When she woke up in the morning, he was gone. But Stevie wasn't surprised, nor disappointed, because it had happened so many times before. She lay in bed for what felt like hours, staring at the ceiling and letting her mind wander with the memories of the night before. Then, she couldn't help but smile. But it eventually faded once she heard the familiar tone of the phone at her bedside table. Stevie sighed heavily and reached for the receiver, figuring Karen had forgotten to tell her about some important event for that day.
"Yes?"
"Hey baby"
"Please don't call me that."
"My sister bailed me out, don't be like that."
"She should've let you rot in there, honestly Jared, words can't express how much you've embarrassed me. I don't want to talk to you right now."
There was a long silence on the other end, and she should've hung up. For some reason, as confident as she was, Stevie was scared.
"I'm coming over." And he hung up, but she still spoke her reply out loud;
"I won't be here."
Stevie decided she would pack up her things as soon as possible before Jared even got a chance to find her. Thankfully, they had their last show tonight in this city, and they would be leaving soon. He could memorize the tour dates, but at least he wouldn't know where she was staying, Karen would make sure of that. Only one place came to mind when she was contemplating a safe idea. Lindsey. As long as she was with Lindsey, she would be fine. She didn't even have to be in his arms, just so long as she was near him. Just the thought of him comforted Stevie as she hurriedly tossed her things in one of her many bags, picking up her red cellphone in the process.
"Hey, Stevie. What do you need?" She could tell Karen was distracted with something off the phone, but she also knew she was being sincere and would drop everything if Stevie asked.
"Some plans have changed, I'm going to need help moving into Lindsey's room until we switch cities. I know that's a lot just for a few hours, but I feel safer from Jared there; he's looking for me."
Stevie looked behind her nervously, although her room was empty, she couldn't help but feel paranoid. She was afraid there would be some hesitation, but Karen's response was carefree and affectionate.
"That sounds absolutely fine, Stevie, and I agree. I'll get over there as soon as I can to help out. You shouldn't be staying there alone anyway, well I mean...I'm there too, but my bets are on Lindsey in a fight."
She smiled at that, listening as Karen told her to leave her things there, and that she would handle it all later. Stevie hadn't taken into consideration why she felt she should stay with Lindsey, and not with someone like Christine? She loved both of them, and Lindsey even had a wife and three children of his own who could plan a surprise visit and get the wrong idea, and she didn't like the sound of that. She had tried so hard to prevent herself from becoming a homewrecker, even convincing herself that she felt something for Jared, but as usual, she had managed to create a new problem among the old ones. Looking around, she crept out of her room quickly, hoping that tonight's show would lessen her stress.
When Stevie knocked on his door, she was glad the response was instant. He could feel how stressed she was, and took her into his arms just to savor the moment, even placing a light peck to her forehead in the process.
"I was hoping you would come by before the show."
"Err..a little more than that, actually. Linds, can I stay the night with you? Just until we have to leave tomorrow, so when Jared comes looking-"
"Of course, angel." Stevie felt him tense up at the mention of Jared, but decided to let it go. At this point, she couldn't blame him. She decided to talk to Karen just before the show to check up on the whole situation. They spent much of the afternoon just sitting with each other and talking about anything and everything. When she began to ramble about Sulamith's new obsessions with tissues, Stevie realized he probably wasn't paying much attention to her anymore.
"Are you alright?"
"Steph, can I ask you something?" Uh oh.
She nodded before he swallowed hard, clearly processing how to phrase whatever he was going to say.
"What did he have, that I didn't?"
Her heart broke at his words, and she just stared disbelieving for a few moments until she remembered she needed to answer him. "Nothing, you're perfect to me."
"Then why did you put yourself through that?"
"Because I needed to forget for a while that you didn't exist, Lindsey! Then I wouldn't have to fall to pieces every time I had to look at you!" She didn't mean to snap at him, but hot tears were brimming her eyes at the memories of repressed feelings. She looked back at her hands that were fumbling in her lap and muttered a quick "I'm sorry."
"Steph, what am I supposed to say to that?"
"You're supposed to tell me you love me, and that you want to be with me."
"You know why I can't."
She nodded sadly and wiped at her eyes, afraid to look at him as Karen knocked to remind Stevie that now would be an appropriate time to start getting ready. He hesitated when she stood up, but Stevie shook her head. "We can't leave together." Nodding, he let her go.
