Disclaimer: Not mine!
Notes: This is a short chapter, but 27 is somewhere around 6,000 and I'm still tweaking it so I figured you'd probably rather have this short chapter now so you have something, rather then wait for both at the same time.
I mean, clearly in a perfect world where I lived without distractions or RL issues I'd have the whole thing done by now and you could have it all instead of sitting infront of your computers and roaring "MOAR!" like t-rex's...but alas, that's not to be. I am working on it though!
Also, Seems like a LOT of readers really want Steph to get that jacket back...
be careful what you wish for my dears!
Muhahahahaha!
Chapter 26
It was six O'clock before I made it back to my apartment.
I ended up leaving the park shortly after my conversation with Tamsin and Ranger—but I'd stopped at a small hole in the wall Thai place I'd seen just as I left the park on the way to the subway station. I figured I'd had a pretty rough couple of days and I deserved to pig out a little bit.
I'd gone inside and gotten a table for one. I'd have felt a little odd by myself months ago but it no longer bothered me and they had a TV on over the small bar so I'd watched the Five O'clock news and eaten an entire order of Shrimp and Chicken Pad Thai, fried spring rolls, and orange slices. I was so full when I left I thought I might be sick, but it was delicious. I was definitely going to eat there again.
I'd seriously over eaten and was feeling sluggish and sleepy despite the early hour. I'd set my bag down after locking my door and went to wash my face. I brushed my teeth pulled my hair out of its pony tail and brushed it out then decided to just go to bed. Maybe I'd read for a little while and call it an early night. I hadn't had an afternoon nap on a regular basis in a long time and I could always catch up on some sleep with the long nights and crappy sleep I'd been getting lately.
I toed off my tennis shoes and pulled off my yoga pants since I'd worn them outside today. I shucked my bra and swapped out my shirt for one of Ranger's black t-shirts. They were skin tight on the man in black but so loose and long on my they hit mid-thigh and if I added a belt probably could probably pass as a dress.
I crawled into bed and grabbed my book glancing at the time display on my phone—If I called Ranger now he'd probably just be finished with his day. If he didn't have to worry about me wandering around in the city he could get some sleep or do some paperwork, or plot to over throw a third world country.
I wasn't sure exactly what Batman did with his 'down time' I only ever saw the man in work or rescue mode honestly. I didn't know if Ranger had an 'off button', did Ranger ever just Netflix and Chill? I snorted out loud and bit back a snicker at the mere thought. Although, they had war documentaries on Netflix right? I tried to picture it and snorted again…the only time I ever saw him even watch TV or movies was when he was hiding out at my apartment during the Scrog fiasco, or when he came over and I was already watching something. He didn't always stay when that was the case, sometimes he just checked on me and then left—but on the rare occasions that he did I was able to secretly imagine what it would be like if I was dating Ranger instead of Joe. It was a private fantasy I'd never admit out loud, what would it be like to do normal daily things with Batman? I didn't even know what kind of movies Ranger would watch if he wanted to…Did he prefer to read? Did he like Action? Or would he find the misinformation and inaccuracies over things like ammo and explosions too annoying to let go?
When I actually sat down and thought about all the things I didn't know about the man I considered one of my Best friends, and secretly the love of my life it was depressing. And considering Ranger's stance on relationships, and the way he shut down anytime I fished for information on him I guess I'd never know.
I still had the voice mail from Alex to deal with, I wasn't sure I wanted to listen to it. Part of me was curious sure, I mean it's me. But the rest of me just wanted to delete it and ignore him in the future…the fact that he'd been to my parent's house so many times might be a problem though.
Maybe I should have paid closer attention when Ranger said he had a juvie record. I had no idea if he'd been in trouble for stalking someone, stealing a car or shoplifting a candy bar. Though honestly if it had been something as trivial as a candy bar theft I doubted Ranger would have gotten all bent out of shape over it. Guess I should ask, though if I did that I'd have to tell him why I was suddenly interested in the information—and that would mean admitting (embarrassingly) that once again I was a screw up that attracted crazies like white on rice. Ugh.
Blowing out a heavy sigh I hit speed dial and flopped back against the pillows waiting for the phone to connect. Two rings in I got his classic, "Yo," and that was it.
"I'm home."
"You going back out?"
"Nope. I'm planning to read and go to bed."
"Early."
"I'm tired." I pointed out and then as emphasis to the statement my body decided to yawn. "Maybe I'll skip reading." Now that I was lying in bed sleep sounded way more appealing than my latest book.
"What are you reading?" Ranger asked.
"It's a Nicolas Spark book, and it's ridiculous." I complained. The more I read the more annoyed I was with the characters. Here was this flawed girl with a messed up life and Mr. Perfect was falling all over himself to fix it for her and bending over backwards to make it right. Men didn't act like that in real life! Not any men I knew at least! One night together and the guy was spilling his guts and professing his undying love for the girl?Yeah right, Like that shit ever happened! In real life Mr. Perfect hits the door in the morning and tells her to fix her crappy relationship with the guy she doesn't want and is guiltily using as a place holder for the man she can't have!
My chest constricted in pain. "I think I'm going to switch to murder mysteries, or spy novels." I announced tossing the book onto the floor. Something free of sappy perfect endings where the guy wants the girl more than his next breath, that was just frustrating and disheartening. The only people that wanted me like that were homicidal rapists and whackos.
"Try Tom Clancy, Lee Child or Robert Ludlum."
"You read Tom Clancy?" I was stunned as much by the information release as the subject—Military war game books and spy novels? Wasn't that almost work? Maybe he considered it research.
I swear Ranger chuckled under his breath, "No one's shooting at me so it can't be work. I like to read, I read when I have time; which isn't often unless I'm laid up. The details aren't always right but its close enough I can overlook it for the storyline in most cases."
I'll be damned. Batman details! "Couldn't you just watch the movies?" Especially since he didn't have a lot of time, that would be so much easier and faster.
"Babe," Ranger was amused.
My Dad read Tom Clancy. I'd seen those books since I was a kid—they were massive!The last one he read was heavier than a cinder block!
"It took me six months to finish it." Ranger agreed proving I was still thinking out loud tonight, one day I was going to learn to keep my mouth shut!
"Because it was so long?" I figured batman would be a faster then average reader, but it still had to be over 1000 pages!
"Because I had to leave the country in the middle of it." Ranger admitted.
"It must suck to have to drop everything in your life and leave at a moment's notice," I tried to picture doing that, I guess it would be similar to what had happened to me four months ago. I tried to picture how Joe would have reacted if we'd been together when I left town— not well I'd imagine. Ranger's reasons for not having a traditional relationship might hurt, but this was his life. I knew from experience he left at the drop of a hat and was gone, sometimes for months.
"It didn't used to bother me," Ranger said. "I knew what I was doing made a difference, and I'm good at what I do. Lately I'm starting to reconsider."
"You don't want to go in the wind anymore?"
"No, I don't. It's become a real inconvenience to leave at a moment's notice the last two years."
He had spent a lot of time and money building Rangeman from the ground up to leave constantly for weeks or months at a time. I knew firsthand the level of dedication and man hours Ranger put into his business. Tank would probably be ecstatic he no longer had to vouch for my personal safety. If he wasn't shaved bald I think he'd have grey hair every time Ranger went in the wind.
"Rangeman runs perfectly without me, whether I'm gone for three days or three months—I designed it that way on purpose. I have more important personal matters I want to focus my attention on." It sounded like a confession and my held the phone tighter against my ear listening intently. My breath caught in my throat and my heart started beating faster.
It was too much to hope that the personal matters Ranger was anxious not to be away from had anything to do with me; probably it was whoever was moaning into the phone the other night. I tried to tamp down the disappointment and heartache that accompanied that thought.
Ranger was silent. I wasn't sure if this was a typical Ranger quiet or if he was waiting for me to respond. What I wouldn't give to be having this conversation face to face…though with Ranger's often blank expression I doubt it would help me know what he was thinking, the man was impossible to read! "It would be nice to have you home…I…uh, I mean, in Trenton, you know around…" Smooth Steph, I was such a dunce. Now I was glad we weren't face to face because I was certain my face was cherry tomato red!
"I like when you blush babe, it's adorable." I was clearly amusing him again.
"Adorable, great." I blew out a breath ruffling the curls hanging around me face.
"Would you prefer Sexy?" his voice had dropped a whole octave but the teasing note remained.
I snorted ignoring the answering heat in my body. "Give me a break! There is nothing sexy about turning beet red!" It was embarrassing, as a teenager I'd hated it even more than I did now. In High school I used to blush all the time, for almost everything. Not even the best foundation and compact a Jersey girl could apply would hide it either! Joyce used to take great delight in turning my bright red in front of anyone she could, the more people the better. Hence the locker room pictures she spread around school and the time she filled my hallway locker with tampons so they fell out the second I opened it. I growled at the memory.
"Babe," Ranger groaned in my ear pulling my attention back to our conversation. "Playing with fire." He breathed a second later in husky voice.
"What? I didn't do anything!"
"That's the problem babe." Ranger was definitely laughing now; it was soft and throaty and did interesting things to my insides that felt dangerously like the early stages of self-combustion. "You drive me crazy without even trying."
I should be annoyed by that comment. Joe often said I drove him crazy and it pissed me off to no end—but somehow when Ranger said it in that amused tenor it was almost, endearing. I felt like if he was standing in front of me he'd have said it while winding one of my curls around his finger and giving it a tug. I'll never admit it out loud, but every time he did that, or swept my hair back behind my hears and traced the back of his fingers around the curve of my chin, or down my neck to rest on my shoulders I got a little electric current that shot straight down my spine, and made my heart race.
I sucked in a deep breath fighting feelings I didn't want to examine closely, not with Ranger on the phone. Maybe not even after I was alone. Denial was safer for my sanity and heart. I needed to get off the phone before I blurted out something truly embarrassing. Luckily my body chose that moment to let out another jaw cracking yawn, one Ranger clearly heard even through the phone.
"Get some sleep babe, I…I'll talk to you tomorrow."
"Kay," I mumbled wondering at his stumbled words, It didn't sound like he'd hung up yet, "good night Ranger." I yawned again my body emphasizing the words needlessly.
"Good night babe,"
I stared at my phone for a good five minutes after he hung up bemused and delighted by the first ever Batman goodbye.
To be continued...