He tucks me into bed but I tell him he should go. We can talk later. He messes around in my vanity drawers and I scald him, asking what the hell he thinks he's playing at.
"This." He raises the promise ring in the air.
"Please wear it Stevie, I picked it out specially."
I pocket it instead.
"It's with me, ok? Can you give me some space please?"
He kisses my cheek as he leaves and I flop back onto the bed with a cry.
He doesn't call the next day, and when he takes Jacob to school again the next, we don't speak about anything. Another week passes and my album is almost ready to be mixed. I curse myself for having to call him to get details for the guy we last used for part of the Fleetwood Mac album. Karen is running errands and so it winds up just being us when he visits to listen to a few tracks. He's a little younger than me but that never stopped me from admiring a handsome guy before, and I realise that I probably hadn't noticed this about him before because Lindsey had been around when we met.
He adores the tracks and I thank him, offering him a glass of wine to celebrate. He asks me to dinner and why the hell should I refuse? We'll meet at the restaurant on Friday night, and I show him out with a smile.
On the night I return downstairs after a bath to find Lindsey and Jacob. "I thought you were, uh, going to your house tonight?" I ask him tentatively when Jacob has gone to use the bathroom, purposely trying to sound casual.
"This is home," he leans to kiss me and I jolt away. He looks hurt.
"Lindsey you can't just do that."
"I'm getting divorced what more do you want?" I shrug tensely.
"We won't live forever you know Stevie? At some point you'll have to stop pushing me away if you actually want to give this a try."
"Me pushing you away! You have got to be kidding me?"
"You know what? I think I will take Jacob back to my place."
"Well maybe you should, because I have a date and I know you won't be able to handle that."
"What the hell? Who?" I explain it's the guy we're both acquainted with and he raises an eyebrow.
"What?'
"You know what, it's nothing. See you around." He walks out onto the porch and I explain to Jacob that he'll just be staying with daddy tonight.
"See you on Sunday!" I try to say enthusiastically, marketing it to myself and not just him.
YOU ARE READING
He Never Did
FanfictionActions are louder than words; and adults must take responsibility for their actions.
