Love Starts Out in the Darkness

Part 19

"Are you sure you read the instructions right?" Lindsey asked, staring at the mess that was supposed to turn into pizza dough. He scrunched up his face trying to get it off his fingers.

"Pretty sure, why?" Stevie stood up from her seat at the kitchen table to come up to him. "Are you sure you put any flour in?"

"I mean, yeah." Lindsey shrugged. "Maybe we should have bought pre-made instead. Everyone's a chef nowadays, they're putting recipes out there without even-"

"Oh my God, just let me do it." Stevie tried pushing him away to take over the task, but Lindsey didn't budge.

"No, no! I've got this." Lindsey insisted. "Just add some more flour."

Stevie looked at him for a moment, still thinking that she could do a better job, but they were supposed to be cooking together, he wanted to help. So, she grabbed the flour instead and dropped some more into the bowl. 

"Don't improvise." Stevie warned, pointing a finger at Lindsey. "Call me if there's another emergency."

"Promise." Lindsey nodded, then his serious expression turned into a wicked smile when he wrapped his hand around her finger to lower hers.

"Very mature." Stevie shook her head at him, though, she didn't sound mad as she just moved over to the sink to wash the pizza dough off. "Do you want mushrooms?" She asked, once she returned to her seat, where she had been cutting up all the ingredients. 

"Sure." 

She started cutting the mushrooms. "Any other plans for the rest of the weekend?"

"No." Lindsey replied. "At least, not yet." He added, hoping that she'd suggest something. "I'm probably just gonna stay home. You?"

"I'm meeting a friend on Sunday, but I don't have anything planned for tomorrow." Stevie paused her task for a minute to take a couple of gulps of her beer. 

"Sharon?"

"No, my name is Stevie."

Lindsey laughed at her joke, shaking his head. "You're so stupid."

"No, not Sharon." She knew that he was asking if she was meeting with Sharon. "Tom."

Lindsey stilled, his eyebrows furrowed. "Tom? I don't think you've ever mentioned him before."

"He's my oldest and dearest friend. I guess his name hadn't come up before." Stevie answered with a shrug. "You don't have to get all jealous."

Lindsey looked back over his shoulders, not even pretending that he wasn't. "I don't?"

"He's actually the one that convinced me to give you another chance." Stevie continued. "You should really thank him." 

"Can I get the guy's number now or..." Lindsey smiled at the sound of her laughter. He chuckled lightly too, when she told him that he wasn't Tom's type. "I think this is looking much better."

Stevie got up to her feet again and approached Lindsey. She gave her approval by nodding her head. "See? I didn't read the instructions wrong. You just have to listen." She said and rose to stand on her tiptoes to press a kiss to his cheek.

It was as if Lindsey had just felt the touch of a girl's lips for the first time ever. His face got slightly warmer and redder. Stevie was looking at him, a bit puzzled, her head cocked to one side more. 

"Was I wrong for doing that?" Stevie asked.

"Not at all." Lindsey replied, shaking his head. "I just... we haven't had any real physical contact for a while and these small things..." He trailed off, shrugging his shoulders. "It's stupid."

"I'm sure it's not." Stevie disagreed, laying her hand on his shoulder to get him to look at her again. 

"They mean so much to me. Earlier, in the car, you had your hand on my arm for a bit and it made me think that you're getting more comfortable around me again. This kiss, which I'm sure is nothing, it..." While Stevie had brought a lot of different sides of Lindsey out, expressing his feelings was still a work in progress.

"Of course it means something." Stevie spoke up once he'd gone quiet. "Because I am more comfortable around you." She smiled, her hand moved down his back, she then wrapped her arm around him and rested her head on his shoulder. "You've been amazing."

Lindsey turned his head and pressed a kiss to her hair. "You mean a lot to me."

Later that night, after dinner and washing all the dishes, they moved to the living room. The record player had been turned off for some time and they both had their eyes glued to the TV. Stevie was intrigued by some horror movie, but she had admitted to Lindsey that she was scared of watching any horror movie by herself, so it seemed like the perfect opportunity. What made it even better, was the chat they had earlier. She was now aware that feeling her close in any way was important to him and that was why she was currently cuddled up by his side, hanging onto his arm that was draped around her. He wondered if she was more relaxed because she'd already had a few beers (he was completely sober, still planning on taking her home) or if the alcohol had nothing to do with it at all.

"That wasn't so bad, was it?" Lindsey asked as the credits started rolling on the screen.

"I'm still not watching them on my own." Stevie shook her head, having no intention of moving from her position. 

They were silent. Stevie was practically lying on top of Lindsey by the end of the movie and that was how she stayed, his arm remained around her waist. He felt her placing her hand on his chest, she then lifted her head up to look at him, their faces much closer than either of them expected.

"I had a great time tonight." Stevie said, ignoring his eyes briefly landing on her lips.

"Me too." Lindsey agreed, their eyes now locked. "It's getting pretty late. Would you like me to, uh-" He stopped when she cupped his cheek. "T-to drive you-"

It didn't turn out into anything more, they didn't suddenly start making out, but Stevie pressed their lips together for a moment. It wasn't just Lindsey, she wanted so much more as well, but they'd already taken some big steps for one night.

"...home?" Lindsey finished his question after Stevie pulled back and, unfortunately, she gave a nod of her head.