"Here, your iced tea."
"Thank you." Stevie smiled at Mick as he handed her drink, then sat down on the lounger next to her. "It's like staying at a hotel for free."
Mick laughed, shrugging his shoulders. "That's what friends are for, right?"
"I really appreciate what you're doing for me, Mick." Stevie said, taking a sip from the glass.
"No worries." He waved it off. "Do you plan on staying here the whole time?"
"Do you want me out of your house?"
"That's not what I meant." Mick shook his head. "You can stay as long as you like, you know that. I don't mind, Lynn doesn't either. Just, you know..." He trailed off.
"I don't feel ready to go back yet. This is a safe place. I'm away from my hectic life, I can pretend everything's fine while I'm here. I know that people have questions, Karen reminds me every day." Stevie added, staring into the distance.
"And one of those people is Lindsey." Mick brought it up carefully. He knew what happened, he knew why Stevie ran away, but they hadn't really discussed the situation much. "He keeps calling, asking me if I know something."
"What do you say?"
"I lie, what else." Mick sighed, clasping his hands together. "You've trusted me with this and I'm not going to break my promise to you. I'm being your friend, the rest is up to you." He gave a shrug of his shoulders. "But don't you think you could at least talk to Lindsey yourself? It's been months, Stevie. What harm would it do?"
"I'll hear his voice, I'll soften up and go home." Stevie said, then shook her head. "I can't. I can't be around him. He didn't tell me the truth. How do you think it makes me feel? He tells me, he loves me, I let him in and the first thing that comes out of his mouth is that his girlfriend is pregnant. I felt used. It made me think that I was an easy lay for him. All it took was to whisper some sweet nothings. I felt cheap."
Mick couldn't disagree with that. "It's not really my place to say anything, but I honestly don't think that was Lindsey's intention. Yes, he should have told you about the baby first, absolutely, but you know how he is, how the both of you are really. You're passionate about each other. Nothing matters, everything and everyone around you fades away. I'd say that he just got caught up in the moment."
Stevie scoffed, giving Mick a sort of are-you-kidding-me look. "They didn't buy a puppy together, Mick. It's a child. It's... I couldn't and I can't get in the way of that. That baby deserves to have both parents."
Mick shot her a pointed look back. "Exactly." He continued. "It's not about standing in the way, Stevie. You slept together, that's between you two. What Kristen doesn't know-"
"Stop it." Stevie interrupted. "No. I'm too old to be having affairs. I promised myself that I will back off this time. I decided that when we were still on tour. I failed, yes, but when Lindsey told me about the baby... I won't interfere. That's it. This time it's truly over. Lindsey's got a family now, he's got to take care of them. And I'm just going to overstay my welcome as long as I can and once I'm ready, I'll return to my life and Lindsey won't be in it. At least, he won't be a part of it as more than just a colleague."
Pausing for a minute, Mick said. "I hear, things aren't going that well for them."
"Really? Where'd you hear that?"
"See, you still care." Mick tried to hide his smile, especially when Stevie narrowed her eyes at him. "But it's true. I spoke to Lindsey a couple of days ago. He told me Kristen took Will and left to stay with her parents until he realizes what it is he really wants."
Stevie tried to seem like it didn't matter to her, but it did. She cared a lot. "It's a shame. I thought they'd make it work."
"Oh, come on, Stevie." Mick rolled his eyes, exhaling heavily. "Make it work? The man is still hopelessly in love with you!"
"That's not my problem."
"Right, because you feel nothing for him." Mick scoffed, crossing his arms. "I swear, you two are acting like bloody teenagers."
"Enough, okay? You said, you're being my friend, so be my friend."
"I'm trying." Mick shrugged. "I'm trying to talk some sense into you-"
"Hey, will you quiet down? The whole neighborhood can hear you." Lynn stepped outside, breaking up the argument that was bound to start. "Dinner is ready. Mark will be here any minute."
