"Earth to Lindsey." Barbara creased a brow, playfully waving her hand in front of his face as she pulled him back into reality. "Where'd you go?" She smirked lightly when his blue eyes met hers from across the dining room table.
They had just been talking about Penny's weekend trip sailing and the entire time, the older woman could have sworn that Lindsey had just totally disassociated himself from their meal.
His mind was obviously somewhere else and no one at the table would have guessed that it was still in Laurel Canyon, where he'd spent all weekend hauled up with Stevie... He couldn't stop thinking about her, not since he'd left a couple of days earlier.
"Sorry," he chuckled lightly, shaking his head as he shifted in his chair. "I'm just a little tired." He added as he picked up his fork and looked down at his plate.
He knew all eyes were directed right at him- Erin, Penny, Jess and of course, Barbara and they were wondering what was going on... He had been acting strange all day, after all.
"Do you feel alright?" Penny wondered as she slowly brought her glass of red wine up to her lips to take a sip.
She had been out on the water for two days straight, so her face was full of new freckles, her blonde hair was still in beach waves and she had such a summer glow, it made Lindsey smile.
His favorite girl in the whole world.
"I feel better now that you're on dry land and not out in the ocean." He was teasing her, even though he definitely wasn't joking.
They had all supported her hobbies from a young age and Penelope loved a lot of different things. She loved swimming, dancing, playing the guitar, writing, running and sailing, which was everyone's least favorite... So unsettling.
Penny let off a soft smile, tilting her head to the side to look at her dad a little better. "Such a worrier." She shook her head lightly, even though she knew that was his job...
"That's what we're here to do." Barbara assured as she began to push herself up to stand.
They had come out to California to bring Penny back home after she'd finished her couple of days out on the water and when Barbara was in town, Lindsey's house was turned right side up. She cooked, she cleaned, she rearranged and everyone stepped out of her way while she did it, even Erin, who definitely didn't want more issues with the older woman, even if she really got on her nerves... She was so much like Penelope, it annoyed Erin to no extent.
"I'll help you." Lindsey stood up as well, taking his plate and then holding out a hand for his girlfriends.
Barbara was the one that led the way through the dining room after she'd collected a couple of more dishes, while Penny and Jess immediately started chatting about something that neither of them had caught on their way into the kitchen.
"What's wrong?" She raised a brow, voice low as she glanced over her shoulder at him.
She knew him too well and there was no way he was just tired.... Something was eating away at him.
"Nothing." He shrugged a shoulder, shaking his head lightly as he set a couple of glasses down in the sink. "I'm just-" he was getting ready to tell her that he was just tired again, but the sound of the house phone ringing caught his attention and cut off his words.
Pursing her lips to the side, Barbara sank into the counter as she watched him pick it up off the hook.
"Hello?" He was lucky that he got it first.
"What are you doing?" Stevie's voice was soft and low, causing his heart to beat a little quicker.
Looking up, his eyes met Barbara's and even though she didn't know who he was talking to, she could tell it was someone he shouldn't have been just by the look in his eyes. "Um," he swallowed hard, gaze dropping down to the hardwood floor as he turned around to look out the window instead. "I'm having dinner, what are you doing?" He wasn't lying, but he also wasn't being totally honest either.
He was stuck between a rock and a hard place... also known as Stevie and Barbara- the two most headstrong women he'd ever known.
Stevie couldn't help but smirk, already well aware of the fact that calling his home phone at that time was dangerous territory. "Hm," she nodded lightly, almost like he could see her as she kept her lips turned up into a grin. "Well, I can make you something for dessert if you want to come over after..." she bit down on her bottom lip, also having been missing him an awful lot the last couple of days.
Lindsey thought about it for a second, not sure how he was going to sneak out but definitely going to try his best. "Give me a couple of hours, babe." He tried to say that as quiet as possible, but when there was a hawk four feet away, it was impossible for it to go unnoticed.
"I'll get to baking." She giggled, which caused him to smile on return.
"See you soon." He assured, already growing pretty excited to see her.
It had only been a couple of days and a few short phone calls, but there was something really tying them together that time around and it might have been early but they were both feeling it.
Anyway, it wasn't until the line had gone dead and he set the phone back down on the cradle before he turned back to look at Barbara.
"Lindsey..." she shook her head softly, definitely oblivious to who he was talking to but not oblivious to what he was talking about.
He let out a sigh, a little ashamed but not at the same time... This wasn't the first time she'd caught him in awkward situations like that. "Dinner was great, Babs." Lindsey mentioned as he began to head passed her, kissing her cheek before he left her standing in the kitchen.
~~~
"Hey, there..." she pulled open the front door with a sweet smile on her face as she watched him trail up the sidewalk.
She wouldn't have admitted it aloud, but she'd been waiting for him by the window.... she was excited to see him and the way his eyes lit up told her that he was a little excited to see her as well.
"Hi, pretty girl." Lindsey slipped his hand around her waist the second she was in reach.
She tossed her head back, letting a laugh fill the air as he began to carefully push her back into the house. "You got here quick." She told him in between the little kisses that he was leaving on her lips.
He chuckled, nodding his head. "I couldn't wait." Lindsey admitted, eyes scanning over her face before he leaned in to press his lips to hers once more.
She was all giggles as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "I actually did make you a pie." Stevie assured with a crooked little grin.
"Yeah?" He raised a brow lightly, voice so soft and gentle. "That can wait."
