Chapter 26

I headed for the bedroom and dug through my dresser for some cutoff jean shorts and pulled them on. I added a blue v-neck t-shirt and put on my favorite sneakers. I went into the bathroom and tidied up my hair. I added a couple of layers of mascara to the look.

I heard Lula's Firebird roar into the parking lot 10 minutes before she knocked at my door.

"Hey, white girl! Here's yo' coffee. Lots of sugar and milk. And I brought donuts. You owe me! Is that Ranger's Porsche sittin' in yo' lot?" Lula bustled into my apartment. I rolled my eyes. Her hair was pink. She was wearing a hot pink tube top and a black leather mini, mini skirt. She was wearing leopard print impossibly high heels. God love her.

"Yup, that's his Porsche. He gave it to me. Sort of a going away present."

We went to the table and sat down. Lula took a couple of donuts from the bag and handed the bag to me. I took out a Boston crème donut for myself and took a big bite. I moaned. I hope there is a good bakery in Hector's neighborhood.

Lula bit into her donut and drank some of her coffee. Then she turned to me, "So tell me what the hell happened with Batman. I thought you two was gettin' yo' shit together."

I licked my fingers and drank some of my coffee. "Yeah, well, that didn't work out so well. He moved back to Miami. He and Rachel are having another baby."

"Shut the front do'!" Lula clasped her hand to her chest. "They gonna have another baby and he jus' walked out on you? Jus' like that?"

"Pretty much," I replied. I drank the rest of my coffee and glanced at Lula.

She actually had tears in her eyes. "I'm sorry, white girl. I know you loved him. You shoulda called me."

Wow. I had never seen this side of Lula. I smiled at her. "I didn't call anyone. I ran away. My standard reaction to anything I don't want to face." I rolled my eyes.

Lula clucked and said, "Still, I woulda had yo' back. We coulda done a girls night or gone shoppin'."

"I went to Point Pleasant. Hector came after me and brought me home. He's been here with me since then," I said. "And now I've got another stalker. I'm so tired of that crap. I want to get out of this place. Hector asked me to move in with him. He has an awesome apartment at his mother's house. Wait till you see it!"

"Huh! And he ain't gay!" Lula said, more of a statement than a question.

"Not in the slightest," I said and grinned at her. "Come on, let's go tell Dillon."

I got up and pulled at Lula's hands to help her up. "I can't believe you is givin' up yo' apartment. You never did that not even for Batman," she said.

I grinned at her again and said, "Batman isn't as persuasive as Hector." I grabbed my purse and keys. I followed Lula out the door and locked up.

Lula grabbed my arm and steered me toward the elevator. "I ain't doin' no stairs! Nuh uh. I could hurt myself in these shoes!"

We took the elevator down to the basement and found Dillon in his work room. He looked up and grinned at us. "What are you two up to today?" he asked, wiping his hands on a rag.

"Um, Dillon, I need to tell you I'm moving out on Saturday," I said.

Lula piped up, "Yeah, she got herself a hottie to move in with and it ain't Ranger!"

"Stephanie! No! Don't tell me that! You can't move out. What are we going to do for excitement around here?" Dillon exclaimed.

"Well, Ranger paid my rent up for the rest of the year. I thought I'd see if my grandma wants to move in. If that's OK with you."

Dillon's eyes widened, "Hell, Steph! Your grandma is worse than you! Will she bring Big Blue?"

"Probably. She can't drive but Mrs. Brestler can," I quipped. "You'll need to keep an eye on them for me! I'll come by after I move and give you my keys." I kissed his cheek. "See you later."

After we left Dillon, Lula and I took off in her Firebird. She had the stereo blasting so conversation was impossible.

We pulled up in front of Mary Lou's house and went to the door. I could hear Mary Lou yelling at the kids. There was a crash and then it sounded like horses running through the house. I rang the doorbell and waited.

"What?!" shouted Mary Lou as she opened the door. She immediately smiled. "Oh, shit, Steph! I didn't know it was you. Hi, Lula!"

"Hey, Mare. Did we come at a bad time?" I asked her.

"No, this is normal. Are you sure you want to come in?" Mare blew her hair out of her eyes and stepped to the side so we could go in the house.

We went into the kitchen and Mare swept the table of dishes. One of the boys came into the kitchen and she turned him around by the shoulders and walked him out of the room. "Stay out. All of you! I have company!"

"You want one?" Mare asked as she sank into a chair.

"Uh, not right now!" I said and laughed. Mare had three boys. I was so glad it was her and not me.

"Too bad. I'd let you have one real cheap," she sighed. I got up, pulled some coffee mugs out of the dishwasher and picked up the coffee pot and came back to the table. Mare poured us all a cup. I went to the refrigerator and poured some milk into mine and then got some sugar from the canister on the counter.

Mare took a drink of her coffee and asked, "What are you two doing? Don't tell me one of my neighbors skipped bail."

"No, nothing like that. I wanted to tell you I am moving out of my apartment on Saturday. I'm moving in with Hector. You know Hector, my partner?" I took a drink of my coffee and waited for Mare to say something. She just sat there and blinked at me. "Mare!" I snapped my fingers in front of her face.

"I'm sorry, Steph. I thought you said you were moving in with Hector," Mare said.

"Damn skippy, she is!" Lula said. "And she ain't told her mother yet!"

I glared at her. "Lula!"

Mare slowly took another drink of her coffee and then said, "Let me get this straight. You are leaving your apartment and moving in with Hector, your partner? The one with the tattoos? The one that is gay?"

"Yes, no! I mean, yes, I am moving in with him. And no, he is not gay. I wish people would quit saying that! We are together as in a couple." I said.

"He's not gay. And you are moving in with him. You, the commitment-phobe, agreed to move in with Hector? What have I missed here?" Mare asked.

"Well, you know Ranger and I were sort of in a thing." I heard Lula snort. I glared at her. "It's a long story, I'll tell you later, but he left to go back to Miami a week ago." I started to explain. God, I can't believe it's only been a week. "Hector has been staying with me since then. My apartment is a crazy magnet. So Hector asked me to move in with him."

When I said it like that, it all made perfect sense to me. I don't know why everyone was having such a hard time believing that Hector and I are together.

"You want me to start the grapevine or are you going to your parent's house next?" Mare asked and sipped her coffee. She made it sound so matter of fact.

I groaned. "Geez, Mare. I will tell them. I just don't want to right now. I want to wait until after the move. Will you keep it to yourself?"

Mare patted my arm and said, "Sure. No problem."

Just then, we heard a shriek and a loud thud coming from the living room. Mare just rolled her eyes.

I laughed and got up. I rinsed our cups in the sink. "We better go. Sounds like someone may need stitches."

Mare sighed. "Would you believe I can actually do that myself now?"

Lula and I rolled our eyes and we quickly left the house. Once in the car we both burst out laughing.

I looked at Lula and said, "That is something I don't want to see!" I hoped she was joking.

"I'm hungry!" Lula said as she put the Firebird in gear. "You want Cluck-in-a-Bucket?"

"Sure," I said and laughed again.

Lula screeched into the Cluck-in-a-Bucket parking lot. She was fumbling in her purse as she threw the Firebird into park.

"Day'amn! There's Norman Peterson! I got the file on him right here. C'mon, white girl. Let's go get 'im!" Lula shouted.

"What? That's one of your skips?" I groaned. I so did not want to get dirty or hurt today. But I grabbed my purse and followed Lula out of the car.

"Hey! Norman!" Lula took off running toward a 30-ish, mild mannered Clark Kent looking guy.

Norman turned and stared at Lula barreling toward him. He looked like he didn't know whether to run or duck and cover. He must have decided to run. He ducked around Lula and ran. Straight toward me.

Oh, shit.

"Get him, Stephanie!" Lula yelled.

For a split second, I froze. Then months of working at RangeMan and training with the guys kicked in. I stepped in front of Norman, smoothly pulled my gun from my purse and pointed it at him. "Stop!" I commanded him.

Norman skidded to a stop just inches in front of me. He put his hands up in surrender. Lula had caught up with him and slapped cuffs on his right arm and jerked it behind his back. She grabbed his left arm and pulled it back and cuffed him.

Lula was gasping for air but she managed to bark out, "Norman Peterson! You are in violation of yo' bond agreement! You need to come with me!" She shoved him toward the Firebird.

"Way to go, Lula!" I walked over to her and gave her a high-five.

"We gonna have to do lunch later, white girl. I gotta take this piece of crap to the cop shop," she said.

I grinned at her. "No problem. I'll call the guys and get a ride home."

Lula tossed Norman into her Firebird and roared off in a cloud of dust.

I pulled out my phone and called Tank.

"Yo."

I rolled my eyes. "Hey, Tank. I need a ride home. I'm at Cluck-in-a-Bucket."

There was a moment of silence and then Tank asked, "What are you doing there?"

I blew out a breath. "I was with Lula. She saw one of her skips and we took him down. She's taking him in now and I need to get home."

I could picture Tank running his hand over his bald head and staring down at his desk. "You in one piece? You need Bobby?"

"Nope! I'm clean and unharmed," I said proudly. Clean and unharmed. Probably a first for me.

"Someone will be there in five." Tank said and disconnected. Geez. Why can't these guys say goodbye!

Three minutes later, a black SUV pulled into the lot. I wonder who drew Bomber duty?

The passenger flew open and I saw a grinning Lester in the driver seat. He wagged his eyebrows.

"Need a ride, Beautiful?