Got some Bvlgari au the vert bath products in my stocking! Its giving me some inspirations so I'm hoping to cruise through the next few chapters.
Happy Holidays everyone!
None of the characters are mine.
Chapter 9
9 months since Ranger left.
Today was a bad day.
Turns out my stalker was a guy named Rogers. He's the one who burned down my apartment all those months ago. My car lasted me this long, which is pretty amazing. Although, I have been living and working at Rangeman so it barely left the underground garage. I made the mistake of going to visit Connie and Lula. I don't talk to them much. I don't know what to say to them. The guys know better than to ask questions. Plus the girls are constantly digging for more food for the rumor mill. I guess I've been avoiding them lately. I picked up meatball subs from Pino's and went over to the bonds office to visit. Its been a few months since I've made it over there but I still love my girls.
He waited until I was finished with lunch. I was walking out of the bonds office and I spotted him across the street with what looked like a cell phone in his hand. He's supposed to be in jail, or so I thought. I stood there staring at him.
"Did you forget about me Miss Plum? I thought your apartment was a memorable parting gift."
"I remember you. You're supposed to be in prison."
"Released for good behavior."
No wonder I've had six months without incident. He was incarcerated. Of course that thought didn't occur to me until after my car had exploded. Glass flew everywhere and the whole place smelled like burning leather. Most of the time my exploding cars smell like bad upholstery, but not when I kill a Rangeman car. Ok so this wasn't really a Rangeman car, this was my car that Ranger bought me. And with that thought, the tears begin. I look around for Rogers but he's long gone.
The girls came flying out of the office with awestruck looks on their faces. Within two minutes, before the fire department could even arrive, they've recovered from their amazement and have got their cell phones out and they're calling everyone they know. Maybe I won't be coming back here again anytime soon.
The fire trucks roll up and are followed closely by a black SUV. The cops follow behind my boys. They don't know that I call them that and I plan to keep it that way. I'm still sitting on the curb across from my mess of a Mercedes crying. So far no one cares to check on me, only to gawk at the car.
"You ok Bombshell?" Bobby says walking up to me. I nod my head.
"Are you hurt at all?"
I know he means physically so I shake my head. Words are still failing me at the moment and I don't want my quiet tears to turn into sobs on the street in front of the Burg.
"Hey Beautiful." Lester says sitting down next to me. He puts his arm around me and puts my head on his shoulder. It helps; my breathing slowly evens out and the sobs I thought would explode if I spoke start to slowly die away so my chest is now only slightly constricted.
"I think it was a record." I say still staring at the car.
"I think so too." Lester says rubbing my arm. "Ranger would be proud of you."
This makes me smile for a second until I remember that this was a gift from him that I have destroyed. The tears pick back up and my voice catches when I try to answer.
"Shit, I'm sorry Beautiful. I meant that in a good way."
"I know Lester, but he bought me that car. It was a gift and no other car will ever have that title."
I sit silently for a little while until I realize what I've just said. "Fuck. No. He can buy me a replacement when he gets home. I just have to find something to use until then. Maybe he and I can go car shopping together."
Bobby and Lester look at each other but say nothing. I don't care if I lost faith for a moment; I know he's coming home. I don't need a car to remind me that he loves me until he gets back.
"He's coming home." I say as I stand up. They don't argue. They know it would be pointless.
Tank walks up to me and asks the all important question, "Who?"
"Rogers. Out on good behavior."
"This will revoke his parole. We'll send a team for him today. You want in Bombshell?"
"Not today. I think I need some down time after this. Can I go home now?"
"Bobby, Lester. I'll stay and deal with the cops." Tank says.
I walk over and give him a quick hug before heading for the Rangeman SUV.
The ride back to Haywood is silent and I keep thinking about what brought out my moment of weakness. I have had moments of doubt before now. Its been a long time since we've heard from Ranger. But I have never spoken those doubts out loud to another person. Most people are losing faith on their own and I refuse to encourage that. When we get back to the garage I turn to Lester and Bobby.
"Please don't tell people what I said. I have faith in Ranger and I don't want anyone to doubt that. I don't know why that slipped out but it was a mistake. Keep it to yourselves?"
"Sure thing."
"Ok, Beautiful. You want some company on 7?"
"No thanks Les, I have a lot of thinking to do today."
I walk upstairs and check my phone as I put it on the counter. 26 missed calls and 8 voicemails. Clearly most of them were looking to confirm details and not actually talk to me. My worst fears confirmed. I don't think I want to spend time with Connie and Lula for a while. They just like the gossip and they like that I put them in the middle. Maybe when Ranger gets home I'll have the strength to go back. Right now it takes all the energy I have to keep it together. I have a pretty good handle on the panic attacks and I have been working my regular hours without hiding in bed.
Maybe I should just stay here for a while. I take a shower before facing the Burg via phone. It will give me strength. The shower gel always makes me feel like some of Ranger's potency has seeped in through my skin. Today I need the extra courage. As I stand in the shower thinking of the shower gel I remember the car. It had been another link I held onto. It was another connection to Ranger.
I was going to have to come up with something to replace the car. My late night drives around the city confused most people but just driving the car he chose for me and smelling the leather of the expensive cars that he prefers made feel close to him. It was like meditation time. Maybe I could try running. I'm not into exercise and I don't like it but it was when Ranger said he did his best thinking. I could do it on my own without telling the boys so I could run at my own pace for however long I wanted. Maybe by the time Ranger gets home I'll be able to keep up…..
