During The Break

Are you awake?

"Is there a reason behind me being here, Stevie?"

"What? No. Why would you think that?" 

"Well... We had a girl's night last night and it was fun, but now it's noon and you keep asking me to stay." Lori said, crossing her arms. She knew Stevie long enough to know she wasn't being completely honest.

"It stays between us, right?"

"Of course."

Stevie shifted uncomfortably, deciding if she should open up or not. "Lindsey is coming over."

"Buckingham?"

"How many more Lindsey's do you know?"

"Why?"

"We've been working together on something. It was going great, until... Well, until two nights back, when he asked to stay and suggested watching a movie or something. I said okay. It was all good right up until he kissed me."

"Like a friendly kiss on a cheek, right?" Lori's voice sounded pleading, begging for Stevie to say it was just that.

But she shook her head. "It was a full on make out session. Tongues and all... I only pulled away when he started touching me."

"Wait a second... You two don't do anything, not even so much as talk while touring and now you're working on something, he's kissing and touching you? Just where exactly were his hands?"

"He was definitely going for it."

"So, let me get this straight. I'm here so when Lindsey arrives, he doesn't pull any of that kind again?"

"Yes."

"I can't believe this." Lori sighed heavily. "Haven't you grown up at all, Stevie?"

"I don't know why he did that! I didn't want him to do that!"

"Certainly sounds like you enjoyed it though."

"It felt nice. I felt wanted." Stevie added, shrugging her shoulders. "By Lindsey."

"What happened to the beautiful wife?"

"He said she doesn't even care he's spending hours every day at my place."

"Oh, so he's not getting it at home anymore and he thought that good ol' Stevie would be more than willing! What a jerk!"

"Maybe you should leave."

"What? Why?"

"I need you to be my friend and not go on about how I'm only useful when one of my ex's doesn't get to fuck his wife any longer."

"Stevie..." Lori realized now how that might have come out. "I didn't mean it like that. I just meant that you're way too good for him altogether."

"It's not your place to decide."

"So, you're saying that if he tries anything again, you'll agree to it?"

"That's not at all what I'm saying. Before leaving Lindsey asked if we're okay and I said yes, but he can't kiss me or do something else that's inappropriate. Because I know what he and I are up to concerning our work, I know he wouldn't jeopardize it with a quick fuck."

"Seems to me like you know what you're doing. I might as well leave and let the two of you get back to work."

Lori wasn't at all happy with what she heard. She loved Stevie and cared for her so much, she simply didn't want to see her friend getting hurt again by the man she just couldn't get away from. She started gathering her things and Stevie was waiting by the front door to see her out, when the doorbell rang and she opened to find Lindsey standing in front of her.