Steph...in a little over a month it'll be seven years married." he tells her.

"I know, I still don't like you." She replies.

"Sure, tell that to the woman last night." He smirks.

"I didn't think we'd ever end up like this." She sighs standing up after her hair was rinsed and wrapping her arms around his waist pressing their hips together.

"Honestly, me either. I figured I'd be sleeping in a guest room for the rest of my life." He tells her rubbing her back.

"Honey, I can't sleep with out you. That's why I go to bed last because that way I know you're all safe and snuggly in bed." Stevie explains.

"I just figured it was because you were a night owl."

"Well that too, but it's a form of comfort knowing you're up here and I can crawl into bed with you. That first Christmas we were married and you had gone to San Francisco sent me into pure panic and turmoil." Stevie explains.

"I remember. Does your wedding ring still mean nothing to you?"

"No, it means everything to me. Thank you so much for getting me one. I feel bad though I never got you one."

"Don't worry about it angel. Honestly, I'm not much of a jewelry person anyway." He shakes his head.

"But still." She sighs.

"I know, Hey...I love you." He kisses her forehead.

"I love you too." She smiles.