Disclaimer: Not mine
Notes: It's about to get FUN! Enter the Man in Black!
Muhahahahaha!
Chapter Twelve
The doorbell rang downstairs at five minutes to six.
Prompt. My mother would be thrilled. I felt less so. I sighed heavily and swiped one more coat of mascara onto my lashes before staring myself down in the mirror with a frown.
"What the Hell," I told my reflection. "It's just dinner." It wasn't like I was marrying the guy right? I'd just make polite small talk for the next possibly painful two hours at most and then I'd be home and my mother had promised me under threat of death to never set me up like this again.
I doubted it would last that long, but I'd take any reprieve I could get.
"Stephanie! Alex is here!" My mother's voice called up the stairs. She actually sounded a little nervous, like maybe she thought I'd crawled out the bathroom window and dropped off the porch roof into the backyard. I thought about it, but the last time I did that I was 14, and I'd twisted my ankle and ripped the back pocket out of my jeans exposing my flowered underpants. Since I was in a skirt now the idea was even less appealing.
I rolled my eyes when she called me a second time.
Might as well get this over with I huffed blowing my bangs up. I hadn't gone all out—I hadn't even taken a shower, just changed clothes, refreshed my makeup and mostly spent the last thirty minutes alternating between making annoyed faces at myself in the mirror over the bathroom sink and trying to fain an interested face appropriate for being small talked to death.
Here goes nothing.
I tromped down the stairs with trying not to look like a sullen teenager being forced into an awkward family function. My Mother was sitting on the couch next to the blonde head of the guy I assumed was Alex. The back of my father's head was in his chair, football was on and he appeared to be pointedly ignoring us all. After his earlier outburst though I wasn't sure that was the case.
My mother must have heard me, or it was the patented Mom Radar she usually uses to tell when offspring are returning to the nest—either way she jumped up and smiled at me, it looked a little forced. Guess she was worried how I was going to react after our blow up earlier.
"Stephanie! You look very nice!"
I paused on the bottom step lips pursed. I couldn't tell if she was being serious or not. I think maybe spending time with Tamsin was starting to rub off on me.
Alex had risen when my mother had and offered me a timid smile from across the room. "It's nice to see you again finally! You do look very nice." He looked normal enough. He was dressed in nice khaki pants that were pressed to a fine straight seam down each leg, a collared button up short sleeve shirt in a pale light green toped it, the shirt contrasted nicely with his dark blue eyes and surfer boy good looks.
Not bad. I could see how Lula had come up with the Moniker Mr. McDreamy.
My mother beamed so hard I thought her face might crack. I took a deep breath and bit my tongue to keep from rolling my eyes.
"Thank you, Shall we?" I moved towards the door eager to get out of the house and get this over with, probably not a fair sentiment to go with but I just wasn't in the mood to deal with this really, not after the last few days.
Alex followed me out and had to jog ahead of me to open the passenger side door of his car—a nice size four door foreign car. I didn't look at the emblem, or recognize the model. I didn't pay much attention to cars though it was rarely worth it—most of mine blew up or got trashed before the six month mark. The only car I ever paid serious attention to was a black Porsche 911 and that was simply because of who was IN it.
Alex circled the car after shutting my door, waved to my mother who was on the porch to see us off and then he slid in behind the wheel closing his door. "Stephanie,"
"Alex."
He blew out a breath. "This is awkward. Do you even remember me?"
I bit my lip and slowly shook my head no.
"So you don't remember offering to have my babies?"
"WHAT?!" I shrieked.
Alex winked at me and a slow grin spread across his face he started laughing after a moment.
"You're kidding," I said staring at him fighting a grin myself feeling some of the tension slide out of my shoulders.
He showed me his palms and gave me a grin that was certainly disarming. "On second thought, it may have actually been your friend Lula. She was very forward. I was a little afraid for my life."
"She usually is." I grinned shaking my head.
He sobered then and offered me his hand over the center consol. "In that case, Hi; I'm Alex, Alex Murphy,"
I shook his hand. "Stephanie Plum."
"Nice to meet you Stephanie," He grinned, "again. I was wondering If you would join me for Dinner?"
"Sure, I could do that."
"really?" He winked.
"Well, I'm already in the car." I pointed out with a wave of my hand.
"Yes, and if we sit here any longer I think your neighbor might call the cops."
I turned my head in time to see the curtains swing shut and groaned.
"It's like a Leave it to Beaver neighborhood." Alex said staring at the subtlety shifting window curtains again. "I can see why you left,"
"You have no idea," I agreed rolling my eyes.
"So, Italian?" Alex offered.
"Yes, that sounds great. I love Italian."
"Great! Me too!"
Alex kept up light conversation the whole drive to the restaurant, asking simple questions about how my job was going in New York and answering a few of mine when I felt like I should ask reciprocal questions in return. He was easy to talk to at least and kept the ride from feeling awkward, when we pulled up in front of Marsilio's and he turned the car off I was much more relaxed.
He circled the car at a jog to open my door and walked us both inside, it was early still for a Friday so they weren't too crowded yet. I was thankful I didn't see anyone that I knew glancing through the restaurant.
Dinner was mostly nice, there were only a few awkward pauses and Alex was good natured enough to carry most of the conversation lulls by asking me questions or telling me short stories about his friends, family and where he went to school. I felt like I knew more about him in an hour and a half then I knew about Ranger in three years. I didn't think there was much romantic interest on my part—but maybe in time there might be.
I chose not to too hard about why that thought left me squirming in my seat and feeling guilty. For once I knew it had absolutely nothing to do with Joe, and everything to do with someone else.
When we walked out of Marsilio's the tingle hit the back of my neck before the evening breeze even had a chance to ruffle my curls. The buzz along my skin was a live wire that could only mean one thing, my heart beat double time and my eyes immediately scanned the lot searching, lingering over the shadows positive he was there.
Finally I spotted him. He was leaned against his black Porsche 911 on the far side of the lot, ankles and arms crossed, a definite scowl etched across the hard lines of his face even from this distance. My stomach plummeted to my shoes, this wasn't the reunion I'd envisioned in my head for months. It was all wrong. I felt sick suddenly and wondered if I might throw up my alfredo sausage pasta, it felt like a rock in my gut.
Alex clasped my hand gently calling my name, trying to draw my attention…but I couldn't pull my eyes away from Ranger. His cold hard stare pinned me on the spot; a silent, menacing accusation.
I swallowed and felt my pulse race and a faint sweat break out across my skin.
I guess Alex finally realized who I staring at because I felt him draw closer to me, putting an arm around my shoulder like he was shielding me from a thug. In the shadows I swear I saw Ranger's scowl darken to murderous.
"Ex boy-friend?" Alex inquired softly.
"Uh, Friend." I corrected wondering if that was still accurate for the first time in a long time.
"Big Friend." Alex commented dryly. "Doesn't seem very friendly,"
No, he didn't. Guilt and pain I didn't want to examine too closely clawed at my insides leaving me feeling raw and close to tears. Why should I feel guilty though? I wasn't seeing Ranger, I hadn't seen Ranger in Months! And besides, Ranger didn't 'See' people. Ranger loaned cars, guns, jobs and made deals when he was feeling 'friendly'.
Somehow my heart still felt like it was breaking apart inside my chest.
Ranger nodded once, uncrossed his arms and slid into his Porsche. I couldn't hear the engine catch from this far away but I heard the wheels burn rubber as he flew off into the night.
I let out a deep shaky breath and cleared my throat.
"Well, I guess he's in a hurry. Can I interest you in some ice cream?" Alex tried to steer me towards the car.
"Um, No thanks I'm really tired. It's been such a long week with work. I think I'd just like to go home." Truth be told I'd completely lost my appetite.
I know, me turning down dessert. Call the Press, call FEMA and the FBI…
Alex dropped me off with little more fan-fare then I polite peck on the cheek. He asked if he could take me out again sometime and I felt like I should be polite, telling him I was really busy in New York and didn't know when I'd be back again, but that would be nice. He hadn't been a horrible date after all. I think he could tell that seeing Ranger had put me into a serious funk, even if I tried to pass it off as simply being tired.
"A good night's rest and you'll be good as new!" My mother had blustered when I came in.
I wish it were that simple. I kept the details to a minimum despite her many questions—there really wasn't much to tell. He was nice, polite and handsome even...And yet somehow as appealing as a wet dishrag, though I didn't think that was his fault.
I guess that's the problem with seeing Ranger, even if it's only for a moment and knowing full well he can never be mine.
No one and nothing else compares.
To be continued...
.
So we've met Alex, and What is Ranger's problem?! *wink*
