Where I Belong

Part 14

'I didn't know that not talking to you would get you to talk to me. Missed me, huh?'

Stevie rolled her eyes after she'd discreetly read Lindsey's text. Sending him those messages was risky, knowing that his wife could accidentally see them, but Lindsey went completely quiet, no contact for over a week and Stevie wanted to know what was going on. She could have said, hi, how are you?, but she needed to grab his attention. Though, when he didn't respond right away either, she got a little nervous, but his reply instantly let her know that they were okay. 

Now that she got him talking, Stevie could pretend that she was only joking or she could be honest. But the way he made her feel that night... he'd see right through her.

'Yeah. I miss A LOT from that night.' Sent.

She got a text back almost immediately. 'What? The boyfriend's not able to make you scream like that?'

Stevie pulled the blanket she was under up to her nose to cover her bright pink cheeks. She didn't expect Lindsey to be so forward. Wasn't he worried about his wife looking through his phone? 

'I did not scream!'

'Did too!' 

Callie reached for the remote and turned the volume up. "I'm trying to watch the movie." She said, sounding annoyed. "Who are you even talking to? Is it Chris making you giggle like a schoolgirl?" 

"Oh, uh-" Stevie hid her phone under the blanket, biting her lip to keep herself from smiling. "Yeah, yeah. He's just being silly." Callie eyed her mother suspiciously, Stevie was never like that with him, when they were in the same room. 

Callie called the day before, saying that Jack was going out with his friends and asked if she could come, stay the night. We could watch movies and eat junk food, Callie said, though, she really didn't need to convince Stevie. They passed on the junk food since none of the salty, greasy goodness was part of Stevie's diet and Callie too was strictly following her doctor's orders. With some healthier options to snack on, they made themselves comfortable in Stevie's bed and were now on the second movie of the night. Suspense thrillers weren't Stevie's thing, so texting Lindsey seemed like a good idea to pass the time, except she didn't think their conversation would take that turn so quickly.

'I've been thinking about you too.'

Stevie smiled. She looked over at Callie, making sure that her eyes were glued to the TV. Stevie moved to sit up higher, resting her back against the headboard, knowing that she was now safe from her daughter finding out that she was actually kicking her feet over Lindsey.

'Oh? Which parts of me exactly?' It felt good, knowing that he wasn't just being funny and that she had been on his mind as well, but they couldn't start talking about their feelings. 

No response. 5 minutes. 10, then 15 minutes more passed and Stevie's phone was silent. Did she take it too far? Her face fell as she realized that he was likely not alone. What were they doing? Were they out somewhere together? Was he already in bed with his wife?

'Sorry, was driving. Back home now.'

Stevie stared at the message for a moment. Was that it? He came home and she should take it as a hint to stop texting him? Possibly, since she didn't receive anything else for another half an hour or so.

'To answer your previous question...'

Oh, maybe not. Stevie forgot to blink as she waited for him to say more.

'Every single inch of you.'

Stevie inhaled sharply, suddenly feeling much hotter than a minute ago. Maybe he shouldn't have messaged her again. All she could think about was how to politely ask Callie to leave and somehow teleport Lindsey to her bed.

'I wish I could be there with you now.'

Callie frowned, she tilted her chin up to look at Stevie. What was Chris texting her about exactly to cause such reactions? On the other hand, she didn't want to know.

'Not tonight.' Stevie typed and pressed 'send'. Should she, shouldn't she... 'Make up a lie and come over tomorrow?'

Her phone remained silent yet again. It was a bold move on her part, she didn't expect him to reply right away. Stevie kicked the blanket off and swung her legs over the edge of the bed.

"Are you going downstairs?" Callie asked, hoping that the answer was 'yes'.

"What do you want?" Stevie nodded her head. 

"I know you have ice cream hidden in the back of the freezer. I'd like some, please."

"Anything else?" Stevie waited while Callie took a minute to think, then turned to walk out of the room, when Callie said, no. 

Callie's eyes back on the TV, she patiently waited for her treat. She got distracted a moment later, when the screen of Stevie's phone that she stupidly left behind lit up. For whatever reason, Callie had a strong feeling that those texts weren't from Chris.

"Here you go, your ice cream." Stevie waited for Callie to sit up before handing her the bowl, she glanced at her phone on the bed and her eyes grew wider. You idiot, she scolded herself, rushing over to the other side of the bed to pick it up. 

"You know, you could have just told me you had plans." Callie said, bringing a spoonful up to her mouth. "I could have stayed home."

"What?" Stevie's eyebrows slightly knitted, she looked at Callie. "What makes you think I had plans?"

Callie shrugged. "Given that you've been texting all night, I'm guessing that you were supposed to spend tonight with your boyfriend."

"Oh, no. I really wasn't." Stevie assured, getting back in bed. "I like having you here, you know that." She smiled at Callie.

There was an unread message. Seeing that Callie's full attention was on the ice cream, Stevie checked what it said.

'I can't wait to see you.'