Disclaimer: JE owns the characters.
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"Everything. No more secrets. No more masks. A ring."
Holy shit! Smart Stephanie screamed. A RING!
I silently stared at Ranger trying to process what he had just said to me. A RING! Did he really just say that? A picture of a little boy flashed into my head. He looked just like Ranger. I had never been able to picture a kid with Joe. The fact that I could with Ranger said something.
Ranger sat quietly in front of me. He wasn't waiting. Just watching. He had infinite patience when it came to me. I envied that about him. He had the control that I seriously lacked. He had all of the qualities that I wanted. Including the mask.
I watched as he reached into his pocket and pull out a little black box. He sat it on the bed between us. He knew that the curiosity would eventually get to me.
After about five minute of a staring contest with Ranger, I caved. I slowly looked down at the box. It was the standard small, black box that you would get from any jewelry store.
It's just a box. Who knows. Maybe it's just earrings. Smart Stephanie said.
Have you lost it? Stupid Stephanie asked. That is soooooo a ring box.
I reached down and picked up the box. I looked back up into Ranger's eyes. He had a smile on his face, but his eyes looked nervous. I kept eye contact as I opened the box. I really wanted to look down at it, but I couldn't. After what seemed like an hour, I snapped the box shut with out looking down.
"I need time," I said as I handed the box to Ranger.
"I know," Ranger said quietly as he took the box out of my hand. "This is going to kill you later."
"I'm sure that it will. I'll just have to live with the fact that I'm going to have to wait to see what that ring looks like."
"You'll have to wait?" Ranger asked as confusion slipped into his eyes.
"I need a little bit of time before I can say 'yes'."
I watched as Ranger's eyes turned to a dark brown that was almost black as the words that I had just spoken registered in his brain. A smile was tugging at the corners of his lips. I put my hand up as he started to shift towards me.
"I'm still hurt, Ranger," I said.
"I can be gentle," Ranger said softly. His voice was low and seductive.
"There isn't a doubt in my mind that you can be. But, I'm not talking about my physical injuries. I have to heal emotionally before I can be with you," I said as I climbed off the bed. "Go back to Miami and finish your business."
Ranger sat on the bed and stared at me. He had a hurt look in his eyes. The new open Ranger was definitely different. A little spooky, too. No masks. Hmmmm.
"You want me to leave?" Ranger asked.
"Not want. Need. I can't heal with you here. I'll just end up running up here before I'm ready. Junior said that you had about a week left in Miami. Go back and finish your deal," I said as I smoothed away the frown lines that had formed on Ranger's forehead. "Then come home."
Ranger flew off the bed and wrapped me in his arms. He had touched my left shoulder and I winced. He immediately dropped his arms and stepped back. I smiled at him and pulled him back. I placed his arms around my lower back and put my arms around his neck. I pulled him close and nuzzled into his neck. I heard Ranger sigh as he tightened his grip.
"Did I hurt you?" He whispered in my ear.
"No."
"Liar," Ranger said with a laugh as he kissed the top of my shoulder.
"No. You aggravated a previously acquired injury."
"Hmmmm."
"Hmmmm."
"Will you stay with me tonight?" Ranger asked.
"I can't," I whispered. I felt regret stab me in the chest as I moved out of his arms. I smiled at him as a tear slipped out and rolled down my cheek.
"It's okay," Ranger said as he reached up and wiped the tear away with his thumb.
I turned my face into his palm and kissed it. This is hard. I don't want to leave. But, I can't stay. This sucks. I looked into his eyes one more time and then turned away and left the bedroom. I walked out of the apartment and into the elevator. I saw Ranger open his door as the elevator doors closed. I instantly hated myself for walking out of the apartment.
I rode down to the fourth floor and walked down the hall towards my apartment. The door was still wide open and I could hear the guys laughing inside. I walked in and everyone fell silent. I went to the kitchen and popped another pain pill. I chased it with a beer. I turned around and leaned my right hip against the counter and looked at the guys.
"What in the hell are you doing?" Binkie asked.
"I'm leaning against the counter and drinking a beer," I said as I lifted the Corona in my hand.
"Steph," Lester said. "What are you doing down here?"
"Did someone else move in while I was upstairs?" I asked as I looked at Lester.
"Why aren't you up stairs banging Ranger?" Junior asked.
I took another swig of my beer and stared at Junior. The Merry Men are confused. They usually always knew what was up. I smiled at Junior as I tipped my bottle upside down and drained my beer. I threw the empty bottle in the trash can under the sink.
"Steph?" Cal said.
"I need time," I said with a shrug.
"Time?" Tank said from the doorway. He had is angry face on. "What in the hell is that suppose to mean?"
I looked at the large black man that stood in my doorway. I've known Tank for several years and he doesn't scare me anymore. He lost his scare appeal when I saw him giving Lula kissy faces about two months ago. I smiled at Tank as the image of his kissy face flashed into my mind. The smile turned into a laugh and I could see Tank look at the other guys in confusion. I looked at Binkie who just shrugged at Tank's silent question. That made me fall to the floor laughing.
Tank pulled me up to my feet once I was able to gain control. I was still giggling a little as he walked me over to the couch. I sat down between Binkie and Junior. They both gave me a look that told me that they thought I had lost my mind.
"I'm not crazy," I said to Junior.
"I think that you've totally lost it, Bomber. What do you need time for?" Junior asked.
"I just need a little bit of time to regroup," I said with a shrug.
"How does Ranger feel about you needing time to regroup?" Cal asked.
"Babe."
I looked over and saw Ranger standing behind Tank. I was glad that there were other people in the room. The anger that was lingering in his eyes was very evident. To everyone. Ranger is a very private person and I'm pretty sure that he wasn't impressed with the fact that we were all sitting there talking about what was going on.
"Don't be mad at me," I warned. "Your Merry Men are the ones that are interrogating me. Be mad at them."
This got me a glare from Hal, Cal, and Tank. Lester just smiled and shook his head.
Junior leaned over and whispered, "Sell out."
"I just wanted you to know that I was heading out," Ranger said to me.
"Call me when you land," I said from my seat on the couch. There was no way that I could go to him. I probably wouldn't let him leave.
Ranger flashed me a 200 watt smile and walked away. He knew what I was thinking. Damn him! This ESP thing was really starting to bug me. I seriously need to see if I can get to the bottom of this.
"Where is he going?" Lester asked Tank.
"Miami," I said.
