Chapter 9
The week seemed to go by too quickly. Before they knew it, they were saying their goodbyes again. This time, it was in Blake's apartment where that had spent the night prior.
"We'll see each other again soon," Stevie promised as she held him pack up his bag.
Blake groaned. "Not soon enough. We're going out West, so we'll be on the completely wrong side of the country for the next two months!" She didn't say anything in response, but wrapped herself around him, savoring their last moments of intimacy. A buzz from his phone jolted then apart.
"Five-minute warning?" She guessed.
"Yeah." He gave a sad half smile as a nonverbal apology. Stevie sniffled, and they both pretended not to notice.
"I wanted to give you this." Blake pulled out a spare key to his apartment from his pocket. "You're welcome to stay here whenever you want."
"Thank you."
"And if it's not too much to ask, would you mind taking care of Millie? My neighbors were doing it, but they just had a baby, so they've got their hands full…"
"Of course."
For the first week, she went twice a day to feed Millie and play with her for a bit. During the second week, Stevie started to linger. It was a nice place to have some peace and quiet during the week, and it helped her to feel close to Blake. Sometime in the third week, she caught herself dozing off on his couch while wearing one of his sweatshirts. After a month, she left a spare toothbrush and a change of clothes so she could spend the night there if it got too late. She told her family that it was a matter of convenience, that his apartment was closer to the White House than their home, but they all knew that was a lie.
After one exhausting week, Stevie slunk up to her room for a long shower and an equally long nap.
Henry intercepted her on the stairs. "Hey there, stranger! Does Blake know you've moved into his apartment?"
"I haven't moved in, I've just spent—"
"The last week there, and at least the work week there for the past 2 weeks."
"I've been looking after his cat," she tried half-heartedly, knowing that it was a flimsy defense.
"It's okay, Stevie. We're really happy for you," he said.
"Thanks, Dad." She gave him a quick hug, then went up the last few steps. When he was sure she was out of earshot, Henry plopped himself down where he was and failed his wife.
"Hey! What's going on?" Elizabeth picked up with a singsong voice. Henry tried to respond, but a small sob came out instead. "Baby, what's wrong?" Now she sounded worried. That isn't what he wanted.
"It's nothing—well not nothing. I'm fine."
"What's going on?"
"Stevie's moved into Blake's apartment."
He heard her sigh on the other side. "I guess we always knew it would happen eventually."
"Yeah. And I'm happy for her. I really am. But I'm sad for us," Henry admitted with a sniffle.
"Me too," she whispered back. Her voice was hoarse, and he could tell she was as close to crying as she was. "Our baby is all grown up now."
"She's really leaving us," Henry said as his tears began to fall.
"Dad?" Stevie saw him sitting on the stairs as she was going down to the kitchen to get a drink.
"Hi honey!" Henry quickly wiped his tears away, but not quick enough.
Stevie sat down next to him and took his hand. "Dad, I'm not leaving. Yeah, I'm moving into Blake's, hopefully officially, but even still, I'll be right around the corner. We'll come over for dinner once a week."
"That better be a promise!" Elizabeth shouted through the phone.
Stevie laughed. "I promise." She turned to hug her dad. "I love you guys."
"We love you too, baby."
A/N: So sorry for the unintentional hiatus. I was really stuck on this chapter, and that's why it's super short. I felt like I just had to post something to get past it, so I'm sorry if it sounds a little forced/awkward with the speaking. Anyway I've got a plan for the next chapter, so hopefully that update will take me less than a month, lol.
As always, let me know what you thought in the reviews! Let me know if y'all are okay with a few months time leap.
For the anon review- I'm glad you like my writing, but if you hate the pairing, you don't have to read the story. Also, it's really not nice to call Stevie a hoe. Yeah, she's slept with more people than average, but that doesn't make her any less worthy of Blake's love.
