Not Now

Part 7

Stevie's POV

~

My phone vibrates again, another message from Lindsey. He asks me, when am I coming home. I don't know. I don't want to go home. He couldn't answer my question, he couldn't tell me that he is happy with me. I know he loves me, but I don't think he's happy. I know that I'm not.

The doors have been locked for over half an hour, but I'm sitting at the bar, sipping on a drink. Brandon comes out from the back and stops for a second, giving me look. I barely acknowledge him.

"Why are you still here?"

I shrug. "I don't want to leave."

He laughs nervously, coming closer. "Well, we're kind of done for today, so..."

"I know, but-" I stop myself and sigh. Brandon is my friend, surely, there's nothing wrong with talking to him about my personal life. "Lindsey and I have been having problems lately. The atmosphere at home isn't all that nice."

"I'm sorry to hear that." Brandon looks at me sympathetically. He opens a bottle of coke and comes to sit with me. "What's going on if you don't mind me asking?"

"There's nothing wrong exactly, just that we've started drifting apart and we can't seem to find our way back." I swirl my drink with a straw and take another sip. "Things are fine for a day, then we get into an argument or simply don't talk for some time."

"Relationships have always been a mystery to me." Brandon laughs lightly. "It's funny, I've kind of known Lindsey for a while now, but I had no idea you two were a couple."

"Yeah and when you came into the store the other day, Lindsey found out that you and I work together, which is apparently a massive problem."

"Why?" Brandon's eyebrows crease and he looks like he genuinely doesn't understand. 

"He's always been paranoid, he can't stand me being around other men. Jealousy doesn't even begin to describe it, it's more like he's obsessed." I explain and I'm not sure why I'm opening up like this. Must be the alcohol. 

"But nothing has ever happened between us."

"I know that, you know that." I sigh. "It's not enough for Lindsey, he just doesn't trust me."

"I mean, I can't lie. I do like you, but I would never make any sort of move, because I know that you're not single." Brandon feels like he has to defend himself, which he really doesn't.

"I know that, Brandon." I tell him, which embarrasses him, I think. Reaching for his hand, I smile "It's okay. I just hope that I haven't given you any false hope."

"Not at all." He shakes his head. "You've always been straight up. I'm just glad to have you as a friend."

We grow silent for a minute. My eyes glaze over with tears unexpectedly, which Brandon notices. He stands up and wraps his arms around me, I gratefully accept his hug.

"It's alright." He says, resting his chin on top of my head.

"I don't want to go home." I repeat myself and it hangs in the air for a moment.

I think, Brandon's offer comes as a surprise to the both of us. "You can stay the night at my place if you want."