Pretenders

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"We can call in sick! Maybe play a little hooky," Stevie suggested.

"We could," Lindsey said, faking a cough.

"We'll have to pretend we have a stomach bug," Stevie determined. "If we fake a cough, how will we sing again on Wednesday or Thursday? They won't know if we've been here throwing up, and a stomach thing could pass really fast. Faster than a cold."

"Well, a stomach virus it is," Lindsey said, sealing the deal and clinging his iced tea glass with hers.

Stevie fished around in her nightstand for her mobile phone and powered it on. Lindsey grimaced a little at the sight of the thing. After a few seconds of beeps and buzzes, she ignored the messages and dialed Mick. She was a little hoarse from all of her recent "vocalizations," so she didn't have to work hard to fake sounding weak. "Hey Mick, did you guys get back in safely yesterday?"

"You did? Good. Are you still planning on coming back up today? You are?" she said, transmitting to Lindsey everything that was being said. And for her Oscar-winning performance, she said, "Lindsey and I are here. But you guys might want to wait to come back up tomorrow or the next day, even. We've gotten some kind of stomach virus. We're feeling pretty rotten. Wouldn't want you two to catch it." She motioned to Lindsey, opened her mouth, and pantomimed gagging herself with her finger, then signaling Lindsey to play along.

Lindsey laughed and rolled his eyes and attempted to make the most fake gagging sound he could conjure up, Causing Stevie to cover the phone so she wouldn't be heard laughing. "Lindsey's sick again, Mick. I'm going to get him a glass of water," then, to cover her laugh, she began making a gagging sound as well. "Gotta go, Mick," she said in between fake dry heaves.

They both cackled like they were a couple of kids making a prank phone call. When their laughter subsided, Stevie said, "Now, get over here and warm me up, Lindsey,"

Stevie had failed to hit the correct button to end the call, so Mick heard the whole thing. There were enough context clues for him to figure out what was going on, but when he heard Lindsey say, "I'll show you mine if you show me yours," he quickly disconnected the call. He'd been in close quarters with those two enough to know what was coming next, and he'd be hearing it soon enough if they were back on friendly terms. He'd spare himself today, but he did smile a little. Giving them that extra time alone had given them exactly the jumpstart he knew they needed.

Stevie and Lindsey had bought themselves an extra two days and nights together. They called the production team and let them know they were sick and wouldn't need their services either so they could spend this bonus time blissfully alone.

They stuck to safe subjects, stayed naked most of the time, and enjoyed every second of being together. They tended to plants and even made a nursery run where Lindsey insisted on bringing home a tree in a pot that he thought would be nice on their balcony. It was a major undertaking getting it up the stairs since Stevie's foot still hurt. But Lindsey wrestled it up step by step while Stevie cheered him on while laughing at the struggle. When it was in place, he plopped down in his chair on the balcony and declared it all worth it when he saw how much Stevie liked it.

"Come here," Lindsey smiled, grabbing her hand as she approached him. He pulled her down onto his lap and linked his arms around her waist. She was golden in the fading light of day and looked as natural and beautiful as she'd ever looked.

Stevie clasped his arms and leaned into him. She knew they were playing house, but it was the closest they'd come to that experience in a long time, and she was going to enjoy every minute.

"It's been so long since we were able to spend days and nights together uninterrupted like this. And not just because we're on tour. We're just being regular people and I've missed it so much. I like it when you don't have to leave me to go home at night," Stevie told him in an outpouring of feeling.

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