Destiny Rules: The Sequel

Chapter 25

July 14, 2010, New York City

Lindsey sat blankly in an old folding chair surrounded by a sea of post-show chaos at Madison Square Garden. He watched as his kids, along with Stevie and Mick's, ran around the aftermath of the concert - screeching as they played and ran up and down the empty front row seats. The curtains were now lifted to the backstage area where tables of drinks and refreshments awaited the band and crew. Around him, conversations swirled - though most of them surrounded kids or the news - as their wives chatted each other up along with the crew. But considering they had just played one of the most iconic venues in the world, the energy was mildly tame.

He thought back to the Mac concerts of the past, where they would all be celebrating in this same place right now—drugs and booze flowing freely, no kids anywhere to be found - they got to be the kids, and the party would be rowdy until the early hours of the morning. At the center of it all, he and Stevie would meet eyes — probably after the fact that they'd been fighting all day — and they would exchange a heated look. And somehow, they would both just know, no spoken word necessary as they'd each quietly disappear from the party to find a hiding place somewhere in the venue where they'd suddenly end up in a heated position, taking out all their post-show passion and aggression while hiding from Lindsey's girlfriend.

"Lindsey?" Kristen's voice woke him from his thoughts, "Did you give a copy of the hotel keys to Casey?"

"Huh?"

"What are you in a trance? I asked you to make sure Casey got copies of the keys so she can take the kids back to the room when we all go out to drinks."

"Kit, I just played Madison Fucking Square Garden, are you seriously asking if I've had time to coordinate with the nanny about hotel room keys?"

She glared at him, "Fuck yourself, Lindsey. Get off your high horse," she snapped before storming away.

It was all so completely wrong. When did they go from twenty and thirty-somethings who were free as birds to this? Now he was supposed to be worrying about a newly-hired nanny following them around tour for weeks. He reached down to the ground where his beer sat to crack it open, taking a sip as he stayed perfectly still in the folding chair he was seeking refuge in. As he looked up, his eyes met Stevie's across the room and his expression softened. She stood leaning against an amp, a glass of champagne in her hand as her group of girlfriends surrounded her. For a second, their eyes met and simply melded into one another's with that knowing look they used to share all those years ago. He bit his lip, suddenly hungry to have her against the amp right here and right now, just like they used to.

"Dad!!!!" His youngest squealed beside him, "Can we stay up til midnight!!!!!"

He sighed, reality once again winning over the past nostalgia. "It's almost midnight now, so yes."

She zipped off happily, running with the other kids. When he looked back to Stevie, she was already back in conversation and looking away again.

An hour later, the adults of Fleetwood Mac finally made it to the sit-down dinner and drinks they'd promised they would take while in New York. John, Christine, Mick, Lynn, Kristen, Lindsey, and Stevie poured into the restaurant along with their tour and band managers, where a long table awaited them. Stevie tried to grasp onto Christine to secure a seat next to her, but Lindsey somehow ended up in-between them and Stevie was left sitting directly next to him. She looked up at Kristen who, sitting directly across from Lindsey, gave her a piercing look. Stevie turned back around to see if she could swap with anyone else, but it would've been too obvious, so she sat down instead, offering Kristen a smile before lifting her menu.

"How did we all end up in a row?" Mick asked from the other side of her with a laugh, looking down to see the rest of them side by side.

Stevie shrugged, "As if I don't see enough of you people," she laughed, "At least I get to look at Lynn tonight," she grinned across the table.