It was before ten that night when Stevie found herself in bed, sitting up against the headboard as she rubbed lotion into her hands and stared off into space.
She had been like that all evening and even though her husband thought she was acting a little off, he didn't bother asking her what was wrong... He figured if she wanted him to know, she'd just tell him and it not, she could work through it on her own.
"This bed sucks." Tom announced the moment he sat down on the edge of the mattress, rolling his eyes lightly as he bounced a little. "My back is going to be wrecked in the morning." He added as he let out a soft yawn and slowly leaned back against the headboard too.
Her room at the Inn was quite similar to their bedroom at home, even though she hadn't lived in California in over five years... He hadn't changed a thing. It was all the same style- the four poster king size bed, all the lace curtains, the accent chairs, the chaise lounge, the sheer drapes hanging down. It all mirrored one another. And the truth was, even though that part of their lives felt out of reach, Tom still had the hope that eventually she'd end up back out West, where he felt like she had always belonged.
Nantucket wasn't her home, even though she'd tried awfully hard to make it seem like it was.
"What's on your mind?" Tom finally asked as he glanced over at her for a brief moment before he turned back to look at the tv. "You got a headache or something?" He wondered as he began to flip through the channels to find something other than the goofy rom- coms she always watched.
She turned her head lightly, staring at him for a moment before she replied. "I do." She nodded softly as she slowly began to slide down in the sheets. "And I'm really tired tonight for some reason." She mumbled the moment her head hit the satin pillow case.
She wasn't sure what she was feeling... It wasn't guilt, or sadness, but maybe confusion?
"Yeah, get some rest." He was still surfing channels, totally unaware that her mind had wandered back to the time she'd spent with another man...
She wanted to go back there so badly.
"Turn the light off, Tom." She whispered, brown eyes falling closed as she tried hard not to make it obvious that there were tears beginning to form.
Rolling his eyes lightly, he reached out to pull the string on the bedside lamp that sat on the nightstand. "Is that better?" He asked, shifting lightly to get a little more comfortable, even though he was certain that it wouldn't be very easy.
He just didn't like it there, not in the slightest and staying was always awkward for him... It felt like he was a guest in a world that she had created and as a husband that really isn't ideal.
She nodded softly, biting down on her lower lip out of built up nerves. "Much better."
~~~
Stevie wasn't surprised when she woke up to an empty bed, only to find him out on the sofa, sprawled out with the remote on his chest and a bag of popcorn on the floor... typical. And of course, just half an hour after he woke up, he was coming up with an excuse to leave.
"You can come with me, Steph." Tom was heading for the door of the suite, fixing the collar on his jacket. "I'm sure the guys would love to see you and-"
"I'm not up for it." She shook her head softly, wrapping her silk robe around herself a tighter as she followed behind. "Tell them all I said hello though." She added, watching as he began to unlock the door.
"I will and I'll see you later then." He gave her a soft smile as he pulled open the old wooden door.
And the second he did, her eyes locked with the blue storms from across the hallway... He was standing in the doorway of his room, checking his pockets for his keys and getting ready to head downstairs, but of course, his attention was immediately drawn elsewhere.
"Oh," Stevie whispered, heart beginning to beat a mile a minute as she leaned into the frame to hold herself up.
"Hey." Tom chuckled lightly, not used to seeing someone else on the sixth floor.
Lindsey smirked, prying his eyes away from Stevie's for just a second. "Morning," he gave the other man a gentle wave with one hand as he finally pulled the keys out of his coat pocket with the other.
"Have a good one." He added before he began to head down the old steps that led into the lobby.
Lindsey waited until he had totally disappeared before he turned back around to face the blonde, who was also standing in the same spot that she had been... She was too nervous to move. "That's not what I expected." He couldn't help but crack a grin, shocked to say the least. "Was he bald?" He asked with a creased brow as he watched her cheeks turn a soft shade of red.
Stevie let out a playful gasp, one hand coming up to cover her mouth as she glanced down the stairs to make sure he was gone. "Lindsey," she was giggly already, a weight lifting off her shoulders when she realized that he wasn't mad at her...
"Stevie..." he teased, trying to mimic the tone of her voice as he started to slowly trail her way. "I was kind of hoping that I'd run into you this morning." He admitted, a little chuckle escaping him when she immediately slipped her arms around his shoulders.
Raising a brow lightly, she felt the butterflies form in the pit of her stomach as she stared deep into his eyes. "Oh, yeah?" She bit down on her lower lip as she felt him circle her waist with both of his hands.
Nodding lightly, his eyes scanned over her face, admiring her with absolutely no makeup on. "How are you so beautiful...?" He whispered, pushing some hair back behind her ear.
She tossed her head, a deep laugh filling the air around them. "You will come in, right?" Stevie's voice was low, brown eyes melting back into his when her head fell.
"Cute and sneaky...." He joked as he lightly nodded his head.
