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When You're Around

Chapter 16

Randy woke up early the next morning to make breakfast for himself and Lindsey before he had to take her to Sam's for the rest of the week. Just as he was plating the last pancake, Lindsey walked in with yawn as she sat at the kitchen table. "Good morning daddy," She said sleepily.

"Morning baby," He said as he sat the plate of pancakes on the table along with a small plate of bacon. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head before putting a hardboiled egg on her plate.

"Do I have to go to mommy's?" She asked as she stabbed two pancakes with her fork and brought them to her plate.

Randy looked at his daughter in surprise as he sat down across from her. "You don't want to go?" She usually looked forward to going to Sam's, and Sam had once told him that Linds looked forward to going to his place. She had never seemed to have a problem going from one parent to the next.

She shrugged as she poured maple syrup over her breakfast. "I want to see mommy but I want to stay here with you too."

Randy couldn't help but smile at her adorableness. He reached over and took the bottle of syrup from her, stopping her from pouring the whole bottle on her plate. "Baby, I'll see you again in a couple days."

She pouted. "Can't I just stay here?"

Randy frowned. He would love nothing more than to have his daughter with him every single day, but that wasn't what he and Sam had agreed upon. "I'm sorry Linds," He said as he shook his head. "Don't you miss mommy?" The girl nodded her head. "I think mommy misses you too and you'd make her very happy if you went to her house today."

She thought about for a second before nodding, smiling slightly. "Ok, but I'm going to miss you,"

Randy smiled back. "I'll miss you too baby," They were silent for a couple minutes as they ate their breakfast.

"Daddy, can I ask you a question?" She asked thoughtfully.

"You sure can," He said.

She looked at him and tilted her head to the side. "Why was Miss Ryan here last night?"

Randy sighed, he was expecting this question. He was surprised she didn't ask when he'd tucked her in last night. "Well, Chloe and I have become good friends and we just wanted to hang out."

She nodded, accepting the answer. "Can I play with you next time?" As surprised as she was to see her former teacher in her house last night, she really liked Miss Ryan.

Randy chuckled. "Absolutely," He watched his daughter as she happily ate her food. "Linds, what do you think of Chloe?" He was actually very curious of how Lindsey would react to him dating her former teacher.

She smiled. "I like her. She's funny and pretty."

"Yeah she is," He said, amused with his daughter.

"Do you like her daddy?" She asked curiously.

"I do," He admitted.

She looked up at her dad and smiled devilishly. "Do you like her, like her?"

Randy tried to scowl though a smile spread across his face. He stood up and walked over to her seat, which she was now standing on. "You, little missy, are gonna get it," He put his hands under her armpits and swept her up in the air. He couldn't help but get a rush of pride when he heard her giggle. He spun her around a couple of times before cradling her in his arms, bridal style as he began to tickle her.

"Daddy! Daddy, stop! Daddy!" Lindsey yelled through her laughter.

Randy showed mercy and tickled her a little more before setting her on her feet. "Alright, go upstairs and get your things together for moms," The little girl nodded breathlessly before running out of the room and upstairs to her bedroom to get ready.

"Come on sleepy head," Rachel yelled as she jumped up and down on Chloe's bed. "Time to get up!"

Chloe groaned as she cracked open her eyes. "You are a terrible person." She said sleepily and pulled her covers over her head.

"Oh no, no, no, no, no!" Rachel said before she bent over and yanked the blanket off of Chloe and the bed. "It's past noon, you need to get up, get dressed, then you and I are going out to lunch."

Chloe groaned again. "Leave me alone, you freak."

Rachel laughed and gave her friend a little push with her food. "I'm paying." She said in a sing-song voice.

Chloe stayed where she was for a few moments before she stood up. "Alright, but only because your paying."

Forty-five minutes later, the friends were seated at a local diner, enjoying a couple of sandwiches. "So how's work?" Chloe asked her friend.

Rachel frowned a littler. "Well, that was one thing I wanted to talk to you about." She paused to collect her thoughts. "I think I'm going to be out of a job soon."

"What?" Chloe asked surprised. "Why? I thought you were about to be made sports editor?" Rachel was one of the best journalists at the local newspaper.

She made a face. "That's what I thought, but apparently that rat Todd," She said, referring to one of her coworkers, whom she hated. "has been sucking up to the boards ass and he got it."

"That sucks," Chloe said, knowing how much her friend was looking forward to being editor. "But, if you're basically the one in line after him for editor, why are they firing you?"

"They're not. I'm thinking of quitting." Rachel said.

"What? Why?"

She shrugged. "The whole reason I was with the newspaper in the first place was because they said if I worked as a writer for two years, I would be editor. Now I'm not and who knows how long I have to wait for another chance." She explained.

"I can understand that." Chloe said supportively. "But are you sure you want to quit? What if you can't find another job?"

Rachel smiled wide. "Well, that's another thing I wanted to talk to you about."

Chloe raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"Well, I've been job hunting online and I saw a job opening that you could maybe help me out with. Or more like your boyfriend can help me,"

"I don't have a boyfriend." She corrected.

She rolled her eyes. "Sorry, your friend with benefits who you are practically in love with."

"What? I am not!" She defended herself.

"Okay, okay, we're getting off subject. There is a job opening at the WWE for a creative writing position. And as you know, that is where Randy works, so I was hoping you could…" She trailed off, hoping Chloe saw where she was going.

"I could what?"

"Maybe ask him to put in a good word for me?"

Chloe sighed. "Rachel, I don't know. We've only been seeing each other for less than a week. I don't want him to think I'm using him. Plus, he's never read any of your work." Chloe wanted to help her friend out, she just would feel weird asking that of Randy.

Rachel smiled with and grabbed her purse off the floor. She reached in and pulled out a little portfolio. "I had a feeling you would say that." She handed over the portfolio to Chloe.

She couldn't help but smile a little. "I see, it's you who's using me."

Rachel chuckled. "But seriously, can you please just ask him? If he says no, then no big deal."

Chloe looked at the small book in her hands and then to her friend's pouting face. "Find," She said giving in. "But if he never speaks to me again, I'm blaming you."

A/N: Love all your wonderful reviews! Keep them coming!