Everybody Finds Out

Part 12

"Spit it out." Stevie fixed her eyes on Lori, making sure Harry was occupied with a mountain of toys.

"What do you mean?" Lori asked, tilting her head to one side.

"I know, you've got something to say." Stevie shrugged, folding her arms over her chest.

"You two are at it again." Lori sighed, using the opportunity to share, what was on her mind, while Lindsey was in the bathroom. "You know, it won't end well."

Stevie initially wanted to get defensive, but Lori was one of her oldest and dearest friends, there was no use in pretending. "Nothing is really going on. We're just..."

"Sleeping together." Lori mouthed, even though the boy wouldn't have understood anyway. "Again. He's just having fun, Stevie. You've been in this situation before."

"Maybe I am, too." She argued, but both women knew, that wasn't true. "You're just going to roll your eyes, but it feels different this time."

Lori did just that and followed with a heavy exhale. "It might feel different now, but the end result is going to be the same. He's going to go back to his wife and you're going to return to raising your son on your own."

"That's not fair, Lori. He's a wonderful father." Stevie gave her a look. "He's here as much as he can be."

"Yeah, as much as the wife lets him out of the house." Lori scoffed. "I know that you love him, but love has never been enough for you two."

"I-"

Stevie didn't get to finish, what she wanted to say, when Lindsey walked back into the living room of her mansion, which was were Lori was currently staying with Harry and her daughter. Lindsey took his seat beside Stevie, a smile on his face, but it wasn't entirely sincere. He'd overheard their conversation, starting somewhere around Stevie raising their son alone.

"Daddy, car." Harry broke the uncomfortable silence, presenting Lindsey with a toy car, indicating it was time to play.

"That's a very nice car you have." Lindsey made himself comfortable down on the floor, doing his best to avoid Lori's piercing eyes. 

"I could go for another cup of coffee." Stevie said, standing up.

"I'll join you." Lori nodded.

"Linds?"

"I'm good, thanks." He replied, somewhat snappish. 

The women went into the kitchen. Stevie moved to put the kettle on, while Lori took out two cups. Stevie kept her mouth shut, she didn't want to say something hurtful, but she was tired of the same thing. Her and Lindsey's history was so well documented and everyone had an opinion, when the two grew closer again. Her friends always insisted that what she and Lindsey had was just another affair, which was going to end with a broken heart. So far, they'd all been right every single time.

"You know that whatever happens, I'll be there for you." Lori softened, laying a hand on Stevie's shoulder.

"Lindsey told me, he loves me." Stevie whispered. "He hasn't said those words to me since we were together during The Dance."

"When you were together, you were pregnant and he cheated on you with a teenager?"

"She wasn't a teenager." Stevie's response came out sharply. "You're exaggerating."

"He still-"

"I know." Stevie interrupted, pouring the boiling water into the cups. "I haven't exactly forgot about it."

"Yeah, but you've forgiven him." Lori shrugged. "I'm sorry, but being your friend, I haven't. I would understood if he was sorry about it, if he stuck with you no matter what you told him, but he left, Stevie, he left and he married the woman."

"I don't need you reminding me." Feeling the stinging of tears, Stevie swallowed down the lump that had formed in her throat. "But I'm responsible for it. I pushed him away."

"You keep telling yourself that." Lori picked up her coffee and returned to the living room.

Taking a moment, Stevie then came back as well. She couldn't exactly hide her reddened eyes and Lindsey immediately knew that something had just gone very wrong. He turned and narrowed his eyes at Lori, but she didn't pay him any attention.

After an hour or so, Stevie and Lindsey had to say goodbye. Unfortunately, they had to keep up with their schedule. A series of hugs and kisses later, Lindsey closed the door to Stevie's home and the two made their way to his car. He didn't say anything as he got in behind the wheel and she sat in the passenger's seat on his right. 

Stopping at a red light, Lindsey turned to look out the window, then faced Stevie, when her small hand slipped in his. "Did you mean it?"

"Did I mean what?" Lindsey creased his eyebrows slightly, he wished her eyes weren't hidden behind her sunglasses. He felt nervous and uncomfortable, when he couldn't see the emotions in them. 

"When you said, I love you." 

"Of course. That's not something you just say if you don't mean it." Lindsey nodded, giving her hand a squeeze, before he had to let go of it, when the light turned green. "I meant it then and I mean it, when I tell you now, that I love you, Steph."

"Do you remember the last time you said those words to me?" She kept looking straight ahead, her voice sounded strangely calm.

"I, uh... not really, but it can't be that long ago." Lindsey laughed nervously, but she didn't find it humorous.

"1997."

"No wa-"

"1997." Stevie repeated. "Since then, I've been guessing if you still do. If I still mean something to you."

"Steph, there's no question about it. I just... I know, what a difficult turn our life had taken and I didn't want to hurt you even worse, by telling you that I loved you. That has never changed. It's never going to change." His grip on the steering wheel tightened, he considered pulling over. That was not the sort of conversation to have in this moment.

"You made it difficult, Lindsey." Stevie said, something she hadn't said to him once. 

"You're angry with me." He sighed.

"Of course, I'm angry!" The calmness disappeared. "I've been angry since 1997!"

"I thought-"

"What, that I've just forgotten about it? That I've just swept the fact you fucking cheated on me, while I was carrying your baby, under the rug, never thought about it again?"

Lindsey blindly sought out her hand, but Stevie snatched it away. "Baby, I'm sorry. I've told you that a million times!"

"Don't baby me." 

"I don't know, what you want from me." He shook his head, sighing heavily. 

"I don't know, what you want from me!" Stevie emphasized, looking away from him, she quickly wiped away the tears that had escaped. "You have a wife, Lindsey. The woman you chose over me. You have a family with her, you have two children with her. What the hell do you still need me for?"

"You know, what I want. You. I've always wanted you." Lindsey answered, feeling a heavy weight settling on his chest.

Stevie scoffed. "You had me."

Thankful that they had arrived, Stevie pushed the passenger's side door open and got out of Lindsey's car. He called out her name, rushing to catch up with her, but she pulled her hand away from his and went straight upstairs to lock herself in her bedroom.