You Are My Life

Chapter 2

An hour later, Bryan walked into baggage claim. He fixed his jacket and pulled his cap down. He started looking around. Joe's friend should've arrived by now. The baggage claim was packed. Families hugging, couples kissing. He leaned against a wall, Joe's friend is supposed to recognize him; he'll just stay out of the way.

"Bryan?" He heard a familiar voice behind him. He turned around and stared into those blue eyes that hunt his dreams.

"Chr...Chris! What are you doing here? In Chicago?" He asked, looking around.

"I came to see my brother. He's supposed to be picking me up. Is he with you by any chance?"

"Um, no." He said, realizing what just happened. "I think I'm the one that's picking you up? So, it's that all?" He said pointing to her suitcase and picking it up.

"He sent you to pick me up? He couldn't send Bast or Davy?"

"No, you're stuck with me." He said as he walked outside the airport.

Chris led out a breath and followed Bryan out.

Bryan Blackenship. It's been three years since she last saw him. He looked better than ever. But no, she couldn't think about him like that. She hated him. He broke her heart three years ago. Why would her brother send him to pick her up? He stopped in front of a black Jeep and opened the door for her. They stared at each other for what seemed minutes. He cleared his throat. "You hungry?"

"Yes, a little bit."

"Alright, we'll go by David's place. Just get in the car, I'm going to make a quick call, and then we'll go." He closed the door after her. He walked to the back of the car and called Joe.

"Hello?" Joe answered.

"Really, Joe? A friend?"

"If I told you it was my sister would you have done me the favor? What happened between you two? You guys were so close."

"Nothing, Joe. Nothing happened. You owe me, big." Bryan said, hanging up and getting in the car. "So, how have you been?" He asked, pulling out of the parking lot.

"We don't have to do the small talk, Bryan." She said putting on headphones.

They drove in silence to Martens, one of David's restaurants. He had called David and Sebastien already so they would meet them. When they got there he walked to her side to open the door, but she had already opened it and walked away. The guys were waiting outside and she ran towards their arms.

Bryan's heart sank a little seeing her hugging them, seeing her smiling at them not at him. He couldn't blame her. He's the one that left with no explanation.

He greeted the guys as they walked inside. She quickly sat down next to Sebastien leaving a seat empty in front of her. "So, Chris, what's new?" David asked.

"Well, I'm moving here to go to school. Joey said I could move with him."

"Move in with Joe? At his place?" Sebastien asked, looking at Bryan.

"Yes, that's the plan. He said he spends most of the time at his girlfriend's place, so I'll basically have the place for myself."

"But it's Bry..." David started saying while Sebastien kicked him under the table.

Chris looked between them in suspicion. "Am I missing something?" She asked as the waitress came to take their order.

The three of them talked and joked about old times while Bryan just stared at her. He missed her so much. She had changed, she grew up. Her black long hair shines under the light. Her blue eyes sparkled while she laughed. Her skin looked so soft, he just wanted to reach out and stroke her cheek.

"Black!" He snapped to reality as Sebastien called to him. "What do you think of a little party tonight at the apartment?"

"Sure, why not?" He answered.

"He doesn't need to come. I'm sure he has other things to do." Chris said as they were getting ready to go. "You know what? Why don't one of you guys take me to Joey's place? That way Bryan can go on with his day."

"No, Joe put me in charge of you, so you're stuck with me. See you later guys." Bryan said, grabbing her arm and pulling her towards the car. They got in the car and he turned towards her. "Chris, we need to talk." He said while she looked at him putting her headphones on and mouthing no. They drove in silence again. As he drove through the underground parking, he stopped at the gate. "Patrick, this is Chris Grecco, Joseph's sister. She'll be staying here for a while."

"Yes, Mr. Blackenship. Welcome, Ms. Grecco." Said the short old man tipping his cap to her.

Bryan parked the car in the assigned parking space and got Chris' suitcase before opening the door for her. They got in the elevator and stopped at the lobby. He walked over to the desk and she followed confused. "Mr. Blackenship." Greeted a young girl behind the desk. "How can I help you this evening?"

"Hi, Marilyn. This is Chris Grecco. She's going to be staying for a while. So I'm going to need some extra keys for her."

"Of course, Mr. Blackenship. I'll get to it right away." She started typing on the computer and scanning keys. "Here you go, Ms. Grecco." Said Marilyn, giving her three magnetic keys. "Here's the one for the elevator, this one for the apartment door, and this last one would be for the gym and the pool, which are on this floor at the end."

"Thank you." Said Chris, grabbing the keys. "So, they are like hotel's keys?"

"Yes, just like that. Just slide them over the keypad and the doors will open." Said Marilyn. "You guys have a nice evening."

They got back to the elevator and rode it to the last floor. They got out in a long hallway with just two doors on each side of the hallway. "There are only two apartments on this floor. Ours will be here on the right. You can go ahead and try the key." He said waiting for her.

She slid the key and the door opened; she pushed the door as Bryan went to the wall and typed a code on the alarms system. "Well, thank you for the ride Bryan. I got it from here." She said holding the door
open for him.

He pushed the door closed and kept walking into the apartment with her suitcase. "Let me show you around. Here's the living room." He said pointing to a large living space, with floor to ceiling glass windows. "The kitchen and dining room are through that door. Up the stairs are Joe's room and the bar. Here to your right would be your room." He said walking into the room. "This door leads to the balcony that goes around the entire apartment and through those doors you have your walking closet and bathroom. You can go ahead and rest or freshen up. The guys will be here in like two hours. I'll be in my study if you need anything." He walked out without letting her speak and slammed the door behind him.

His study? Ugh, I hate him so much. Oh, but I still love him. She stomped her foot and threw herself on the bed in frustration. She closed her eyes and thought about that night three years ago, Bryan on top of her, kissing her neck, with his hands under her shirt. Telling each other how much they loved each other.