Decades

Changes

Lindsey's sense of humor could be so cutting at times. Even though Stevie was the butt of the joke, when it got back to her, she couldn't help but laugh. The man was so cocky.

An interviewer commented to Lindsey that he should be proud that it took two guitarists to replace him in Fleetwood Mac after his ugly ousting from the band. He'd made a comment that was later cut from the interview on Stevie's management teams' behest. Angry at Stevie, an always arrogant Lindsey said, "You should ask Stevie how many men it took to replace me in other, more personal areas," he joked. "Though she probably can't give you a number since she has never found a suitable replacement who can really satisfy her needs. She's dated a lot of men."

The interviewer had joked that he must be a man of many talents. Lindsey gave a devilish smile and a shrug before telling the reporter that he'd have to ask his former bandmate and lover about that.

Stevie had far more pull with Rolling Stone than Lindsey, and when asked for comment on that particular barb, her team squelched the remark by agreeing that they would offer some comments spread among other topics.

But, she had to admit, it had been clever. And there was some truth to it.

He was such an asshole.

And she was really going to miss him.

After a cathartic cry, Stevie unpacked her things and ran a bath. Walking down memory lane and looking at old photos had amplified the sense of melancholy she was feeling.

Stevie and Lindsey were practically neighbors here. It was strange that they'd lived so close to each other for so long. He only lived five minutes away. They'd had firm boundaries for the past several years, and he hadn't stopped by in ages. So, she felt like she could let her guard down. He wouldn't be showing up on her doorstep tonight.

She searched in her bag for her telephone, connected it to her home speakers, and put on an eclectic playlist before climbing into the tub. She soaked and listened to music and unsuccessfully tried to forget her recent trip back to Lindseyland.

He had sounded good, she thought, remembering him singing and playing for her on the porch. And he looked good. She remembered that sharp jaw and those bright, blue eyes looking into her soul. His curls were gray now, and they suited him. He was still a good-looking man. And touching him still did things to her. She remembered his kiss and got swept up in what she wished had come next.

In spite of herself, she let the fantasy unfold in her mind and reached for the shower head connected to her bathtub and trailed it down her body. She told herself that she just needed to release a little tension but promised herself she wouldn't make a habit of fooling around with Lindsey, even if it were only in her imagination. But who was she kidding? He'd been the person she'd thought about when she was alone and in need of some inspiration for years.

—-----------

Lindsey was at the house they'd been sharing. He was thinking about Stevie and how he had no intention of giving up on her this time. He was going to do what he should have done years earlier. He wouldn't chase her away. He wouldn't pretend not to love her. He wouldn't lash out at her. He wouldn't make her feel guilty or place all the blame for their failed relationship on her. He'd stop playing the victim and take responsibility for his part in the breakdown of their relationship.

Strangely enough, the marriage counseling he'd received with his wife had opened his eyes to the things he'd done wrong with Stevie. He'd never admit to Kristen that he was thinking of another woman as he came to these enlightened epiphanies. Although, he was fairly sure she could guess. She'd made it no secret that she felt like a placeholder for Stevie a lot of the time.