When I got back from dropping E-Beth off at the airport, Danielle was on the couch channel-surfing.

“And you say WE keep you up all night,” she complained.

"Well," Cherys drawled as she came in from the bedroom. "I don't seem to recall you bitching about it Last night..."

I could see Danielle's mind revert back to her memories and a sly smile spread across my sister's lips. She looked at me with a gleam in her eyes. "Well, I suppose your little noises got my girlfriend pretty worked up.”

Cherys Laughed, "And you got to reap the rewards..." She sat down on the couch and kissed Danielle tenderly on the lips.

The two of them stared into each other's eyes for a long while, long enough to start making me uncomfortable. Just when I was about to quietly slip away, Cherys looked up at me with a very odd expression that froze me in place. And then she stood up, pulling Danielle with her.

Slightly hesitant, Cherys looked back and forth between me and her girlfriend before saying, “Um, David. Could you excuse us for a bit? I need to speak with your sister about something important."

I shrugged.

“No problem."

Confused but curious, Danielle let Cherys lead her away while I sat down on the couch and retrieved the remote. I checked the time. It was late, but the Sunday night game should still be playing.

About five minutes later, I heard Danielle yell "ARE YOU SERIOUS?" Loud enough for me to make out, even through the wall. The noise was enough to cause me to turn around and wonder if everything was alright.

A few seconds after that, Danielle came walking out rather stiffly, and she came right up to me. She didn't look angry. Rather, she seemed shocked and intensely thoughtful, as if Cherys had said something that really made her think.

Wordlessly, I muted the TV and gave Danielle my full attention. Her eyes swiveled up and down me for a second before she stared at my feet and asked, "David, um... could you please give us some privacy for a little while? Go out somewhere? This is going to be a pretty intense discussion."

I simply nodded and then got up to get my jacket and keys. I already knew I'd head over to Kevin and Jen's place. I could watch the rest of the game with them.

That's odd. I hit the speed dial to Jen's cell phone this time, confused at hearing the signal go straight to voicemail once again.

Either both Kevin and Jen had their cell phones off or the carrier was on the fritz again.

I tried to peer through the darkened window, but it was apparent that there was nobody home. I rang the doorbell a final time and turned away from the apartment to head back to the parking lot.

I was about ten feet down the sidewalk when familiar voices sounded in front of me. I looked up to see a giggling couple practically wrapped around each other.

"David!" Jen called. "What are you doing here?"

I shrugged. "Got kicked out. The girls wanted some private time and I thought I could finish watching the game here.”

She looked at Kevin, a clear question in her eyes. He waggled his head in an answer I didn't understand, and then Jen looked at me with some kind of Look of pity.

“Well, come on in."

I followed the happy couple into the apartment and then settled onto a wing chair and Kevin settled onto the couch with an obvious open space for Jen to join. But for now, she headed into the kitchen. "Can I get you something to drink?" she asked me.

“Yeah, a Coke would be great." I turned to face my best friend. "So, how are thing's going? You miss me yet?" I grinned.

“Dude... not really,” Kevin answered with a smile of his own. "I've got to admit, it's nice having the place to ourselves. Not that it was BAD having you here. It sure was convenient for hanging out..."