Book 1: Echoes Of The Past

Chapter 54 - Three Little Words

**OK. This chapter is WAAAAAAAY LONG!! SORRY!!**
************************************

**6:30pm**

Ivy was lounging about on her couch, idly scrolling through her Facebook awaiting her brothers arrival. He had messaged her to say that he was on his way from the airport and en route to her apartment.

She had replied to Joey telling him that she would love to go to Katsuya tomorrow, and also asked him how he had known that Japanese was her favourite cuisine. He had replied saying that he hadn't and that it must have just been a lucky guess. Ivy still wasn't convinced and planned to ask him again when she saw him.

He had phoned her after that and they had talked for a little while longer. It had been nice to talk to him and get to know him a little more, but guessed the majority of getting to know one another would come tomorrow when they met for dinner.

The next thing she knew they had followed one another on Instagram and she had been liking photos of him with his cat back in Florida.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the buzzer to her apartment going and realised that it must be her brother.

She flung her phone down and raced over to the intercom.

"Bryce?"

"Hey sis. You gonna let me in or leave me standing here out on the street looking like a complete dick."

She laughed and pressed the button to allow him access to the building, hearing the main door click open.

Suddenly, she started feeling very anxious about seeing her brother. It had been about 5 years since they had last seen one another when she had flown back to Louisiana for his wedding to Kendra.

There was a knock on her apartment door and she jumped, despite expecting the noise sometime soon.

"Just coming!" She called out to her brother, crossing from the Sitting Room and coming to the door.

Sliding the safety chain back and finally unlocking the door, she was greeted by her brother, looking rather travel weary, but happy.

"BRYCE!" Ivy shrieked when she finally saw him and threw herself at him.

His suitcase and carry-on were abandoned whilst he enveloped his younger sister in his arms and gave her what seemed like the world's longest hug. Eventually, he pulled away and held her at arms length; like a mother would a child, to look at her more closely.

"You've grown Iv. You look good. Happy." He smiled.

"You sounded just like Mum when you said I'd grown." Ivy laughed.

"Perks of being a parent now, I guess." He shrugged and chuckled.

"Please tell me you brought photos of Tyler and Emily for me to see!"

Bryce laughed at her eagerness. "I have. Lots. Are you gonna let me in or am I gonna have to sleep in the corridor tonight?"

"Oh, shit. Sorry. Yeah come in. You're actually my very first guest to stay in my spare room."

"Seriously? How long have you been living here now Iv?" Bryce questioned, wheeling his suitcase in through the door with his carry-on slung over his shoulder.

"Yeah. Well, you know me. The Ultimate Hermit." She led him down the corridor and to the door to his room.

"Here you go. There's clean towels in the bathroom. Oh and I hope 8 is good for dinner. I made a reservation downtown?"

"Yeah sounds perfect to me. I'm just gonna grab a quick shower and then we can chat."

"Sure. Would you like a coffee?"