You Can Hear it in the Silence

Chapter Seven: Stay

"Stay?" Stephen whispered to me in the dark. Our lips were inches apart as he softly pulled my fingers towards him.

*Two Days Earlier*
"I'm glad to be back." Stephen said as he set his suitcase down. We were in his house, I was dropping him off. We had just gotten back from LA.
"I am too. Where is your wife and Mavi?" I asked.
"Oh, they're staying at her mom's for now..." He looked down at the ground.
"Why...?" I asked cautiously.
"We had a fight. More than one fight... A lot of fights actually..." He admitted.
"Oh, wow... I'm so sorry, Stephen. I had no idea..." I said as I walked over to him and squeezed his shoulder to show my support. "I hope everything works out..." I said as I backed away towards the door.
"Thanks, Emily. I'm just not so sure us working it out is the best thing for me right now..." He admitted. "Can you stay and talk...?" He asked shyly.
"Of course I can." I said as I sat down on the couch. He sat next to me and started talking about all of the tiny fights they had been having.
"...I'm just not sure that we can work it out." "I'm so sorry. I know you want more than that for Mav." I said as I set my hand cautiously on his leg. He looked up at me and smiled. "I do. But Mavi needs happy parents, not miserable ones. I have to teach her to be honest." "You're a great father, Stephen. You'll figure it out." I said as he set his hand on top of mine. We both looked down at our fingers, all I could think about was lacing mine with his. For some reason, I felt like he was thinking the same thing.
"I should go..." I broke the silence. "Right... Thank you for listening to me, Em." He said as he got up and gave me a long, much-needed hug.
"You're welcome. I'm always here for you, you know that." I said as I pulled away and smiled at him.
"Goodbye." He winked. I laughed. "Bye."

*Two Days Later*
"Hey Emily, want to come watch a movie at my place?" Stephen asked as he was walking with me to my car after work.
"Um sure..." I agreed hesitantly. I loved doing anything with Stephen, but lately the sexual tension between us was too much for me to handle. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to resist.
"I'll meet you there." He smiled. I smiled back as I got into my car.
I'd be lying if I say I don't daydream about things happening between Stephen and I. I do, all the time. Like when I was driving to his house, I imagined us laying on the couch, my head on his shoulder. Our fingers playing with each other's, just loving the feeling of them touching. I caught myself smiling. 'Stop it, Emily.' I told myself as I got out and walked up to his door.

"I should go..." I said after the 3rd movie. It was getting late and the darkness didn't help my wild imagination.
"Or you could..." "What?" I asked. "Stay?"