The Antics of Lindsey Willows

Chapter 16

Catherine sat mesmerized, gazing at the man across from her. She was surprised that Warrick was willing to play along and have breakfast with her. The whole plot had thrown her for a loop and she would've expected it to do the same for him, but he just sat there deciding what to eat.

The bell at the front of the café jingled and in walked Nick. He strolled over to the table, bent over, and picked up a brown purse. He held it up for both Warrick and Catherine to see.

"Sara forgot this," he said and Catherine hummed in reply.

"Have fun at the play," Warrick said.

"What? Oh right. Don't worry; we will," he said.

Catherine looked down at the table as Nick began to walk backwards to the door.

"Enjoy," Nick said and he winked at Warrick before disappearing into the morning sun.

Warrick went back to his menu, but Catherine kept her eyes locked on the table. This feeling was frustrating. As much as she wanted to get up and dash out of the building like everyone else had, she wanted to stay and eat a meal with one of her best friends. Granted she was hugely attracted to him, but that should just make everything more complicated…right?

"I'm thinking pancakes," he said, "with a side of bacon. Maybe an egg or two. And orange juice. You can't have a good breakfast without a nice glass of orange juice. What about you?"

"The French toast looks delicious. I was always a person for anything to do with cinnamon."

He ordered for them when the waitress walked over. She looked a little hesitant as if she wasn't used to people rushing in and out of restaurants.

"Lindsey's been working on this for a long time," Warrick said.

"What do you mean?" Catherine asked, although secretly she knew.

"You and me. Think about it. The dance: she rigged it so you had to go with me. Don't look at me like that. I talked to the guys and they all admitted that Lindsey called and made them promise to stay home. The time she hurt her hand I accused her of doing it on purpose and she denied it so fast I'm wondering if I was right. Before you invited me to her party, she called me complaining about how I never saw her anymore. The kid is a mastermind. I know Lexi and Sara helped, but I have no doubt that this was all Lindsey's big picture."

She sighed. "Some days I look at her and see myself. There was nothing I wanted more when I was little than my mother and Sam together. If I had been as smart as she is I probably would've behaved the same way. I also think she has this incredible gift to read my mind. It doesn't hurt that she's persuasive, either."

He chuckled and she smiled. It was a sound that always made her heart feel lighter. How many times when he was married did she wish that it was her wearing the ring instead of Tina? How many times did she think it would be easier if she just sucked it up and told him how she felt?

"Catherine, is Lindsey accustomed to getting whatever she wants?"

"In a way. I know it's wrong, but she argues so much I have to give in eventually."

There was a gleam in his eye she hadn't noticed before. "What makes this time any different?"

"I, um, I."

"Look, we've been dancing around this whole thing for years. I know it, and I have no doubt you do too. It's also obvious that other people see it. I'm not saying we should rush right over to Circus Circus and get married. I've done that once in my life and things didn't turn out great. I'm just saying that we should take things slow and see where they take us. We don't even have to tell anyone."

A tear formed in her eye and when it rolled out, he reached over and wiped it away.

"You don't have to say anything right now," he said.

A waiter brought over their steaming plates of food and they dug in, letting the silence engulf them. As if the whole restaurant was trying to convince Catherine of something, the radio was playing soft love songs. She was eating and trying to decipher the words, finding ways to apply them to her own life. She played the options over and over in her mind. She had been burned several times in the past and was a self-confessed skeptic.

She looked at the face of the man sitting next to her. In all of their years working together he had never done anything to hurt her. He had been there for her on countless occasions and was always a major help when it came to dealing with her rather rambunctious daughter. She knew there was no point in looking; she'd never find a reason to say "no" to him. He was, by her standards, perfect, and that wasn't something the average person measured up to. Perhaps the biggest thing Warrick Brown had on his side was the absolute love Lindsey had for him. If anything happened and she was told, the girl would approve. More than that, even. Lindsey would be ecstatic, something Catherine hadn't truly seen her be in a long time.

"Warrick," she said, "I've been thinking about this French toast here. It is really good, but I've tasted something better. The day you made those pastries at my house I felt my life was complete. Everything I needed was there. Of course it wasn't just the food that made it great; it was the people I was sharing it with. Lindsey was happy and that's a miracle. And you were there. You are the one person I've been able to count on continuously. I don't see why that should change."

He nodded. "You know, I really like this decision of yours."

She grinned.

He took another bite of his monster breakfast. "And may I just say that this is the best food I have ever tasted?"

A/N: Let me know what you thought. I'm thinking this story is just about over.

Most of you know that this story is the companion to "Headliner." It's what was going on in the YoBling world while Nick and Sara were getting together. Well, I've decided to write a sequel. It would be focusing mainly on the Snickers side. The general consensus is that people would like to see it. What do you think? Thanks so much.