I do not own anything from Janet Evanovich
This Story is kinda a sequel to The Thin Line. This is Lester's view on watching Steph a woman that he loves and his best friend get closer and closer. There will be some long chapter and some short, some may be real short depending on what Lester gives me to work with lol.
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Taken from Chapter 10 of the Thin Line
I'm in love with my best friend's girl; actually I've been in love with her before she ever became his girl. I don't know how or when it started but he captured her heart instead of me. God I want her, it kills me to watch and see them interacting. I love her but I'll never come between them.
I had just got back from a call and was standing in the lobby of our building when Bobby stormed by. I followed him onto the elevator where he told me about Steph. He said as he left he heard her crying and hated to think that she was just sitting there crying her eyes out alone but that she had made it quite clear she didn't want him there. I knew this was hurting my friend. He loved Stephanie like all of us do and it hurts to think that she doesn't like one of us. Taking pity on my friend I volunteered to go over and see if she was all right.
"Why don't I go over there man? We are pretty tight" I said and saw Bobby thinking
"Would you? Even though we've been arguing lately I do care about her and hate to know I made her cry"
"Sure it's no problem, I'll go now" I said as the elevator came to rest on five. Bobby walked out and turned back to face me
"Thanks man" he said and with a nod of my head I hit G on the elevator key pad
When I pulled into Stephanie's lot I did the customary check just to make sure I looked all right, pleased with what I saw I jumped out of the truck and ran up to her floor. When I knocked no one came to the door, when I knocked a few more times I began to really worry. There was already this little since of urgency because Bobby was so worried that he had left her crying but when she didn't immediately come to the door my worry increased. Deciding on knocking one more time and then if she didn't come to the door, I was going to let myself in. Hearing the locks tumble the door opened revealing a haggard looking Steph.
"Hey Les" she said as she opened the door
"Hey Beautiful you all right?" I asked looking her up and down. Her eyes were red and swollen, her nose all red too, and her face was flushed.
"Yea I'm sick, why?"
"Bobby came back to RangMan and told me to come over said he left you crying"
"Why did he? Suddenly get a strike of conscience or send you over to spy?
Ouch! I don't know what happened between her and Bobby but she is ticked. I walked into her apartment and shut the door behind me; you could just feel the tension in the air. I need to do some serious damage control.
"Beautiful believe it or not he does care for you, we all do that's why I came right over" I told her wanting her to know that we love her and would drop everything to help her and spend time with her
"Why I'm fine Les, I'm sick with a sinus infection. I went to the doctors and got some stuff to take. I was sleeping when you came so really you wasted your time" she told me dismissively which hurt because I'd do anything for her
"Why where you crying?"
"I wasn't crying. I have a sinus infection, runny nose, watery eyes. Bobby just saw wrong and he's probably feeling guilty for throwing me under the bus"
"How so?" I asked very intrigued in what she was saying. Steph and Bobby had been going at it for a while now and I was eager to find out what this latest spat was about.
"He took me to see my doctor and when I was leaving, Bobby told about my foot"
"Good" I said laughing at Bobby high jacking her
"You can leave now" she said narrowing her eyes at me, her anger shooting towards me now
"Steph" I said calmly "you forget I was there when you fell and it wasn't pretty. Bobby being trained knew you needed help and can't understand why you keep refusing"
"I really thought it would get better. I really thought it was sprained" she said and I saw the tears start again
"Aww Steph it just been to long" I said coming up to her hugging her to me
As Stephanie laid her head onto my chest, I began rubbing calming circles on her back. God she felt so good in my arms. I knew this wasn't the time or the place to make a move on her with everything she's going thru, so I reigned in my hormones and began talking softly to her about how Bobby was really only trying to help her. She pulled back from me and then all the sudden wracking coughs started. When they finally died down for her, I grabbed some tissues and handed them to her for her runny nose.
"Thank you" she croaked out, clearing her throat, and sipping on a coke she had on her coffee table
"Man you really are sick" I tell her feeling bad for her
"Yea my face hurts, I can't hear out of one ear, and my God the coughing"
"I'll be right back" I said running out of her apartment leaving a confused Stephanie behind
As I stood there seeing how sick she really was an idea popped into my head. I raced down to my truck, peeled out of her parking lot, and drove over to the nearest drug store where I went crazy. I bought everything I thought of that would help Steph feel better. Paying for my purchases, I carted everything back up to Steph.
"Awww Les you didn't have to do this" She said after I sat down next to her and pulled everything I had bought out of the bag. When I was finished we looked over packs of cough drops, bottles of cough syrup, bags of vitamin C drops, and boxes of tissues
"I know but I care about you and I want to help, we all do" I told her hoping she would see I wasn't just saying it about her cold. I really do care about her a lot.
"Thank you Lester" she said leaning over and hugging me. When I placed my arms around her, I won't lie I closed my eyes and drank in the feel and smell of her
"Now you gonna tell me why you were really crying when Bobby left? I know you have a runny nose and all but Bobby was pretty adamant that you were crying and that I should come see about you" I asked quickly changing the subject since id gotten her trust back and before I did something I shouldn't.. Yet.
"I wasn't"
"Was it because you were mad at Bobby?"
"No"
"Your foot was in pain?"
"No"
"Steph" I said letting her know I wasn't going to give it up
"ALLRIGHT FINE, I was crying out in fear. I thought my foot was sprained. When Bobby told my doctor about it he told me it could have stress fractures. I never thought it could be that serious" she said looking off
"Steph it will be fine. What does he recommend?"
"To see a foot doctor. He gave me a number to call and to get Bobby off my back, I've called and made an appointment" she told me and I smirked at the battle of wills going on between Bobby and Steph
"Good, they'll know exactly how to help you"
"Yea"
While we were sitting there talking my phone rang. Grabbing it off my belt, I looked at the read out on the screen and saw that I had to take it. Telling Steph that I had to answer it I did and listened to the caller speak. Knowing what was coming, I sadly looked over at Steph, knowing that my time with her was coming to an end.
"Go I'm fine. I'm still tired so I'm just gonna rest" she tells me seeing in my face that I have to leave
I gave her a weak smile as I stood up. I watched as Steph lay out on the couch and popped a cough drop into her mouth. I took the blanket that was draped over the back of her couch and covered her up. Leaning down I softly kissed her forehead.
"Rest well Beautiful, I hope you feel better soon" I tell her as I pull back
"I will thanks for everything" she said smiling up at me, God those blue eyes.
"Anytime, call us if you need anything"
"Ok"
As I left and shut her door, I heard Steph click on her TV. Before I left to go back to work, I laid my back against her wall and pulled myself together. I'm in love with Stephanie Plum, I want her more than any other woman I've ever been with, and I know right now she isn't attached to anyone. Maybe when she's feeling better and her foot gets well ill make my move and we can start going out.