The ladies pouted as they were looking forward to riding back with him... and perhaps having a little fun with him when they got home. He caught the look in their roaming eyes. He moved forward and gave them hugs.

When he pulled back, Charlize was looking at him nervously. "That- that felt like goodbye."

He gave them a sad smile. "I think it is. I won't be going back to Santa Barbara."

"What?" Phoebe gasped but Monique held his eyes then nodded faintly. Once more, Kyle found her to be a remarkably perceptive woman.

"Fiona needs to move on and... so do I," he finished. "I'm grounded until the...