A red car was parked next to Kylie. It belonged to Dinah. Dinah poked her head out and smiled. She said, "I can tell that you've been out here for a while. "What's up? What are you thinking about?"

Kylie smiled and ignoring the question, asked about Sally's medical records. Dinah said that she had them, and Kylie told her to bring them to Stephen ASAP. Then, after thinking about it for a second, Kylie said, "Why don't we go together. I wouldn't mind checking in on Stephen and saying hello."

​​

Kylie had never been to Stephen's new home, and when they arrived, she was shocked. The place was practically a mansion. He lived at The Empire Hotel and had the entire tenth floor to himself. Kylie frowned and said, "I thought he was living in a regular apartment…"

"I don't know…" Dina shrugged. "This is the address that I was given."

Kylie looked at Dina and said, "I think you know more than you are saying. After all, you are dating him and most likely fucking him too!"

Dinah's face turned red, but she didn't say anything.

Just then, Stephen stepped out to greet them. He was dressed up like a wealthy doctor, and at first, they didn't recognize him.

"Why aren't you wearing glasses?" Kylie wondered

"I wear contacts now," Stephen replied. "It turns out that some people don't trust a doctor who is wearing glasses. Never mind that, though. Let me show you both up to my apartment.

Stephen lived in a luxurious presidential suite, and everything looked brand new. Looking around, though, everything also looked familiar to Kylie. It felt strange until, finally, she realized that the apartment's layout was exactly as it had been when he lived in Garbo Palace. The only difference was that this was several times larger.

Kylie touched the medical skeleton that sat in the corner and turned to Stephen. "Didn't you say your house was finished?" she wondered. "Why are you staying in a hotel?"

Stephen took two bottles of soda from the fridge; one for Dinah and one for Kylie. His face was still warm and sunny, but his eyes were sharp. "This is my house," he replied. "…and I love living here!"

Kylie looked around the apartment again, still in disbelief. She was confused but, if Stephen was happy, then she was happy for him, and the genuine smile on her face acted as evidence. "People say that I spoil myself…" she said, "but look at you; a whole floor to yourself!"

Kylie playfully punched Stephen in the arm, and he pretended that it hurt more than it did. She could be like a feisty child when the mood struck her, and nobody knew this better than Stephen did. He rubbed his arm and smiled. They had a close relationship. They had always protected each other, spoiled each other, and had each other's back. As Ethan slowly took this role from Stephen, things became more and more awkward between them.

Kylie silently hoped that a short excursion might bring them closer together again and, once they'd given him the documents, she convinced Dinah and Stephen to do just that.

The three of them were just passing through the parking lot when Ethan, Nate, Matthew, and his family emerged from behind a dumpster, and Ethan pulled Kylie to a stop. He looked at Kylie, glanced at her feet, and asked her if her feet would get sore in the stiletto high heel shoes that she was wearing. "You should be wearing your favorite sneakers," he told her. "They are actually made to be walked in!"

Kylie admitted that her feet would be sore, but she didn't care. The shoes matched her dress, which mattered more to her than comfort.

A few women passed them going in the opposite direction as them, and when they say such a handsome man was worrying over such a beautiful woman, they were jealous. Ethan was the type of man that women wanted to be with while Kylie was the type of woman that other women wanted to be. Seeing the look in their eyes made Kylie smile; sometimes, she forgot how lucky she was.

After they'd walked a block, Nate put his arm on Stephen's shoulders and said, "I've heard all kinds of things about you. Is everything alright?"

Stephen shrugged sadly. He had felt better about this walk before Stephen and Nate had appeared with Matthew and his family. "I am alive," he replied, "and here we are. What more could a man want?"

A little further on, Kylie took off her shoes and carried them while she walked barefoot. She turned to Ethan and said, "It looks like you were right," she laughed. "At least the sidewalks are clean…"

"Perhaps the delicate lady needs a man to carry her," Nate teased.

"Oh, fuck off, Nate," Stephen sighed. "Leave her alone. She's fine. She's a big girl."

Stephen had a bottle of water with him, and he offered it to Kylie. Kylie took it and thanked him with a smile.

Aiden, with his disheveled hair and his unshaven face, led the group. He had a bad smell, and everyone was happy to give him some space – and everyone was thankful that he was walking upwind of them. Taylor walked to the left of Aiden and only slightly behind him. Closest behind then came Mathew. Every once in a while, he silently complained about Aiden's stench, but he made no move to fall behind.

Linked arm in arm with Matthew walked Khloe, who was smiling flirtatiously at any man who they passed, regardless of their age. She was, as they all knew, an attention whore. She wore a princess dress that accentuated her breasts and revealed acres of cleavage, but, unlike Kylie, she wore practical flat walking shoes. From time to time, as they walked, she put her hand to her lower abdomen and grimaced. This was her reminder to them that she was pregnant and deserved special treatment as if getting fucked was a talent that few women mastered.

Matthew looked at Ethan, smiled, and walked over. He said, "Ethan, look at us – all together, and all we're getting along. What do you think? Could this cease-fire last?"

"Crazier things have happened." He replied. "Ray Cleveland Sullivan was struck by lightning seven different times between 1942 and 1977, and he survived each strike…"

Ethan looked at Khloe. He knew that Matthew was very proud of her, so he said, "You haven't introduced me to Khloe yet…"

Hearing her name, Khloe joined them. Seeing this, Aiden picked up his pace, and at that, Taylor chuckled. Aiden was definitely one of the prettier people that Taylor had met in his life.

Matthew introduced Khloe to Ethan cordially, and they shook hands. Kylie smiled and also greeted Khloe, but her smile seemed false, and it didn't reach her eyes. Despite their differences, though, Kylie said that it was good that they'd been able to get together peacefully.

Matthew and Ethan agreed immediately, but Khloe had crossed her arms under her ample bosoms, and she seemed distracted. There was a scowl on her face and a dull look in her eyes.