"But what did you do, Steve? Did you take me aside and tell me what an ass I was? Did you chew me out like Lisa did? No! You got all moody and sent me a silent message with your absence at dinner, and I was so giddy I pretty much missed it. As my boyfriend, I expect you to call me out when I'm being foolish. You can't let me embarrass myself without trying to stop me. It's your duty to set me straight. If I don't listen and we argue, you have to be as hard on me as you deem necessary, but you also have to always be able to forgive me. You know I'll be all over you if you do something stupid, or hurtful. I want you to love me enough to be hard on me at times, like Lisa and Charlotte were. Does that make sense to you?""Yes, when you put it that way. I'm new to all of this, and I see that I'm not very good at a lot of it. I was sulking, I guess. You hurt my feelings by going on and on about Nick Fallen, so I decided to hurt yours by not showing up for dinner and not taking you out tonig

"I've had a few calls, but, to be honest, I'm waiting to see if I can get into the Naval Academy. My father and my grandfather were in the Navy. I plan on following the family tradition. I'd love to do it as an officer if I could.""But you could get a scholarship to a good university. There's no need to risk your life in the service, or waste four years on a boat," argued Gwen. "Maybe you could go to Stanford with me! Wouldn't that be better than the Navy?""I don't feel that my father wasted his life; nor did my grandfather. The Navy's in my blood and I've already decided to join. You've planned on going to Stanford and being a doctor for a long time. It's your dream and your future. I respect that decision and I would hope that you'd respect mine and be as pleased for me as I am for you," reasoned Steve."But I'm going to be saving lives, and I won't be putting myself in danger. You'll be in danger and possibly taking lives. Don't you think that my goals are more practical?" demand

"I'll never let you go!" insisted Steve as he pulled Gwen into his arms and kissed her gently on the lips as she wrapped her arms around his neck."I don't know what the problem was," reported Kate to the family as she hurried back into the room and took her seat. "But Gwen seems to have found the cure for whatever it was. They'll be in pretty soon. We still have to give Uncle Joe his gift!"Gwen led Steve back into the room and made him sit back down on the sofa. Then she sat next to him and smiled. "We're fine now. Let's give Uncle Joe his gift and then eat dinner!"After dinner, there was a constant parade of family and friends stopping in to visit the Andersons. Gwen grandparents along with Diane's family arrived in the afternoon. Steve was once again sitting on the couch holding Gwen's hand when Stephanie came into the room. She looked at Gwen questioningly and Gwen nodded. Smiling, Stephanie dropped into Steve's lap and hugged him."I have something for you, Steve. It isn't much

"Stephanie, I see why you're always talking about Steve," laughed Jade. "He really does treat a girl right. I hope his manners rub off on these other two."Once everyone had their food, Steve moved to the next part of his plan. "Steph, these two clods want to learn how to dance like we do. Do you think you're mom could work them into her schedule. The other problem they have is that they're socially dysfunctional and can't find any girls to partner with them when they learn. I was thinking as a Christmas gift to them, I'd hire you and Jade to work as their dance partners while they learned."I know it doesn't sound very appealing. These guys are pretty good on the gridiron, but are about as graceful as a couple of bulls in a china shop. How much would you need to subject yourselves to the misery of dancing with these two left-footed freaks?"Tyler and Jared both showed their surprise at Steve's request. Their jaws dropped and eyes seemed to bulge. Stephanie and Jade swung their attent

When school resumed after New Year's, Ashley Summers asked Steve to follow her into the empty hallway at the beginning of her class. "My friend that goes to the gym where I met Larry called me yesterday. She told me that she heard that he had an accident. He fell down the stairs on New Year's Eve and broke his left arm, a couple ribs, and his nose!""Gee, that's too bad," replied Steve in a noncommittal tone. "Maybe he had too much to drink.""Steve! You know damn well that jerk didn't fall down any stairs. He fell into your disfavor when he struck me. The guy was as strong as an ox and look what happened to him. Please don't make a habit of it, but thanks for worrying about me, and for getting him away from me. I doubt he'll be coming back around anytime soon. You're an amazing young man. I hope you don't get into any trouble over this. You make me wish I was eight years younger and as pretty as Gwen. Thanks!""Ms. Summers, The guy's telling people that he fell down the stairs. How w