Author's Notes: I was psyched to get 4 reviews for chapter one. You can guess that I was so amazed when I got 9 for chapter two. It must mean that people like this story. I am so glad! Hmm. I wonder how many I'll get for chapter 3…

Chapter 3

I wasn't surprised to hear those words coming out of her mouth. I had been wondering when the phrase was going to surface for months now. So, when she said it, I just smiled and squeezed her hand.

"Really, Kristen?" I asked. She just nodded her head, a wild grin on her face.

"Congratulations." I said, pulling her into a hug.

"I know. I'm just so… excited. Of course I want you both in the party, okay Whitney?" Kristen turned to look at our sister. She was still walking, looking straight ahead. "Whitney..?"

"Whatever." Whitney whispered. Kristen opened her mouth as if she was about to say something, but she just frowned and turned her head back to me. I just squeezed her fingers again.

"Congratulations, Kristen." Clarke said.

"Thank you."

We stopped in front of a family lunch-in. I took a deep breath before opening the door. What had happened to a normal lunch between the Greene sisters? I remembered that one didn't exist.

Our mother was more than thrilled.

"I hope..." She shook her head. "It's Brian isn't it?" Kristen laughed.

"Yes, mom. Who else would it be?"

"I don't know. Aw. Honey, I'm just so proud of you." She pulled Kristen into a tight hug. Kristen smiled as she held her. I watched from my seat at the bottom of the stairs. Whitney was upstairs somewhere. She had been acting weird ever since Kristen had told us about the wedding.

"Have you set a date yet?" Had asked when he came in from the kitchen, a sandwich in his hand.

"We were thinking maybe in March."

"Is that why you came; to tell us that you were getting married." Dad sat down in his usual chair, lifting his feet onto the coffee table.

"Well…" Kristen sat down on the sofa near him. She looked up at Mom, and then her gaze landed on me. "Uhm. You see, Brian and I talked and we think that… Well… We thought we would move. Here. 

Back to the city." She curled her fingers. "If you want us too." Dad looked up from his sandwich and smiled.

"Of course, Kristen. We'd love you back here."

Kristen's face flushed, and Mom went and gave her another hug. I heard a door close from above me and then footsteps on the floor as Whitney headed down the stairs. I looked up at her face. She was solemn, which was normal for her. I smiled slightly; she just nodded and sat down beside me.

"Kristen said she's moving back." I whispered.

"Alone?"

"No. With Brian."

"Oh." She let out a breath. "That's nice, I guess."

"Yeah."

"I'm going back on Friday to help Brian finish packing." Kristen said. "We'll be back with our first load Tuesday morning." She stood up and came closer to Whitney and I. She turned around and leaned her side against the wall near the stairs.

"So soon?" I asked.

"We wanted to be settled. I can't take New York anymore. It's just really getting on my nerves." She turned to look at me. "My job isn't going that good, and we have money saved up. So I was thinking of opening up a boutique here or something." She smiled and I nodded back.

"Sounds fun."

"It will be I hope. I've found a house online in the city. It's just a few miles from the promenade. It's clean. It's good. Actually, we have to be out of our apartment by Monday morning, and we need all the help we can get." She came over and stood in front of me. "I know you don't have any classes on Monday, so I was wondering if you wanted to come help."

"Me?"

"Yea."

"What about, Whit."

"Uhmmm…" Kristen turned and looked Mom in the eye. Mom curled her lips nervously. "Yeah, you coming Whitney?" She asked. I looked from Mom, to Kristen, and then to Whitney. She just nodded.

"Okay."

"So Annabel? You in?" She wiggled her eyebrows. I smiled.



"Yeah."

"Awesome." Kristen hugged me.

It was raining lightly when I left the house that night. I shivered and pulled my coat tighter around myself. I got into my car and headed over to Owen's apartment. I parked in my usual spot and headed up the walk to the main entrance. It took me a moment to press his apartment number into the keypad. He didn't even say anything; I heard the beep of the inside door unlocking. He was waiting for me when the elevators opened. My heart rose when I saw him smiling like that. Of course I smiled back. He took me by surprise when he pulled me out of the elevator and into his arms. I pressed myself up against him as his lips devoured me. I lost my breath like I do every time he kisses me.

"What.." I breathed when his lips took a breath.

"Is this...?" I couldn't say anything else. He picked me up and I wrapped my legs around his waist. His fingers curled themselves in my hair. I couldn't help but moan. His response was crazy. He banged me up against the wall.

"Owen.."

We made it into his apartment and he kicked the door closed. He pulled his mouth away from mine, and just held me for a moment. I searched his eyes for whatever I could find.

"I got it, baby!" He said, kissing the side of my mouth. "I got the promotion at the radio station." He slid a hand up my back, pulling off my jacket.

"When?" I breathed, craning my neck so that I could reach his ear.

"Uh. Holy fu-." His arms tightened around me for a moment. "Every Saturday morning, 9 to 11." His hands released my shirt and he threw it on the floor. I kicked off my shoes.

"I guess it's better than the last one."

"Hell yeah!" He said, his voice husky. He put me on my feet before kneeling down to take of my pants. When I could see his face again, I smiled.

"When do you sta-rt?" My voice caught on the last words when my bra snapped off and he took me into his mouth. My breathing was hitched. His hands roamed my body.

"This week. Have I ever told you that you're beautiful?" He looked up at me with those dark eyes. I fell down into his lap.

"Yes, multiple times." I kissed him lightly on his right shoulder. "I guess you can't come with me to New York." He lifted his hand from my thigh and looked at me.

"New York?"



And that was when I gave him a play by play of my entire day. I guess I am lucky he would just listen.