I messed up and forgot to add the real chapter 21 so the last chapter you read was actually chapter 22 and now you have 23

"Hey, Steph?" DJ said.
"Yeah?" Stephanie was washing out the spicy cheese dip from a bowl. She stood at the sink, careful not to splash any water on the front of her shirt.

"I think you hurt Charlie's feelings," DJ leaned against the counter, frowning.
"What do you mean?" Stephanie faced her now, not understanding.

DJ shrugged. "He looked kinda sad when you told him."

"He's fine," Stephanie wasn't so sure she believed her own words. Now that she thought of it, his face had kinda fallen, like he was disappointed. "So," she said casually, "now you can't say you haven't met him."

"Yeah," DJ nodded. "But it was only brief. " She came around beside to where Stephanie was standing. "Maybe you could invite him over for dinner sometime."

"Why, so you can observe him? Just because you have a psychology degree, doesn't mean you need to use us all as your guinea pigs," Stephanie rolled her eyes.

"I'm not observing him," DJ denied and then conceded when her sister gave her a look. "Okay, I'm observing a little. I just want to see. I've been doing some research on individuals that have been abused in the past and-"

"You're not using Charlie for any of your little studies or whatever," Stephanie cut her off, scowling. "He doesn't like to talk about it and I doubt he'd be up for talking about it with you."

DJ waited until she was done. "Steph, it's not a study. I'm not going to do anything other than observe him."

Stephanie crossed her arms. "If he wants to come over, fine. But I'm not pushing him. And no questions."

Her sister put her hands up in surrender. "I wouldn't do that. I have some tact, thank you."

"'Except when you're threatening to embarrass me," Stephanie muttered. Then, she added, "Why'd you have to mention the car? He's going to ask me about that now."

"Why does it matter?" DJ was amused.

"It was a long time ago," Stephanie said. "He doesn't need to know."

"You told Steve plenty of embarrassing stories about me," DJ reminded her. "Why shouldn't I tell Charlie any?"

"You're more mature...?" Stephanie tried.

"Well, we know that," DJ ducked when a dish towel was thrown her way. "Alright, alright. I won't say anything. But you didn't have to tell him I called him a little brat." She hit Stephanie lightly on the shoulder.

"Yes, I did," Stephanie said. "He doesn't like to talk about that day or anything about his past. I had to do something."

"Look at you, being so protective," DJ said.

"Don't start it," Stephanie warned her, pointing a finger.

"I'm not starting anything," DJ said. "I was just making an observation."

"Here's a tip: keep those observations to yourself," Stephanie said. She turned the water off once she was done washing all the dishes and set them aside to air dry. "So, Kimmy and Steve didn't come with you?"

"They did," DJ said. "Steve was hungry and so was Kimmy so I told them to drop me off and come back later."

"Please tell me Gibbler isn't staying with us," Stephanie shut her eyes.

"No," DJ said. "She's staying with her parents."

"Thank goodness..."

"But Steve is," DJ said.

"Right, because Dad's totally gonna go for that," Stephanie snorted.

"He can stay in my old room," DJ said.

Stephanie stared. "Now I know you're insane. This wedding stuff's gone to your brain already."

"I'm an adult," DJ defended herself. "And engaged. I should be able to have my fiance in the room without Dad freaking out."

"You know what, Deej; you tell Dad that," Stephanie wore a sarcastic smile. "I'm rooting for you."

She followed DJ into the living room. "

"So, figured out any wedding plans yet?"

"Just the obvious," DJ said. "You, Michelle and Kimmy are going to be my bridesmaids while Aunt Becky is my maid of honor."

"You better pick out a decent dress," Stephanie was only half joking when she said this.

DJ rolled her eyes. "You'll pick out the dress. I have a certain color I want but other than that, it's everyone's decision on how their dress looks."

"Phew," Stephanie grinned. "That's a relief. And hey, if this wedding stuff gets to be too much, you can always elope."

Dj gaped at her, as if she couldn't imagine doing such a thing. "We are not eloping!"

"You could," Stephanie said. "Think about it: you could save money and avoid all the stress. Sounds perfect to me."

"It's not going to be stressful. I have a binder full of everything I need to help," DJ said.

"Tell me you don't already have it planned."

"Not all the way," DJ was avoiding the question. "Some of it. I'll have to discuss it with Steve, of course."

"Don't you mean, tell him what you're going to do?"

"No," DJ said. "I'm not going to make decisions for him. I learned my lesson. We're going to plan this together and not make a decision without the other's input."

Stephanie tried to school her expression into some semblance of control. DJ might be saying that now when it was just the start and relatively stress free; but things would be different once the whole shebang was set in motion. "Okay."

"You don't believe me," DJ accused.

Stephanie laughed. "Because I know you, Deej. You're fine now but you're gonna be crazy stressed when it gets closer. You'll be a whole bridezilla and a half."

"I think I have a little more self control than that, thank you," DJ clearly didn't agree.

"We'll see," Stephanie said in a singsong voice.

DJ bumped her hip. "If you want, you can bring Charlie."

"Who says I want to bring Charlie?" Stephanie retorted. "Maybe I'll bring Harry or Gia."

DJ shrugged. "Bring whoever you want."

"You're being oddly cool about this."

"It isn't like either of our families are huge," DJ said.

"True," Stephanie agreed.

At that moment, Michelle was home. She opened the door, her face splitting in a beaming smile when she saw her oldest sister. "DJ!" She rushed over to embrace her.

"Hey, Michelle," DJ reciprocated.

"Can I see the ring?" Michelle was whispering. Dad must be nearby. Stephanie recalled that he said he would be picking her up from Denise's.

"Me too," Stephanie added.

DJ glanced in the direction of the door, a grin peeking through. "Alright, come here," she reached into her shirt, pulling out a necklace chain. The ring was attached to it. Stephanie had to admit, she was impressed with Steve's selection. It was simple yet elegant. Just the right fit for her sister. "So, what do you guys think?"

"It's pretty," Michelle said, eying it adoringly. She sighed wistfully. "I can't wait until I get engaged."

Stephanie and DJ shared a look, saying simultaneously, "We can wait."

Dad came in through the front door this time. DJ quickly put the ring back in the inside of her shirt. "Hey, honey. How was your movie night with-DJ!" He exclaimed.

Dj giggled. "Hey Dad!" She gave him a hug.

Dad held her at arm length, examining her. "My little girl's getting bigger every time I see her."

"Dad, I'm pretty sure I stopped growing already," DJ grinned.

"Plus, you sound like Grandma and Grandpa when they see us at Christmas," Stephanie chimed in.

"I can't help it," Dad sighed. "My little girl is a woman now."

"Face it, Dad," Stephanie said. "That means you're getting old."

"So, Dad," DJ said, "where's Joey and Uncle Jesse and Aunt Becky?"

"Jesse and Becky went to the movies with Nicky and Alex and I believe Joey's on another date," Dad said.

"Another one?" Michelle said.

"Sounds like it's getting serious between him and Carmen," Stephanie said.

"Who is Carmen?" DJ asked. "I haven't heard much about her."

Dad pulled his tie off-Stephanie remembered that he'd had another date with Vicky. "She met Joey at the grocery store. Apparently they were reaching for the same rmp roast at the same time," he said with humor.

"True love," Stephanie said.

Dad's eyes fell on her again and this time he looked at her properly. "Is that..." he squinted his eyes. "Is that Charlie's shirt?"

Michelle snickered and DJ's eyebrows flew up to her hairline.

Oh, crap. There was no getting out of this one.

"Uh," she moved her foot in a circle on the floor, "yeah. He gave it to me when we were at J-Mart, Dad. I was cold and he just did it. I didn't ask for it."

Michelle leaned closer to DJ. "But they're just 'friends,'" She used air quotes.

Stephanie glared at her.

Dad looked conflicted. "Uh, huh."

DJ had pity on her. Hallelujah. "Dad, guess what?" She said, diverting his attention.

"What?"

DJ was grinning widely as she raised the ring for him to see. "I'm engaged!"

"He proposed? Oh, congratulations, sweetheart!" Dad gave her another hug.

"We didn't think he'd ever do it," Michelle said.

"And apparently, he didn't even use food," Stephanie said.

"Really?" Dad looked surprised, much to Stephanie's amusement.

"Yes, really," DJ said. "He's not that obsessed with food."

"Could've fooled us," Michelle shrugged.

"Deej, why don't you tell Dad the good news?" Stephanie said not so innocently.

Her sister glowered at her.

"What news?" Dad frowned.

"Now, Dad," DJ said cautiously, "try to be open minded about this."

"I don't like the sound of that," Dad stated.

You won't like what she says, either

"Well, it's not just me that came back," DJ began, "I brought Kimmy and Steve, too."

"Uh huh," Dad said slowly.

"And well, Kimmy's staying with her parents, of course but Steve can't go to his parents' house because they're on vacation so I was wondering if he could stay here?"

Dad relaxed. "Oh, that's fine, honey. He can use the couch or we can ask Joey if he doesn't mind sharing with him." He started to walk away but DJ stopped him.

"Actually, Dad; I was wondering if he could stay in...my old room?"

Dad's face went totally blank.

Show time, Stephanie thought, inwardly smirking.

"Your room?" Dad repeated faintly. "You want Steve to sleep with you...in your room?"

"That means we'll have to share a room," Michelle said to Stephanie, not liking the idea.

"Yeah," DJ said. "Listen, Dad; we won't do anything. I promise. We'll be mature adults about this. I think we have an old air mattress he can use."

Dad looked pained, quite frankly. Stephanie was interested to know if her sister would get her wish. "Well, you two are adults...I suppose we can work with that. But," he said before DJ could celebrate, "that door will be open at all times. You guys can change in the bathroom and under no circumstances are you two to be in bed together."

DJ squealed. "I promise! Thank you, thank you! I've gotta go find that air mattress!" She rushed off towards the garage.

"unbelievable," Stephanie muttered.

Michelle found this unfair. "How come DJ gets to have Steve in her room but I can't date yet?"

"Because DJ is an adult and you aren't even in high school," Dad told her. "She's older, Michelle. She's going to do things differently than you. You'll get to do things differently when you're her age."

"So, when I'm her age then I can have my fiancé in my room, too?" Michelle said.

"You'd have to get a fiancé first," Stephanie said.

Dad was clearly not comfortable with all this fiancé talk in reference to Michelle.

Michelle tugged on Stephanie's-Charlie's, technically-shirt. "Looks like you'll get one first."

"Alright, enough," Dad interjected. "No one else is getting a fiancé until you're at least forty-five."

Michelle made a face. "We'll be too old by then."

"What a shame," Dad ruffled her hair.

"Do I really have to stay with Steph?" Michelle asked.

"Unless you're planning on staying at a hotel the whole time, you're stuck," Stephanie told her.

"That's not fair," Michelle whined.

"Well, honey, it was DJ's room first," Dad said.

"Why can't DJ stay with Steph?"

"Because then Steve would have nowhere to go," Dad reminded her.

Michelle obviously realized that she wasn't going to win this. "Fine," she was reigned. "I'll go move my stuff now."

"That's my girl," Dad kissed her on the forehead.