’ ‘Then I won’t be damned for doing this.’ Stephen leaned in and paused an inch from her lips. He had never been this close to Alison before.... After twenty years he savored what he could of the moment. It was Alison’s chance to back out, when she didn’t, Stephen graced her lips with a lifetime worth of intentions. It seemed like an hour, hanging there as long as he could. The taste was so distinctive. He’d had it before, only never quite as sweet. With a final pull of her bottom lip, he eased. But she and I didn't have the same relationship that I nowrealized I had with my mother. Mom was there for me even when Emilycouldn't be there for me. There was no way that Emily could have soothedme the way Mom had after the press conference. Spending an afternoon inthe kitchen with Emily might have been fun, but it wouldn't have had thesame meaning. And deep down inside, I knew what that meant. Emily and Iwere BFF's, but my mom was my best friend.The words seemed to have a similar effect on. Danny watched Niki head down the hallway, obviously going to Algebra, though she was still in her modeling robe. He’d raced over here, just so he could watch her go to class, giving him an extra few minutes of passive worship. Following, but not too close, he muttered to himself when he saw Roach and his crew bracket his princess.“What you going on about then?” Steve asked, Daniel’s muttering having caught his ear above the hubbub of the students milling about.“Nothing, just nothing, I just. All my dress uniforms, and other stuff I will not need regularly. I will probably even sleep there occasionally if I have to be in early, or work late and do not want to drive to the rig. I still have to keep a room, I just do not have to live in it.”Once everything was secure I drove over to put in some gas, then when I came back both of their cars were in the driveway, and dad was guiding me in front of the house. We quickly got the truck hooked up, and I gave him a hug. “Hey guys!” we heard.