Destiny

Part 15

'I need to be alone. I need some time to think.'

Michael's words kept replaying in Stevie's head as she sipped from her wine glass. She didn't say anything back to him, she just watched him pack a bag and leave. He lingered in the doorway for a short moment and she felt his eyes on her, but she didn't lift hers up. She couldn't really blame him for leaving, she just wondered if he was going to come back. If him coming back was what she wanted.

"You asked me to keep you company, but so far you've said like five words to me." Karen spoke up, having had enough of the total silence. "Are you going to tell me what happened?"

"We had a fight in the morning and in the evening he left." Stevie replied, staring blankly at the wall in front of her. 

"Okay, I already know that much, but what started the fight?" Karen asked even though she had a pretty good guess. 

"You don't have to pretend that you don't know." Stevie brought the glass up to her mouth again and took a large gulp. "What else could have happened? It's me we're talking about."

"I don't get why, though." Karen shrugged, she had never understood the appeal of Lindsey Buckingham. "You were doing so well. Sure, you might not be head over heels in love with Michael, but he's good for you."

"I don't know if I can handle not being in love with him for the rest of my life." Stevie finally admitted it out loud and not just to herself. 

"Well, then you have to make a choice before it's too late." Karen pointed out the obvious. "Before you actually walk down the aisle and wear Michael's ring. It's only going to hurt him more."

Stevie got lost in her thoughts for a while after that again. No matter what, there still was some form of love she had in her heart for Michael. They'd been together for several years and he was the only man, who hadn't run away from her because her lifestyle was 'too much'. He was supportive, he was caring. She knew that if she let him, he would be an amazing husband to her. On the other hand, there was Lindsey, who had changed a lot over the past couple of years. He was patient and sweet, he was much more open than she'd ever known him to be. However, she knew that if she told Michael what he wanted to hear, he'd be back right by her side at the snap of her fingers. Lindsey? She didn't know, what was going through his mind.

"I need to see him."

Karen turned to Stevie, eyebrows knitted. "Okay. Do you know where Michael is staying?"

"No." Stevie put he almost empty glass of wine on the table. "Not Michael. Lindsey."

It was late. Stevie probably should have called him first, but she didn't want him to talk her out of coming to see him. If she just showed up on his doorstep, he wasn't going to ask her to leave, was he?

"You can go." Stevie told Karen. 

"What if he doesn't let you in?" Karen wasn't okay with leaving her alone.

"I'm hoping that he will." Stevie simply said and opened the passenger's side door to get out of the car.

The house was dark, which wasn't unusual given the time. Stevie felt a little guilty as she approached the front door, thinking that Lindsey was likely exhausted and trying to get as much sleep as Will would allow him. Taking a deep breath, she decided to knock instead of ringing the doorbell. She didn't want to alarm him. 

Lindsey stirred from his sleep, blinking a few times as he lay still, listening intently. Maybe he was dreaming. He'd dozed off on the couch and he wasn't about to go to his bedroom, he turned on his other side and closed his eyes. They snapped open a moment later and this time he was sure that someone was knocking on his door.

Stevie failed and Lindsey was instantly alarmed when he found her on the other side of the door. He wasn't fully awake yet and he didn't know how to react.

"I'm sorry for showing up unannounced." Stevie apologized, taking in his disheveled appearance. 

"It's-" Lindsey checked his watch he hadn't taken off yet. "It's 2:18 am, Stevie, what are you doing here? What happened? Is everything alright?"

"It was a stupid idea, I'm sorry, I-" She turned to leave, hoping that maybe she could somehow catch up with Karen.

"Don't be silly." Lindsey reached for her hand and pulled her back. "Come inside."

It took her about three seconds to be enveloped in his arms. He didn't ask as he held her, stroking her back, his hand then sneaked into her hair and he pressed a kiss to her golden locks. When he felt a damp spot on his T-shirt, Lindsey gently peeled her off him and cradled her face in his hands. 

"What's going on, Steph?" Lindsey hadn't called her that in a long time and he wasn't entirely sure why it slipped out now.

It didn't go unnoticed by Stevie either. She covered his hands with her own and pulled them away from her face, she entwined their fingers together, she sniffled. "It's... It's really not your problem. I'm sorry for running to you."

"You don't ever have to apologize for that, Stevie." Lindsey gave her a look as if saying, you know that. "If you don't want to talk about it, fine. We don't have to."

"It's not- It's just..." She shrugged, looking down at their joined hands. 

"Is Karen waiting for you or are you staying?" Lindsey asked and they were halfway up the stairs a second later. "I haven't washed your shirt yet." He smiled her way and it actually made her chuckle lightly. "Haven't gotten around to doing laundry since then."

"It's okay." Stevie waved it off sitting down at the foot of the bed. 

Lindsey looked at her and then approached her, he knelt down in front of her. "Are you sure, you're okay?"

"Yes." Stevie replied. "I'm just so tired." And she was, events of the past several days had drained her emotionally.

"You want to sleep?" Lindsey saw her nod and he stood up, so did she. 

Unlike the first night, Stevie was no longer shy around Lindsey. She took off her clothes except for the shirt she was wearing and he tried not to watch. She expertly removed her bra with the shirt still on and he was still impressed to this day how women were able to do that, but he kept it to himself. He'd already been ready for bed when she arrived, so he waited until she was too and then without a word, they got into bed and under the covers. How is this considered normal, Lindsey thought. It was for them.

Lindsey didn't immediately assume that he was allowed or expected to pull Stevie into his arms. He waited, but he didn't have to wait for long. She turned on her side, backed herself into him and wrapped his arm around her middle. 

"Goodnight." Lindsey pressed a kiss to her hair.

"Goodnight, Linds." Stevie replied and closed her eyes. 

He was certain that at least a few minutes had passed, when he heard her say, I love you. He didn't know if she simply hesitant to say those words to him or if she was already falling asleep and it just slipped out.