Destiny Rules

Part 10

"So-"

"How have-"

They spoke up at the same time after a moment of silence after they'd found an empty booth for themselves. Stevie stared at Lindsey, sitting in front of her, her lips slightly parted as if to continue talking. Lindsey was looking right back at her, his lips sealed until they slowly formed a smile.

"People around us probably think that this is a terrible first date." Lindsey joked, which lightened up the mood and made Stevie laugh.

"Well, it kind of is." Stevie shrugged, sipping from her wine glass. "We haven't been out together in forever."

"Yes." Lindsey nodded and gulped down nearly half of his beer. "Yes, let's say it is because I would appreciate if we could forget the other two times we saw each other."

"Done." Stevie smiled, lifting her hand up in the air, she drew an invisible checkmark. "So." She repeated. "How are you? What have you been up to?"

Lindsey sighed, leaning back in his seat. He scratched his chin then ran his fingers through his curls, clearly trying to come with something to say. The truth was - he hadn't been up to anything. Whatever he'd tried, he'd failed. He was almost 36-years-old, still unmarried, no kids, not even a girlfriend.

"Uh, you know..." Lindsey gave a weak shrug of his shoulders. "I'm alright."

Stevie cocked her head to one side and hoped that the pity she felt for him in that moment that he kept talking about didn't show on her face. "And-" She took another sip. "How are you really?"

Another heavy sigh and a sad smile. "Could be better. Don't get be wrong-" Lindsey rushed to add. "I have a place to live, I have a job - that's a lot more than some people can boast about, just that... I kind of thought my life would turn out differently."

That was true, he was finally being honest. 

"You don't look much different, though." Stevie said, leaning in closer. 

"Is that you saying that I've still got it?" Lindsey asked, raising an eyebrow, grateful that she didn't dwell on his response.

Stevie felt her cheeks becoming warmer, especially, when he gave her that half smile, his eyes on her. "I guess, yeah. I'm sorry if I'm stepping over the line."

Both so very careful.

"Maybe your girlfriend wouldn't appreciate me saying things like that." Stevie purposely used those words. She wanted to know, plain and simple.

Lindsey let out an unexpected laugh, he then shook his head. "No girlfriend." He also held up his left hand. "No wife either." Lindsey suddenly felt uncomfortable as if he was too open with Stevie. They were only meant to meet up for a quick drink, there was no plan to reveal how miserable he was. "Anyway." Lindsey straightened up, the distance between them now even shorter. "What about you? Your life sure sounds exciting."

"Ah, well-" Stevie paused, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "It can be." She didn't want to boast about how perfect her life turned out to be. 

"You don't have to..." Lindsey trailed off, unsure of how to finish that sentence. "It's okay. Tell me." He encouraged her, the smile on his face seemed sincere.

"I'm about to release my third album." Stevie began. "The first two were quite successful, but I'm still terrified that people won't like it." She'd always been like that, Lindsey thought, she wrote the most beautiful songs, or poems as she called it, and she was still always unsure if they were any good. "And while I love living in the studio-" She rolled her eyes, making him chuckle lightly. "I absolutely cannot wait to go out on the road. It's seeing, hearing the audience singing back to me, you know?"

Well, he used to, not anymore, though. Still, Lindsey chose to nod his head. "I'm sure it's going to be great. I never got to thank you for that copy of Bella Donna."

"I shouldn't have sent it to you. It was-"

"No, it was nice of you. I haven't thrown it out or anything like that." Lindsey said, shaking his head. That surprised her. "I also have the note too." That shocked her. "I thought about breaking it, not gonna lie. I was jealous of your success. If I'm completely honest, I am jealous of your success, but it doesn't change the fact that you're incredibly talented or that that album was a massive hit."

"I would have never been able to make it if not for you, Lindsey. What I wrote in that note, it's true. You were the first one who believed in me. The first one to take my poems and shape them into something so beautiful. You taught me so much and I'll be forever grateful." Stevie let it out, not having expected to say those things. "That's why I asked you to join my tour." She took the risk of bringing it up again. "I wouldn't be where I am today without you."

Lindsey's expression wasn't telling her anything. He gripped the glass in his hand a little tighter and finished his beer. She watched him as he moved to stand up, convinced that she should have kept it to herself.

"Can I get you another one?" Lindsey asked, pointing to her almost empty wine glass.