Destiny Rules

Part 13

Jimmy sat on the edge of the bathtub, watching Stevie as she was getting ready to go out. There was nothing out of the ordinary with her makeup except for the red lipstick that caught his eye. Already dressed up, she messed with her hair for a minute before reaching for her favorite perfume.

"You look nice." Jimmy said and received a terse response, just a, thanks.

Jimmy hated to think of himself as controlling, but he realized that he was when their relationship took a turn for the worse. He couldn't always be by Stevie's side, she didn't like that anyway, he couldn't possibly know what she was up to when they were apart. That question never came to his mind before Lindsey became a constant in her life once again. Jimmy tried telling her 'no' a few times and every single time it ended in a fight. Do you have to go to that party? Does he have to be there? Can you cover yourself up a bit? Jimmy hoped it didn't show, but he was worried. Something had changed in Stevie. Or did she change because of Lindsey? Jimmy knew it was an insane idea to suggest he should join her band and now Jimmy only had himself to blame. 

"When do you think you're coming home?"

"Don't know." Stevie shrugged, putting on her jewelry. 

"Should I come-"

"No." She cut him off. "I mean, you don't have to. I'll find my way home." She added in a softer tone.

~

Stevie was the last to arrive. Her band was already there when she walked in. It was just a get-together before the break for the holidays that she organized. So, no, Jimmy had no business being there. Even with her terrible vision, Stevie spotted the group right away. It was the volume of their chatter and laughter that gave them away. One particular members was missing, though. 

"Where's Lindsey?" Stevie asked after saying, hello, to everyone. He was supposed to be there, he promised he'd come. 

Sharon gave her a look that Stevie chose to ignore, instead she turned in the general direction that Lori motioned towards with her hand. There he was! Just getting a drink, Stevie sighed then frowned. Who was with him? No girlfriend, no wife either. Before Stevie could make a fool of herself and march over to him, she saw Lindsey nod his head, the blond next to him nodded back and walked away. Their eyes met and his face lit up. Now Stevie was relieved.

"Hey you." Lindsey wrapped his arm firmly around Stevie's back, carefully holding his drink in the other hand. 

"Hey." Stevie smiled up at him, arms still around him. Someone cleared their throat loudly behind her and Stevie stepped back. "Did I miss anything?"

"Uuuuh, nope." Lindsey thought for a second then replied. "I've saved you a seat." He leaned in closer again and spoke quietly into her ear. 

That had a much greater effect than Lindsey had intended and Stevie had to take a moment to collect herself before she returned to the table with him, where a glass of wine was already waiting for her. Lindsey's doing as well.

Stevie engaged in conversation with the others for a while, after all she was there to spend time with everyone, not just- she felt Lindsey's hand brush against her leg under the table. It was an accident, surely, it had to be. Don't overthink it. She focused on a story that Lori was currently telling, completely ignoring the heat of Lindsey's body beside her that she was convinced she could feel. She definitely wasn't getting hot because they were in a crowded place without a single window cracked open.

"I was worried you weren't here." Stevie used her chance to address Lindsey, when the watchful eye excused herself and went to the restroom. 

"Oh?" Interest piqued, Lindsey faced Stevie, she nodded her head slightly. "I promised, didn't I? Besides, this is a great bunch of people, who have welcomed me with open arms." Maybe a little bit of an overstatement, but true nevertheless.

"Ah, so you're here to spend time with people." Stevie brought her arm up and rested her elbow on the table, she leaned her chin on her clenched fist, moving a tiny bit closer to him.

She's flirting with you, Lindsey told himself, be cool. "I mean, yeah. What else?"

"Nothing." Stevie shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "Just asking."

Was it his turn? Was he supposed to take it further or... Stevie had always been a flirt, maybe he was reading too much into it. "Spending time with you is not so bad either." He emphasized, one side of his mouth curling up. She's blushing! Okay, so maybe he wasn't imagining things. And it barely took him any effort, he mentally patted himself on the back.

Stevie lowered her hand and her fingernails lightly grazed his denim clad thigh. Lindsey instantly tensed up. Just an accident. Or was it? The look in her eyes made him question it. Unfortunately, before Lindsey could tip the scale again, Sharon took her seat, interrupting their little game.

In order to distract himself, Lindsey turned to his right and listened to what people were discussing on that side. Lori began talking about stage outfits, which never failed to capture Stevie's attention. 

Hours went by, some had already left, some were finishing their drinks before heading out as well. Lindsey was having a good time, surprisingly. Back when Fleetwood Mac were still going strong, he rarely ever joined, usually Mick's, parties. This was a different atmosphere. This was Stevie's thing, she had the final say in everything. Maybe that was it. Maybe because Lindsey didn't feel that constant pressure to make the right decision, he was finally able to relax and actually enjoy what he was doing.

Stevie wasn't eager to leave either. Her relationship with Jimmy started out great. It was easy, it was fun. Likely, it was her own fault that it had started going down hill, but... Lindsey was a different man. By the time Fleetwood Mac went their separate ways, they argued, they screamed at each other all the time. Lindsey was always unhappy, she wasn't happy either if she were honest. The nitpicking, the snide remarks - it all added up until she couldn't stand being in the same room with him. This Lindsey? This Lindsey she couldn't get enough of. In a friendly way of course. They hadn't done anything inappropriate. So, yeah, she wasn't ready to go back to her boyfriend just yet.

"Stevie, do you want to share a car?" Sharon spoke up, wanting to go home.

"I think, I'd like to stay for another drink." Stevie shook her head, she looked around the table and realized that no one else was there.

"You've had quite a few, don't you think?" Sharon hoped she wasn't too obvious. "You'll regret another one in the morning."

"Don't worry about me." Stevie waved it off. "I'll be fine."

Sharon stood up, looking at Stevie then at Lindsey, her eyes went back to Stevie. "Are you sure?"

"Yes." Stevie insisted and got up too to hug her friend goodbye. "You go, get some rest. I'll stay just for a bit longer." 

Her hands on Stevie's shoulders, Sharon looked at her intently and whispered. "Don't do anything stupid."

"I swear." Stevie replied, hand on her heart.

After a quick, goodbye, to Lindsey, Sharon was gone. Now it really was just the two of them. Stevie sat back down, Lindsey turned his body towards her. 

"So..."

"So..." Lindsey echoed.