Waiting for Change
Part 10
Disclaimer – I own nothing, I make nothing. I write for fun and unfortunately not profit. All recognizable characters belong to JE and not me. I think I would do more with Ranger and Tank if they did.
I felt like I was a teenage sneaking out of my house. I just didn't want to deal with any of those where, why, with who and how long questions I would get if anyone found out I was going to Philadelphia. Ranger called and said he needed my help, so of course I dropped what I did and went. How many times has he done that for me? I never once thought what I could be pulling him away from with my emergencies, so it is only fair that I do the same.
Joe would have a field day with this, Ranger calls and Stephanie goes running. I completely understand his jealousy and hostility towards Ranger and the entire relationship. I feel a similar way about Terri, but it never once stopped me from going. What does that say about my feelings? I say one thing and feel something complete different. There are days where I feel horrible, I am using Joe in every way and cannot seem to stop. I kiss Ranger, I day dream about Ranger and then find Joe and screw his brains out. I wonder what Joe would say if he knew that I am getting off pretending he is another man. No, I take that back, I don't want to know. His ego couldn't take it. And again, I don't blame him. I would be pissed, but that is who I am lately.
I have all of the songs Ranger has sent me burned on a CD that I can play in the 2003 Saturn I am driving these days. Surprised isn't even close to how I felt when I figured out he sings and plays guitar like a pro. I found myself searching for meaning behind every song he sings. I am reaching for sure, but I was hoping that he was trying to tell me 'something'. I think he is just sending me songs he likes, or he thinks I would like. Hearing his voice touches my heart in ways he would never want to consider. And turns me on in ways I would be embarrassed to tell him about.
The songs changes to "Sweet Child O' Mine" by Guns n Roses, and it makes me smile. We had a conversation the night before where he told me that he was a complete head banger with the long hair and bandanna for a while in high school. Thinking he was as bad ass as Slash, in his GNR t-shirt, smoking across the street from school. I couldn't see it, but then I could. I love that he is sharing more with me.
I turn the radio down so I can hear the GPS. It takes me down several side streets until I pull up to an apartment complex. A very nice apartment complex, but very residential, it out prices anything I could afford. But very below what I knew Ranger could afford. I expect that he isn't driving the Turbo; it would stick out like a sore thumb.
I park in the visitors parking and make my way to the apartment on the 6th floor. I just assumed that room 604 would be the penthouse, but this place has 16 floors. He keeps throwing me off. When he opens the door, I brace myself against the door jam. He looks so different. If I wasn't looking for him, I would pass him on the street and not recognize him.
His hair was does in thick waves. I never realized it was so wavy. It was always pulled back in some way, which probably straightened it out some. The beard that he is wearing suits him so much, it wasn't a long grandpa beard, it was a neat trimmed beard, that was so sexy, it was making me reconsider my stance on facial hair.
What threw me off the most were his clothes, grey sweats and a white wife beater. Not a stitch of black to be found, and his feet were bare. His feet, I slowly look up and meet his eyes. He is smirking at me a little because I think he followed where my brain was taking me.
"Hi! I am Rico, Rico Mann."
Okay, he is going by an alias, I can go with this. He didn't say I needed to, but should I? No, he would have told me if I needed to.
"Hi! I am Steph."
And he turns and we walk inside.
He sits me down at a plain oak table that is beside a couple of really nice looking guitars and a laptop. He starts to explain to me that he has a show at a club to do in a little over a week and he needs my help with clothes.
Clothes? I think he always looks fabulous. The rest of the band has mentioned that he doesn't look modern on more than one occasion. I can help him with that. Something more modern and stylish, but still Ranger… or Rico as he is going by here. I first need to know what he is working with. We walk thru the apartment, not much to see it has nice furniture, but nothing special. But the bedroom has a closet so large; I would give my first born for it. Looking thru his clothes, I see what they mean. A lot of flannel shirts and jeans, it is very 90s. I think he just goes back to whatever he wore before he started wearing army fatigues or all black.
He sits in the chair and watches me without saying anything.
"Okay, we can go now; I have an idea on where you are stuck."
"No, not yet."
Huh? He stands up and sits back down.
"Before we shop, I would like to take you to dinner."
"Sure, we can grab something at the mall."
"No, I mean I want to take you out, to dinner. I want to take you on a date."
He is asking me out on a date? He couldn't have told me this before I arrived. I don't have any clothes, not date clothes. I have another change of clothes because you never know with me. But I don't have any date clothes.
"Babe, don't worry about what you are wearing, we can go to a casual dinner, go shopping and then I can show you to the club. You are fine for what we are doing. Our second date can be more formal, with you in some sexy heels."
He is already saying there will be a second date? Dating? Are going to be dating?
Don't we need to talk about this first? Joe and I are on right now. We need to be clear on what this means? Does it mean anything? I can't… He doesn't really want to… I really want to.
And then he grabs my hand and everything else I was worried about, slips away.
A/N: Hi! I am back. School has started and I have a portion of my life back. Thanks for everyone who is being patient with me. I love this story. I really think I do. I hope everyone else does also.
Any reviews are good reviews!
