"Are you still awake?" Her voice was just barely above a whisper as she slowly glanced over her shoulder to look at him out of the corner of her eye.
He had her wrapped up in his arms, his chin on the top of her head as his eyes remained closed. "I'm awake..." Lindsey was, but hardly.
It was two in the morning- the room was pitch dark and the only sound was the wind howling in the night and the chimes clanking together on the front porch.
The world was so still and it felt like all that was important in life was right there- it was the two of them, snuggled together with a single lit candle on the nightstand.
Her hand met the one he had resting on her hip, patting it softly to silently tell him that she needed to roll over. "Let's talk then." Stevie had a gentle smile on her face as she pushed herself up just a tad to face him.
His eyes met hers instantly, even though there was hardly any light illuminating- they could still see each others orbs. "You're stunning..." his voice was so gentle, taking a moment to look over her facial features.
Her lips were slightly puffy, eye makeup smeared a tad and cheeks a deep shade of red... The love of his life.
She chuckled, rolling her eyes playfully as she shook her head very lightly. "So full of compliments." Her head dropped to her pillow again, which made it impossible for him not to reach out and touch her face.
He ran the pad of his thumb back and forth under her eye, leaning in slowly to press a kiss to the tip of her nose. "So stunning." He repeated.
He had been telling her sweet little nothings all night long, but he meant all of it... He was more in love right in that moment than he'd ever been before, which said a lot.
"Are things really going to change after this...?" She had heard the promises many times before, and honestly, she wasn't sure she could do it again.
This time felt different. It didn't feel like the type of love that they could just easily pack up in August and not unravel until the next June... At least, it didn't for her.
"What do you want to happen?" He knew what he wanted, but he had to make sure did too.
She paused for a second, biting down on her bottom lip as she felt him pull her in a little closer. "Why didn't you tell me that you weren't living at home anymore?" Stevie knew she wasn't entitled to know any details of his marriage, or his life, really...
They weren't really in a relationship, they didn't have kids- they had nothing holding them together, yet there they were...
He creased a brow, a light sigh escaping him. "Why would I worry you with those issues?" Lindsey was being genuine- she could tell because his eyes grew so much softer and more sensitive.
"Because I care." She replied, bringing her hand to his to hold.
Lindsey couldn't help but grin, more thankful to have her than he had been in a really long time... occasionally, not even intentionally, you just take people for granted and that was not one of those moments. "You sounded so excited to get married..." he reminded her, even though that wasn't really the case.
She was excited because she felt like that was the right thing to be, not because she couldn't wait to get married, but Lindsey didn't know that.
"Who was I to say, 'hey, my marriage is finally over, ditch that guy and let's make it work...'" He lingered, shaking his head very slightly. "I wasn't going to ruin your happiness, just because I was finally out of the relationship that I should have ended far sooner." He admitted, watching those big brown eyes fill with tears.
Lindsey couldn't do that to her... he wouldn't do it, and not because he didn't want to share his life with her, but because he'd never get over it if she'd given up another chance at love for him.
They'd been running in the same circle forever and even he didn't think it was fair anymore.
"You deserve someone who is going to love you completely." He added, still cradling her face in his hand.
"Linds..." her eyes fell closed once more, breathing patterns changing as her heart nearly skipped a beat.
She was putty in his hands, like always.
"Tell me what you want." He told her as he gently pressed his lips to her nose again.
She began to curl in closer, a sudden chill washing over her. "You tell me first." She could play that game too... She could make him just as weak in the knees, and the way those words left her mouth, nearly did exactly that.
"I want the same thing I've always wanted." His hand slipped down the curve of her body, stopping when it met her hip. "You..." Lindsey's heart was racing too as he stared right into her eyes, trying hard to read her mind, but for the first time in a long time, it wasn't that easy.
"Don't say that unless you-"
"It's always been you." He cut her off, not telling her anything that he hadn't made obvious for years.
With tears in her eyes, she swallowed hard as she took a moment to decide if he was being serious or if he was just too caught up in the moment they were sharing. "You have to prove it." Stevie's voice was shaky and kind of shy... It had been years since she'd been shy around him.
He smiled softly, wiping away from of her tears before he leaned in to kiss her wet cheek. "I'll prove it everyday, if you let me." He whispered in her ear.
