Not Now

Part 9

Lindsey's POV

~

So, Stevie didn't come home last night. She texted me that she's fine, I shouldn't worry. Well, when my girlfriend doesn't answer my calls, replies to one fucking message out of probably twenty, then doesn't come home? Yeah, I shouldn't worry...

I barely had any sleep. I drifted off in the early hours of the morning, but woke up shortly again. As I'm gripping my coffee cup firmly, the thought pops back into my head. I push the chair back and go find my still almost full pack of cigarettes. I haven't smoked since that day, when Stevie went to the clinic. 

The door unlocks and I quickly throw the cigarette butt out the window. I know I shouldn't have, but I panicked. Stevie has always hated this habit of mine. I don't know what to do. A part of me wants to yell at her,  the other wants to give her a hug, because she's back.

Stevie doesn't acknowledge me. I'm not sure if she didn't see me or if she ignored me. She's headed straight for the shower and I frown. This is a huge red flag. What the hell happend last night?

"Steph?" I call her name and she stops. 

She turns around with a sigh. She doesn't appear guilty of anything. "You were smoking."

"You didn't come home." I reply and Stevie looks down, fidgeting with a ring on her finger. "Where were you?"

"I spent the night at a friend's."

"Which friend?"

"You don't know hi-her." 

My body goes numb for a second. I clench my fist and swallow my anger. "You were going to say, him."

"I- I wasn't."

"Don't... don't lie to me." I take a deep breath and try to soften my voice. "The hell is going on, Stevie? Are you cheating on me?" Even the thought crushes me.

"No." She shakes her head. "I stayed at Brandon's." 

Hurtful, but at least she's being honest. "I thought, you were just co-workers."

"Well, we're friends. We spend a lot of time together."

"Do you hear yourself? How am I not supposed to completely freak out right now?" I doubt I'll be able to stay calm much longer. I approach her. "Tell me and don't lie. Are you fucking him?"

"Jesus, Lindsey, no!" She throws her hands up in the air, frustrated.

"How am I supposed to know if you're telling me the truth?" I ask, folding my arms over my chest. "He clearly likes you. You two seemed happy to see each other that day at the store. You spend three nights aweek together, you spend the night at his. How can you prove to me-"

"I'm not cheating on you, Lindsey." Stevie repeats.

I don't realize, when my fingers grip her upper arm, they tighten with every word. "I'm not going to lose you to some pretty boy, Stevie."

"You're hurting me." She whispers, her eyes welling up with tears. "Let go of me."

I stop and look at my hand. I immediately pull away, in disbelief that I've just physically hurt her. "I'm- I'm sorry."

I see Stevie's bottom lip quiver and I become more frustrated, not necessarily with her, but with the whole situation. How on earth did we end up this way?

"Is the interogation over?" She asks and I don't respond. "I think we should spend some time apart."

Stevie's words reach me and I open my mouth, but nothing comes out. Time apart? Is she braking up with me? No, I... no...