Destiny

Part 19

Stevie didn't know what possessed her to say, yes. It seemed like an okay idea at first, but the second she woke up that morning, she was trying to come up with a good enough excuse not to do it or at least postpone it. She had only had a couple of days to prepare for it. 

"May I offer you a glass of this fine whiskey?" Michael showed one of his most expensive bottles to Lindsey.

"No, but thank you." Lindsey politely declined. "I haven't had a drop for quite some time now."

Stevie wasn't the one doing most of the talking tonight. She just couldn't believe that her fiancé and the man, who she thought, she was still very much in love with, were in the same room together. Both were on their best behavior, not that she had expected a fight to break out or anything like that. Needless to say, there was a lot of tension in the air, but the evening so far had not been all that unpleasant.

It was Michael's idea to invite Lindsey to dinner. If I get to know him better, maybe I'll see, what's so wonderful about him, Michael said a few nights ago as he lay beside Stevie in bed, who shot him a questioning look. He added that he didn't really try during Fleetwood Mac's reunion and if she insisted that Lindsey's going to stick around, maybe it was time he put in a little effort. For her sake. Stevie's mind immediately started racing. She wondered, what kind of an ulterior motive Michael had, but she couldn't exactly tell him, no, either. He could have just been trying to be nice. 

"Is there anything I can get you, Linds?" Stevie gulped and quickly faked a cough. "Lindsey." She corrected herself. "Must have inhaled a fly or something." She joked.

"I'm good." Lindsey smiled her way shaking his head. "You've already done enough. I'll be stuffed for days." 

"Yeah, right!" Stevie laughed and her nose wrinkled in that adorable way both men loved. "Knowing you, you'll be raiding the fridge the second you get home."

Michael's gaze shifted from one to the other, he clenched his fist. "I've just remembered." Michael spoke up after clearing his throat loudly to catch their attention. "You haven't responded to the wedding invitation yet. It'd be greatly appreciated if you let us know as soon as possible."

"Oh, uh..." Lindsey shifted in his seat casting his eyes down to the floor before he looked at Michael. "I know, I'm sorry. I just need to make sure I have someone to babysit Will first. I assume, everyone I could think of asking will be at the wedding." 

"Yeah, well, Stevie wanted a big beautiful ceremony." Michael grinned, hugging her around the shoulders and closer to himself.

"And she deserves it." Lindsey nodded, his smile appeared genuine but sad. 

"It's okay, Lindsey. No rush." Stevie assured.

Knowing how uncomfortable the conversation had to be for Lindsey, Stevie changed the subject, steering it into a different direction. Michael sat with his arm around her and it didn't feel completely natural, but she understood. She thought that Lindsey was purposely avoiding looking her way and she understood why as well. All in all, it wasn't a bad night, but she didn't think, she was going to say, yes, to it ever again.

"I should really get going." Lindsey announced and rose to his feet. 

"It was nice having you here." Stevie said, following him out of the room, Michael close behind. 

"Thanks for coming." Michael added, holding his hand out for a handshake goodbye.

"Thanks for having me." Lindsey nodded. "Have a good night you two." 

After a quick hug goodbye, Lindsey was out the door and Stevie had an uneasy feeling, which didn't allow her to let him go just like that. She told Michael, she had forgotten something she had to say to Lindsey and went after him. Surprisingly, Michael didn't have any questions, he said, he was going to start cleaning up.

"Hey." Stevie caught up with Lindsey as he was opening the driver's side door of his car. 

"I thought, we just said goodnight." Lindsey replied, his eyebrow raised. 

"I know, I just..." She shrugged, hugging herself around the middle. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have given in and asked you to come, Lindsey."

"It's okay." He sighed, placing a hand on her shoulder, he squeezed gently. "I'm okay."

"And I'm sorry for-"

"Stevie, there's nothing for you to be sorry about." Lindsey shook his head, he let his thumb brush over the skin of her neck. "I know, he was being territorial and all that, but underneath it all, I think, he really does love you."

"How do you know that?" Stevie swallowed uneasily, wringing her hands.

"Because he looks at you the same way I do." Lindsey said and she felt a pang in her heart. "I think..." He began then cocked his head back to stare up at the night sky for a second, he sighed. "You let me try being happy with someone else once not that long ago. I think, it's time I do the same."

"Linds..." Her eyes glazed over with tears and she looked down, shaking her head slightly. "I-"

"Do it. Or you'll never know." Lindsey said and wrapped his arm around her, he pressed his lips softly to her forehead.