Not mine all belong to JE except Christy and mistakes.

Starting Over After Failure

Chapter 1

He rolled out of the bed, untied her wrist and ankles from the head and foot boards and then walked over to grab his pants. "Thanks for the fuck," he said.

"Look me up if you want another round sometime," she says back to him while still in the bed.

"Sorry, this was a one time only event. I will be moving on from you," he said coldly, finished dressing, grabbed the used condoms and left the hotel room.

A few nights later at a different cheap hotel room, a scene and conversation similar happened. "Thanks for the ride," he told her.

"Let's hook up again sometime," she replied to him.

"Nope, not going to happen," he returned while gathering the used condoms after he had dressed, then walked out the door without so much as a backwards glance.

The next day at Rangeman, Tank asked Ranger to go to lunch. "Sure, where are we going?" Ranger asked.

"Shorty's. We need to talk away from here," Tank answered.

They went down the stairs to the garage, then got in Tank's F-150. Once they left the garage, Tank asked Ranger how he was doing. "I am dealing," Ranger came back.

"Well the guys and I think you look like hell. When was the last time you had a decent nights sleep?" Tank questioned.

Ranger replied, "Not since she left."

"Why don't you go get her?" Tank asked.

"She does not want me. She changed teams," Ranger told him.

**Flashback 6 months earlier**

"Ranger we need to talk," Stephanie said to him.

"Sure we will talk after we finish," Ranger answered. He finished wiring her up for tonight's distraction, he did not care if they talked or not. All he wanted was between her legs and finish with her wrapped in his arms for the night. It has been two months since they were together last. The cop was away so she was not with him.

They finished the distraction, with the FTA on his way to the cop shop. Tank and Manny were delivering him, while Ranger guided his Babe to the Turbo. He removed her mic and made sure it was off, then he tried to pull her in for a kiss. She resisted him.

"Babe, what is wrong? I know the cop is not around," he said.

"Remember a couple months ago after the last distraction we had that huge fight?" He nodded and gestured for her to continue. "I stayed at that club for a while. I met someone." He went to speak. She motioned for him to stop. "I have already told Joe, now I am telling you," she continued.

"Who is he?" Ranger asked through gritted teeth.

"Not a he, they are a she. Her name is Kayla. I got a little drunk that night. I went home with her and then spent the next two days with her. It has been incredible. She is who I have been looking for. I told you before, in college I experimented with my sexuality. Now, I am trying again. Ranger, I have drawn to the conclusion I might enjoy being bi-sexual. She has brought out feelings in me that I have not had in a long time, it is refreshing at this point."

Ranger did not say anything, he could not at the moment. He got out of the car, rubbed his face with his hands and then ran his fingers through his long black hair. There were several thoughts that went through his mind. He had loved her like no other woman in his life. She was the only woman he had ever let in. Surely, this is some kind of sick joke. She could not be serious, could she? How could he compete with another and not a man but a woman? Really, how could this have happened to him? I will not be able to go on, I cannot breathe without her, she is my world. He was not mad, he was furious and crushed above that. He was mad at himself, that he never pushed himself to have a relationship with her. Eventually after he calmed down and got himself under control he got back in the car he asked, "Do you love her?"

"I do not just love her, but I am in love with her. I always thought I was in love with you, until I met her. Now I have come to realize like with Joe, I loved you, but I was not in love with you. My relationship with Joe was never going to go anywhere. He wanted me to be someone I am never going to be. In effect, he would be clipping my wings. The relationship I have with you has always been qualified by you. I felt you never really wanted to put yourself out there and try to see where it goes, and I am okay with that. Ranger, you are my mentor and best friend. A part of me will always love you," she said.

"Let me take you home, and I will be leaving Trenton," he told her.

"If it is because of what I have told you, don't. We are moving to California. I can live my life without the burg gossip and my mother's interference. We will be leaving this weekend on Sunday. Ranger, please be happy for me. I finally know what and who I want. You know with my decision I can fly but I cannot do that and stay here," she said and handed him his trackers and fob. "Thank you for everything you've done for me."

"Babe, I will miss you and the guys will miss you," he replied.

They pulled in her parking lot. He walked her to the door. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him goodbye. There was no passion from her. He understood, she was no longer his Babe.

**End Flashback and return to present day**

"What do you mean she changed teams?" Tank asked.

Ranger told him what had happened six months earlier. "When she kissed me bye that night, it was bye. She did not leave me with a hard-on like I normally get from her."

Tank asked him, "What have you been doing to deal with it, and don't bother with lying to me. I already know which cheap hotels your truck has been parked at."

Ranger admitted to having several one night stands. Tank was pissed at Ranger's behavior. The waitress came to bring the food they had ordered. Tank barked at Ranger to finish once the waitress had left.

Ranger was pissed that Tank was judging him, so he decided to answer him rather crudely. "At least when I am balls deep in a woman, I do not think about Stephanie. I can fuck her out of my mind for a bit. Maybe someday she will be gone for good."

Tank shook is head. "So you are basically substituting alcohol with sex. Man, take a few days off. Clear your head. You have some client meetings coming up next week along with some new client meetings. One on Monday and two on Wednesday. Get your act together, we deserve to have a leader that is focused."

Realistically he knew Tank was right even if it pissed him off. The men deserved a leader that was focused and not acting reckless, his company deserved that same consideration. Everybody had busted their asses to build that company and it should not be compromised by his actions. He thought about going to Miami, he could see Julie. They finished eating lunch, then Ranger looked at Tank and said, "Okay, put me offline until Monday."

When they went to pay their bill, there was a blonde woman about five foot four inches picking up a to go order. Ranger eyeballed the woman, could be tonight's lay he thought.