Angel

Part 14

A beer in his hand, Lindsey sat in a booth, eyes glued to the dancefloor. Mick sat beside him, trying to start a conversation, but Lindsey clearly wasn't listening. He should have gone back to the hotel, he shouldn't have joined the rest of the band for drinks. There was nothing special about that, they'd been doing that for the last five years. He gave in after all, when he realized that he didn't even have Carol Ann. It wasn't a good moment for him to be alone.

"Did you hear a word I said?" Mick snapped his fingers in front of Lindsey's face, pulling him back to the present.

"Oh, uh..." Lindsey shook his head. "No, sorry."

"What's going on?" Mick asked before Lindsey's mind began to wander again. "And don't say, nothing." Mick pointed a finger at Lindsey as he opened his mouth to speak.

With a heavy sigh, Lindsey turned to seemingly the only person, who still cared about him. "What does she see in him?"

"Who?" Mick frowned then turned and followed Lindsey's line of sight. "Oh, come on... Don't do this to yourself, mate. Not again."

"She's like a completely different person when we're not alone, just the two of us." Lindsey said, which he probably should have kept to himself. 

"And have you been spending a lot of time alone lately?" Mick raised an eyebrow, he had somehow missed that. 

Lindsey shrugged in response, swallowing a large gulp of his beer. "I mean, look at him. He's making a fool of himself." Lindsey scoffed, watching Jimmy attempting to keep up with Stevie on the dancefloor. 

"I'm sorry to say this, Lindsey, but it's her choice. You don't exactly have a say in who she can hang out with." Mick gave Lindsey a sympathetic look. 

"Hang out, right." Lindsey laughed, clenching his fist, when Jimmy's arm slid around Stevie's waist and pulled her in closer. "I bet that's how she got him to produce her album."

Mick chocked on his drink, hearing those words coming out of Lindsey's mouth. "Whatever you do, do not say that to her face. Come on, man. I know it sucks and I hate it as much as you do, but she's talented enough to get a famous producer without sleeping with him, I'm sure."

Lindsey leaned back against the leather seat and cocked his head back, he exhaled heavily. "I'm gonna go. I can't watch this."

"Hey, no. Stay." Mick placed his hand on Lindsey's shoulder. "We can have some fun of our own." He added, wiggling his eyebrows. 

A minute later, Stevie rejoined the two with Jimmy close behind her. He slumped down, panting, he reached for his abandoned drink. Lindsey instantly tensed up and he was already trying to come up with an excuse to leave, but- 

"What?" Lindsey asked, looking at Stevie, her hand held out to him.

"Stop looking so miserable and come dance with me." She was way too energetic given the time, but nobody had to ask, why. 

"Stevie, no." Lindsey shook his head. "You know, I don't really-"

He didn't get to finish, when she came closer and grabbed his hand. She pulled him up to his feet and dragged him to the dancefloor. As soon as they stopped, the upbeat song changed to a much slower one. He stood frozen, while she stared at him with a smirk on her lips. She put his arms around her and hers went around his neck. He gulped, when she began slowly swaying.

"See? You're not so bad." Stevie smiled. 

"Why are you doing this to me?" Lindsey asked, resting his chin on top of her head when she pressed herself closer to him. "You must know that it's killing me, seeing you with him. With anyone."

"Well, I'm with you right now, aren't I?" Stevie replied, brushing her thumb over the skin of his neck. 

"I wasn't your first choice. I never am." Lindsey closed his eyes, feeling unexpected tears in his eyes. "Why am I not good enough for you?"

"We're not good for each other." Stevie said, pressing a small kiss to his exposed chest peeking through the top of his shirt. 

"I love you." 

Stevie drew back a little and cradled his face in her palms. "I know. Love has never been enough for us, Linds."

"God, please don't say that..." He shook his head, his arms moved up higher and he held her tighter. "I-"

"Let's... not." Stevie asked, tilting her chin up as he looked down at her. 

It didn't matter to her that Mick and Jimmy were close by. She didn't care that they could probably see the two of them together. She cupped his cheek and reached up a little to kiss him. He didn't want to let her go. That was the last thing he wanted to do. He wanted to take her by the hand and run out of there, but...

"I love you, too." Stevie said then pulled back completely and walked away, leaving him standing alone.