It's You

XXIV

I'm outside 

Typing a response to Lindsey, saying I'll be right there, I quickly run a brush through my hair once more, then grab my purse and head out. Leaving the apartment building, I spot Lindsey's car right away and once I approach it, I get into the passenger's seat. He greets me with a kiss, then I fasten my seat belt.

The past week has been really good. It was only one night Lindsey and I didn't spend together. We went out a couple of times, but mostly we stayed in and I have no complaints. We talked a lot, we shared stories, I told him so much about our kids, showed him pictures and some recorded footage. There's been, uh... lots of love making too. I don't know what it is about him, but every time I lay my eyes on him, I'm ready to shed my clothes. He's just... he's just so very good. He knows what I like, he knows how I like it. I've never enjoyed sex with anyone else as much as I enjoy it with Lindsey.

"Would you like me to stop somewhere for breakfast? A long way is ahead of us." Lindsey asks, stopping at the red light.

"No, I ate already. Unless you want to."

"I'm just making sure you're okay." He smiles and brings my hand up to his lips, kissing each knuckle. 

Lindsey's right, a long drive awaits us to my parents'. It's not necessarily a bad thing though. I've been wanting to talk to him about something for the past few days. Yes, I said that I want us to work out our issues, I wanted time, but I realized, once we resolve one problem, something else is going to happen. So when? When we're grey and old, are we only then going to get back together?

Turning the radio down a bit after we've been on the road for a while, I clear my throat and Lindsey glances at me, his eyebrows furrowed. "What's wrong?"

"There's something on my mind." 

"Okay. Go on." He nods once, his concentration back on the road ahead. 

"I know what I said about us not rushing into this, but-"

"Oh God, is this too fast? Are we moving too fast?" Lindsey asks, but I shake my head.

"No, Linds. I wasn't about to say that. Actually, quite the opposite." I smile at him and wait a little, before I continue. "I want us to be together. Like, really together. I want you to move in with us or, I don't know, we can move into your place. Whichever you prefer."

A wide grin crosses his face. "Steph..." He turns to look at me again. "You're not joking, are you?"

"I am not. I love you, Lindsey. What's the point really in seeing how things go? Of course they'll go wrong here and there, but I'm sure it won't be anything we can't go through together."

"You have no idea how much I love you right now." He says, his palm stroking up and down my thigh for a moment, before he places his hand back on the steering wheel. 

"So, what do you say?" I ask as if I don't know the answer.

"Yes! Of course I say, yes! However, I don't think moving into my place is a good idea. It's more of an art studio than a home. Besides, the kids are used to your apartment, to their playground and the other children. They wouldn't even have separate rooms if you moved."

"Fine. Than you're welcome to come live with us. There's plenty of space." 

The apartment I live in belonged to my parents until they decided to move to the suburbs. It's big, Aster and Kai don't really need separate rooms just yet, but they have that luxury anyway. I was afraid I couldn't afford living there, but my Mom and Dad help me out if I need some money. I own an antiques shop. It's always been sort of a dream of mine. I love old things, everything in my shop is one of a kind. Unfortunately it's not every month it does well enough.

Lindsey's phone starts ringing. He pulls it out of his back pocket and rejects the call. 

"Who was that?" 

"Kristen." He tells me with a heavy sigh. "She's been calling me a couple of times a day. I don't want to talk to her."

"Maybe something happened and she needs your help?"

"With what I wonder? We had a long conversation about the way our relationship ended and why it ended. She knows I'm not interested in getting back together, she knows I want to be with you."

While I'm glad to hear it, still, she wouldn't be so insistent on trying to talk to Lindsey if there wasn't a reason. She's calling again and Lindsey groans, but I hold my hand out.

"I'll answer."

Not without hesitation, Lindsey gives me his cellphone and I accept the call. 

"Hello?"

"Li- Stephanie?"

"Yes, that's me. What is it you want to talk to Lindsey about? You've been calling him nonstop."

"But he's not answering."

"Yeah, he kind of hoped you'd get the message."

"It's important. Please, hand him the phone. I know he'll tell you, but it's him I want to have this conversation with."

Looking at Lindsey, I ask him what to do without words and he sighs at last, taking over. "What?"

I wish I could hear what Kristen's saying, but judging by Lindsey's facial expression it cannot be anything good.