It was just half an hour later when Stevie found herself back in the master bedroom, where Lindsey's subtle snoring filled the air.
Instead of cleaning up the studio like she had planned, she decided to just put everything back just as she had found it, even the whiskey bottles that he had stashed...
It pained her- it really did, but she also wasn't ready to face the music... He had been lying again.
In between the time it took her to have another cup of coffee and then wander back to bed, she'd come to the conclusion that it wasn't worth the argument right in that moment.
Fighting with him was the very last thing she wanted to do that morning... After all, it felt like he was all she really had left anymore.
He was her rock- he always had been, but there was this sudden feeling of betrayal that just completely washed over her.
"You okay?" He whispered, eyes hardly open as he watched her slip back into bed.
"Mhmm," she could feel it- how upset she was with him, that is, but she also promised herself, she wouldn't start it that early. "I just needed some water." She added as she felt his hand creep up her leg from under the comforter.
She was mad at him... She really was. He had lied to her- let her believe that he was out of that phase that seemed to just pull him back in time and time again.
"Try to get some more rest, baby." He mumbled, giving her thigh a soft squeeze.
She let out a deep sigh, staring down at him as one hand fell on his back. "Yeah..." she lingered with a gentle nod as her mind began to reel.
She had this urge to just scream at him. She hadn't felt that in a long time- she couldn't even remember the last time, actually. But it was almost overwhelming and unbearable.
She felt like fool.
"I'm spending the day at the restaurant, so..." she shrugged a shoulder lightly, not really in the mood to go back to sleep. She just wanted to talk. "I'll probably head out soon." She added with an arched brow.
He slid in closer, arm still wrapped around her legs as his lips met her side. "I'll go with you." Lindsey's voice was soft and sleepy... it almost annoyed her.
"I'll be just fine by myself." She announced, reaching out to grab her reading glasses off her nightstand. "You can do whatever you want." Stevie's tone had shifted so quickly- the promise she'd made to herself of not arguing was out the window, it seemed.
He brought a hand up to his face, rubbing his eyes as he pushed himself up on his elbow. "Is something wrong?" He wasn't sure what had happened- he'd just opened his eyes, he couldn't have pissed her off already.
She paused for a moment, biting down on her lower lip as she tried hard not to roll her eyes. "No, Linds." She lied, shaking her head lightly. "I'm fine." She repeated as she ran her fingers through his curls.
With his head still resting against her legs, he left another soft kiss on her silk nightgown.
He knew better than to believe her- he'd been married long enough to know what that tone of voice meant. But he also knew that if she didn't want to talk about it, he wasn't going to push her. Prying never worked for them... She would talk to him when she was ready.
~~~
"Still awake?" Crosby's voice snuck through the dark living room, causing his dad to flinch lightly. "Didn't mean to scare you." He added with a soft laugh as he trailed further into the room.
Lindsey was sitting on the couch, watching the nightly news after he'd spent an hour thumbing through some sheet music. "It's fine." He mumbled, pushing himself up a little further. "I've just been waiting up for your mom, that's all." He shrugged a shoulder, eyes traveling to the clock hanging on the wall.
It was already midnight and she hardly ever stayed out that late anymore.
"Did she go out?" He wondered, creasing a brow as he took a seat in the accent chair across the room.
Lindsey shook his head as he tossed one hand out to his side. "I thought she was just going to the restaurant, but she didn't pick up when I tried to call, so I don't know what she's up to." He admitted with a raised brow.
"Hmm, maybe she's just hanging out there for awhile." Crosby wasn't worried- he never was. "She probably lost track of time." He mentioned as he ran his fingers through his curls.
Nodding lightly, Lindsey silently hoped so. "What'd you do tonight?" He could tell his oldest wasn't drunk- he wasn't great at hiding it.
"Kara and I went with her brother to the bowling alley." He let out a light chuckle as he stared down at the hard wood floor. "Shit changes when you're trying to stay sober." He added after a moment of silence had washed over them.
He hadn't been bowling in years- probably not since he was in high school, but he didn't know what else to do on a Friday night that didn't involve drinking... He couldn't remember the last time he'd had fun and could actually remember it.
"Well..." Lindsey glanced up, half a smile marking his face. "I'm proud of you." He didn't admit that very often- hardly ever, actually, but it was true.
At least one of them was trying.
With his elbows resting on his knees, Crosby looked up at his dad from across the living room. "I appreciate that." He did, even though he knew he had a lot further to go.
It felt like just the beginning for him and in many ways, it was.
They both grew quiet, watching the news for a couple of minutes before Lindsey finally spoke up again.
"Your mom and I were talking last night," He announced after a moment. "And we think it's time to tell Everleigh that you're her father." He added with a soft sigh.
He was upset too- he didn't want life to change for them, but he wasn't nearly as distraught as his wife was... He knew the time would eventually come and he'd prepared himself a little better.
"What?" Creasing a brow, Crosby's tone changed quickly. "Are you being serious? Why would you do that?" He scoffed, not giving Lindsey enough time to reply in between comments.
"I'm not going to argue with you." He warned, shaking his head as he rolled his eyes. "I'm just letting you know before we talk to her." He didn't tolerate much from the kids- if Crosby wanted to be a jerk, he could be one too.
"I'm not ready for that." He protested. "I thought Stevie said, that she would keep it a secret. She can't just fucking-"
"Enough." Lindsey cut him off, not in the mood to listen to the antics about her, too. "It wasn't just her decision, okay?" He wasn't afraid to take the blame, even if he didn't actually agree with it totally, either. "It's just time." He repeated.
"This shouldn't be your decision to make, dude." Crosby was so annoyed, it was obvious. "It shouldn't be hers, either. Who does she think she is?"
Lindsey's blue eyes sank into the identical set, trying hard to stay as calm as possible. "Grow up." Pushing himself off the couch, he shook his head in disbelief. "I know it's never been easy for you, but if you could just put others before yourself for once, that'd be fucking great."
