Lindsey and Brian, not really interested in the whole club scene, took George and Kevin back to the girls' house before heading out for some coffee.
"I'll have a mocha latte with a shot of cinnamon, please. Bri, do you want something?" Lindsey turned to him.
"Sounds good. I'll have that too." Before she could stop him, he reached into his wallet and paid for their drinks. They walked over to a small table near the wall. Tonight was open mic night at Lindsey's favorite coffee shop, Better Latte Than Never.
"You didn't have to pay for my drink, you know."
He smiled at her and wiped some whipped cream off the end of her nose. "I know, but you are the college student and I am the pop star. Last time I checked, college students don't get paid to go to class."
Lindsey laughed. "Okay, Mr. Pop Star, thank you for my coffee. But when I graduate and if I ever get a job, it's my treat."
"It's a deal. So what are you studying?"
"I am working on my master's degree in psychology. I am specializing in counseling, especially with teenage girls." He grinned.
"You could come and work with us. Maybe if you talk to some of our fans, we could understand what all the hysteria is about. I am astounded as to what they come up with sometimes. I mean, what's with all the 'I want to have your baby' stuff?"
Lindsey stirred her coffee as she thought about that one. "Teenage girls are some of the most complex creatures on the planet. Those years are so turbulent what with not only growing up but the changes in their bodies and the impact their hormones have on their entire lives."
"Hormones? It's just hormones? No wonder Nick is off the wall." They laughed together as they pictured the tall blonde who was full of energy.
"Not only that, they are beginning to think about relationships and celebrities are safe targets. Many girls can fantasize about having a relationship and be in a safe environment. As long as they don't let their fantasy envelope their lives, it's okay. But after fantasizing for so long, when they finally get the chance to meet or get close to the object of their fantasies, their emotions are at an all time high. Often times, the only way they can express their feelings is through tears or outrageous shouts, such as the infamous 'I want to have your baby'. Don't worry, it's something that almost every adolescent girl experiences and soon they will grow out of that phase and hopefully they will have gained some confidence to pursue their own relationships." Lindsey explained.
"Wow!" Brian was amazed. "You really know your stuff."
Lindsey smiled and raised her cup. "It also helps that I was an adolescent girl once myself with a celebrity crush of my own." Brian's eyes lit up with amusement.
"So do you really like me or is this some misplaced fantasy about another boy band." Her eyes flew to his face. She could see a slight bit of humor in his smile, but his eyes were very serious. Taking a deep breath, she steadily returned his gaze.
"Trust me, Brian. This is no forgotten teenybopper dream. I really do like you. Not just because you are a musician, not just because you are a Backstreet Boy, and not just because you are incredibly easy on the eyes. But just because all of these things make you who you are. I like the Brian sitting before me."
Slightly shocked at her honesty, he smiled as he leaned over the table and gently pressed his lips to hers.
"I like you too, Lindsey. For being a remarkably beautiful woman with a fascinating mind and an honest heart. Thank you." Smiling, he leaned back in his chair. Noticing the gestures from the DJ, Brian stood up and with a quick smile to Lindsey, he walked up on the mini-stage set up at one end of the coffee shop.
Lindsey looked on in amazement as the DJ handed Brian a guitar and adjusted the microphone. Running his hands along the strings, Brian looked up right into Lindsey's eyes.
"Hey there folks! My name is Brian Littrell and I am a member of the Backstreet Boys and as the rest of the guys are not here tonight, I thought that now was my chance to prove that we should change the name of the group to the B-rok Boys." He laughed along with the small crowd in the coffee shop. "Nah, I'm just playing. I love being a Backstreet Boy and I love to write songs, so I thought that y'all might like to hear one of them tonight. Is that okay?" Cheers echoed through the room and Brian's eyes landed on Lindsey. "This song is called 'It Just Crossed My Mind'. I'd like to dedicate this to the girl who can get inside my head and won't get out."
The melody that flowed from the instrument was a soft mellow sound. Brian kept his gaze centered on Lindsey throughout the entire song, and when the last note lingered in the air, the two continued to stare at each other until the DJ clapped Brian on the back and broke their trance. Lindsey noticed that everyone was applauding and congratulating Brian on the song as he made his way back to their table.
"That was beautiful, Brian. Is it one of the songs from the new album?" He sat down next to her as the next performer walked up to the microphone.
"No, it's just something that I have been messing around with."
She smiled at him. "I really like it."
"Thanks." Brian smiled back at her and as the next performer began, he placed his hand over hers. Lindsey returned the smile and gently squeezed his hand.
After watching a few more performers, and after getting a page from Kevin, Brian and Lindsey stood up and left the small coffee shop. They walked back to the girls' house still holding hands. When they reached the house, Kevin was waiting in the family room with George.
"Hey there you guys. How was the coffee shop?" George looked pointedly at their joined hands.
"It was good. How was your night here at home?" Lindsey shot back.
Kevin mumbled something under his breath and George turned a lovely shade of red and slugged him in the shoulder. Kevin burst out laughing as he stood up from the couch, pulling George up with him.
"Come on George, walk me out to the car." Brian started laughing at how childish his older cousin was acting as he turned to look at Lindsey.
He smiled down into her warm brown eyes. "I have to get going. Thanks for tonight. It's been a long time since I have been able to just relax like that."
"I am glad that you had fun. I had fun too. With school and work it's sometimes hard to find the time to 'just relax' as you put it." He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer to him. Not resisting, she tilted her head back to receive his kiss.
A few minutes later, the two broke apart when Kevin leaned on the horn. She smiled up at Brian and gave him one more kiss before leading him to the door.
"Can I call you?" Brian asked.
"If you don't, I will." Lindsey smiled up at him. He planted a quick kiss on her forehead and stepped outside. Right before he climbed into Kevin's car, she called out to him.
He looked up to see her move aside so George could go in the front door. Lindsey smiled at him.
"It was Kirk Cameron." He burst out laughing as she blew him a kiss and went inside.
After Kevin pulled out of the driveway and headed for their house, he turned to his younger cousin. "So what was that all about?"
Brian turned from the window that he was looking out of to grin at Kevin. "Long story, Kev." He paused. "How do you know if someone truly means something to you?" Kevin thought for a moment.
"Maybe it's when you can't get them out of your head."
Hearing that, Brian's smile grew bigger and he turned to look back out the window at the passing scenery.
[ chapter 14 ]
