I've Loved You Ever Since

Part 3

"So..." Stevie handed Lindsey a drink, joining him on the couch in her living room. "I've been talking all night about my terrible love life, what about yours?"

"Mine?" Lindsey sounded surprised that she would even ask. He shrugged as she nodded. "Doesn't exist." He laughed, nervously rubbing the back of his neck. "When's the last time you saw me with a woman?"

"Exactly." Stevie shifted in her seat and turned more towards him. "You're a catch! What's not to love about you?"

Lindsey remained silent. He leaned forward, his eyes now glued to the wall, he took a sip. He then faced her and smiled somewhat sadly. "Never the right time."

"What do you mean by that?" Stevie cocked her head to one side exposing her neck a bit more, she ran her fingers through her hair, he licked his lips involuntarily.

"Uh..." He shrugged weakly. "I'm not really sure." He laughed to mask his true feelings. "Just... I guess, every woman I dated just wasn't the one."

"Do you even know, what kind of a person is the one for you?" Stevie asked, running the pad of her finger along the rim of her wine glass.

"You're asking really difficult questions tonight, you know that?" Lindsey leaned back against the couch sighing heavily. 

"I'm sorry, but I can't think of a single reason, why you're not married with a bunch of little kids running around." Stevie replied. "You're smart, you're funny and you're absolutely gorgeous." She emphasized and he wondered if that was the alcohol talking. "Seriously, any woman would be lucky to be with you."

"Yeah, well-" He gulped, theirs eyes locked. "I don't want just any woman."

"Oh, so there is someone you're interested in, huh?" Stevie smirked.

"Can we change the subject please?" Lindsey asked, forcing a smile to let her know that he didn't find her questioning irritating.

"Fine." She rolled her eyes. "I see, I won't be able to force it out of you."

Lindsey was grateful that he managed to steer the conversation into a different direction, when he brought up some office gossip. Stevie would never admit it, but she absolutely loved hearing it. People usually kept those things from her, but she could always rely on Lindsey to inform her, who arrived or left the office together. 

It was getting late. Stevie was almost finished with her second bottle of wine and Lindsey wasn't exactly sober himself. Somehow, they had drifted much closer to each other. Stevie's head resting on his shoulder, Lindsey's arm loosely draped around hers. Despite how badly he wanted to believe otherwise, this was nothing out of the ordinary for her, especially if she'd been drinking. They seemed to have been all talked out, enjoying the comfortable silence instead.

"Thank you for tonight." Stevie spoke up eventually. "I haven't opened up to anyone and turns out that it does actually make you feel better."

Lindsey smiled lazily, pressing a kiss to her hair, he gave her a gentle squeeze. "Anytime."

She then titled her chin up to look at him. "I'm serious. You're a great guy. You shouldn't give up on love even if it hasn't worked out for you yet."

"I haven't given up." Lindsey shook his head slightly, unable to ignore how close her lips were to his.

"Good." She smiled, bringing her hand up to caress his cheek. 

Lindsey closed his eyes at her touch, expecting Stevie to pull her hand away any second now. She didn't. He opened his eyes, slightly confused. He watched as her eyes lowered to his lips and hers parted a little. She looked up again as if asking for permission. Completely frozen, he couldn't speak or move, so she began leaning in and-

"I... I don't think that's a good idea." Lindsey said, turning his head away. That sobered Stevie up instantly and she pulled away, unable to look at him. "Stevie, I'm sorry. It's not that I-"

"You should go." She said, making some space between them.

"No, please, listen-"

"Lindsey." She cut him off again. "Go, please."