Dreams

11

Carolina.

"Where are you going to stay for the week?" Stevie is laying across the couch in her hotel suite in Denver, Carolina seated on the ground by her head. This is the first time they'll be apart since tour started nine days ago. They've been glued at the hip since the first night, Carolina sneaking in to Stevie's room every night to sleep with her.

"At my apartment," Carolina shrugs and rests her head on the couch next to Stevie's. Stevie presses the palm of her hand into Carolina's forehead and kisses the crown of her head. She doesn't really feel like going back there, knowing that Jackson still has a key. There isn't much else she can do, really. It's still her house, it's where all her things are, and Stevie will be preoccupied with Lindsey.

Stevie sits up, a sigh escaping her lips as she stares down at the younger woman. "You can't go back there, Caro."

Carolina already knew this was going to be a fight when it came time. "It's still my house, Steph. It's only a week, and then we're back on the road for an entire month together."

They haven't talked about the Lindsey of it all. Stevie hasn't made any mention of breaking up with him, and Carolina refuses to ask what's going on. It's dysfunctional at best, but she isn't ready to ruin their private little world by asking what the next steps are.

"I don't like it. I don't like it at all," Stevie shakes her head, her hands running through Carolina's hair as she scolds her. "Just come stay with me. It's not as if there isn't room."

"Please," Carolina laughs, "I think that's a worse idea than leaving the door unlocked and inviting Jackson over outright." She tries to keep her tone light, but it comes out bitter anyway. What is Stevie thinking?

"Why?" Stevie asks, genuinely confused, "you'll be safe. We'll be together. Stella can come spend the night for a night or two."

"Stevie..." Carolina looks down at the ground before she turns to look at the woman behind her. "I'm not coming over and sleeping in the guest room with my little sister while you play house with Lindsey. Come on. This is a terrible idea."

"Oh-," Stevie sits up all the way and pulls her hands out of Carolina's hair. She knows she needs to speak to Lindsey. She knows this isn't fair. But what is she supposed to do, upend her entire life? "I didn't think of it like that. I - of course. You're right. That wouldn't be ideal."

They both stay quiet for a moment, neither one of them wanting this to turn into a fight. They've managed to avoid it so far - by simply not talking about what they are or what they want to be. Carolina stands and combs her fingers through her hair just to break the tension.

"It's fine, Stephanie. Really. I need to look for houses, anyway, and spend time with Stella. I'll be busy." Her tone is light, as pleasant as she can make it given the circumstances. Going home feels so foreign now; her entire world has changed so drastically in the last two weeks. She never could've guessed she'd be in a spot where she couldn't get stevie nicks of all people out of her head. Then again, she never expected the woman to crawl into her bed.

"Maybe we can have dinner," Stevie smiles as she stands and wraps her arms around Carolina's waist, pulling her in. "Take Stella to El Carmen. She'll understand the significance."

"You don't have to mother her," Carolina tries to laugh but it comes out defensive. "Just because we're sleeping together on the road doesn't mean you have to get invested in Stella, or anything else."

Stevie takes a step back like she's been pushed - she wasn't expecting such a gut punch. "I'm invested in Stella because I'm invested in you," she snaps as she crosses her arms and stares out the window of the suite, "is that a crime? I'm not allowed to care about your life when we aren't in bed together?"