relationship missions and surprises

Ch 1

"What am I going to tell Carlos?" My body shakes as I start to sob.

"Steph, I am so sorry" Celia comes over and wraps her arms around me and starts to croon to me in Spanish, just as her brother would. After a few minutes my tears slow down and my shaking seizes. "Steph, I think Tank and the others would like to see you if you're up for it. Would you like me to send them in?"

"Can you give me a few minutes first?"

"Sure, sweetie I'll give you a bit to get cleaned up. Just press the call button if you need anything

I carefully stand up and shuffle my way to the small bathroom attached to the private hospital room. I look up in the mirror and look into my own blue eyes and think how my life has changed in the last few months. First, I should introduce myself. My name is Stephanie Plum, and up to a few months ago I was working for my cousin Vinnie as a bounty hunter.

One day I brought in Richard Tavic, who had been wanted for drunk and disorderly conduct and assaulting another bar patron for making fun of his name. For the most part he was an easy bond; just don't call him rikki tikki tavi. There was no chasing or anything, he came quietly, the only thing was that his ferrets seemed to like my jewelry and they jumped on top of my head and ripped my necklace and bracelets off of me. So when I brought Richard to the police station, my hair looked like a rats nest and I had several small scratches on my face, neck and arms. Richard was really sorry, and kept apologizing to me. He even showed me the ferrets' shot records and gave me his vet's phone number so I wouldn't worry about rabbis or anything. So as I turned him in, I of course got a ribbing from the guys. That's when Joe Morelli my on again off again boyfriend came up and pulled me to the side. That's when he started to chastise me. "Why can't you do anything right cupcake, every time you come in here you embarrass me. Why don't you want to be a burg wife, why must you do this stupid job that you are totally unqualified for?" I sort of stopped listening, because I had heard this rant many times before, and I was sick and tired of it. "Stop Joe," I said quietly. "I'm not getting into this here. I'm going home and getting cleaned up. If you want to come over and talk to me without yelling then you're welcome, but if you're going to an ass you can stay away." And with that I turned on my heal and walked off, leaving a dumbfounded Morelli behind me.

I got home, fed Rex, my hamster, some cheerios, and hopped into the shower. After putting antiseptic on my scratches I flopped down onto the bed in my classic thinking position. I was thinking about Joe and our relationship and how totally fucked up it is, and what I was going to do about it. That's when I heard the knock on the door. I got up and checked the peephole and saw Joe standing on the other side with Pino's pizza in his hand. I cracked the door open and asked "is that suppose to be an apology?"

"No it's a peace offering. Can I come in cupcake? I promise not to be an ass."

I just open the door and let him in. We both plop onto the couch and eat the pizza in silence. "Joe what are we doing?" I ask

"Eating," he replies around a mouthful of pizza.

"I mean with our relationship. All we do is fight, makeup and fight again. I'm tired of it. We both want different things in life. We both deserve better than this."

"Shit, cupcake. I know your right, but I love you."

"I love you too Joe, but I don't think it's enough."

"So are we seriously breaking up, for good?" Joe asks looking at me with big brown eyes. My heart breaks a little at the look but I need to stick to my guns.

"It looks like it." I say, sniffing a little.

"I know we should breakup, we're not good for each other. All we ever do is fight. I've been thinking about this too, but I honestly can't see my life without you in it."

"I know. I can't see my life without you in it either but breaking up doesn't mean we have to cut each other out of our lives. I think we make better friends than boyfriend girlfriend."

"So this is really the end isn't it?" he asks. All I can do is nod as a few tears fall down my face. He grabs me into a big hug and rubs my back a bit. "Don't cry cupcake. I think your right; this is for the best, even if it does hurt." With that he gets up. I follow him to the door. "Joe I'm sorry I couldn't be what you wanted, but there's someone out there that is. It's just not me."

"Yeah, and there's someone out there for you too. Let me know if you need anything. Maybe we can catch a game together or something."

"Yea I'd like that, night Joe."

"Good night Steph." He said as he shut the door. That was the last time Joe came to my house as my boyfriend.