After singing a couple of lines into Lindsey's microphone, Stevie turned around and approached him, placing her hands on his shoulders, giving him a small smile. Thinking that was where it was going to stop, she was going to pull away, but he let go of his guitar and his palms pressed against the sides of her face, as he then pressed his forehead against hers and rubbed their noses together.
Stevie was shocked on the inside, while smiling for the world. What on earth did he think he was doing? Was he going to kiss her next? No... He couldn't keep on playing with her like that, she told him loud and clear, but it obviously didn't register in his head. Stevie let her hands fall and she took a step back, walking away from him.
After the show, there was a knock on Stevie's dressing room door and in came Lindsey, instantly picking up on her sour expression. She didn't say anything, she didn't even let him walk in in the first place.
"Hey... I, um... I came to apologize, I guess I did something to upset you."
"You guess?" Stevie turned around. "What the hell was Sara all about?!"
"What do you mean?" He frowned, stepping further into the room.
"Don't act stupid. It was... it was far too intimate, Lindsey. You can't do that!"
"You used to like it when we got like that onstage. Besides, I was doing what simply felt right in the moment."
"Used to, exactly. Lindsey, I'm not single anymore. I thought we've already talked about it and you understood. If Kristen doesn't care how we act during our shows, fine, but Chad does. Just like any man, he does get jealous and possessive, to some extent."
"I didn't realize I was doing something that was out of line. Stevie, you know how fans buy into that, half the people come to our shows because you and I!"
"I do know that, but if it's a threat to my relationship, then I don't want to be involved in any part of our act."
Lindsey sighed heavily, adding a roll of his eyes. "Would you stop with that already? Relationship, gee. He's no more than someone to warm up your bad at night, I know you'll get bored of him anyway, judging by the number of that kind of relationship that you've had."
"Why are you being so mean?" Stevie asked, without sounding angry. She was hurt by his words more than anything.
"Because it's the truth and you can't accept it! If anything I'm only trying to save you. You know it yourself, this... relationship or whatever you want to call it, it will end."
She wiped away a tear, making eye contact with him. "We're getting married."
"EXCUSE ME?"
"It is serious despite what you think. Not that you can really say anything anyway. Your marriage is based on a one night stand, during which the woman accidentally got pregnant. Don't talk to me what makes relationships work and not."
"I don't get it." He shook his head, slumping down on the couch heavily. "What's so special about him? Surely he can't be richer that you, so that's not why you're together. Is he that good in bed then?"
Stevie didn't speak for a lengthy moment, before she faced him again and said calmly. "Oh my God... I'm so stupid. I should have realized why you're being like this, why you can't be happy for me."
"Oh? Well, enlighten me." He folded his arms over his chest, leaning back.
"You're still in love with me. Just that you didn't let it show, when Chad hadn't been in the picture. You wanted me and you had me, whenever and wherever you wanted, you knew I'd be there, always, because I didn't have someone else, but you still could stay with your family. Now that you see he and I are serious, you're alarmed that you're losing me for good. So, you're being mean to me, you hate Chad, while you're actually angry at yourself, because you're married and you love your children too much to walk away from them."
There was not a thing Lindsey could say back to that, as he gulped, tearing his eyes away from hers, feeling as if she had actually read him.
"It's true, isn't it?"
He got up, making his way to the door, but he stopped, before opening it, as he looked over his shoulder, still dragging it out. "Yeah..."
Then he left.
Stevie was left quite speechless also. She finally understood why he was being like this and he admitted it, leaving her alone after he did. What was she supposed to do now?
Much later the same night, Stevie couldn't stay still. She was very fidgety, unable to sit or stand in one place for too long, as she the sighed heavily and went to see Lindsey. Again.
"What happens now?" She asked, as soon as he answered the door.
"I don't know." Lindsey walked back into his room, showing her to follow.
"You love me."
"I've always loved you."
"You hate me seeing with another man."
"I do."
"But something tells me you're not about to make a change?" She questioned and he was clearly avoiding looking at her. "You're not going to leave her, are you?"
However badly it pained him to say it... "No."
"Then what do you want from me?" She sounded so weak, after all these years, she still had no idea about this man.
"I guess..." He swallowed uneasily, shrugging his shoulders. "I would love it if you just... were always there for me. I know that's selfish, but I find it impossibly hard to share you."
"But I'm not yours to begin with. You just told me, you won't divorce your wife, so... honestly, there's nothing left either of us could say." But she still waited.
"I don't hate him." Lindsey said, running a hand through his curls. "I hate this whole situation."
"Well, I'm sorry it has to be this way, but... I love you, too Linds in ways, but I love him too, I really do. He makes me happy. Now I understand that it's very little you need to be happy, just that someone who's going to be waiting for you at home, someone to talk to or even someone to be silent with. Chad is that someone for me."
He nodded sadly, then smiled a little. "And you deserve it more than anyone else. I'm sorry I couldn't give you all of it."
"We had our chance."
"That we did." He sighed. "I'll try and not be such an ass."
She smiled too, closing the gap between them, as she hugged him. "I would appreciate it."
They held onto each other for a moment longer, before backing off, as they said goodnight and Stevie walked out, this... feeling of finality setting in.
