Author's note: Sorry, I accidentally uploaded Ch. 53 twice. Thanks to Margaret Fowler for alerting me to my mistake! Hope you enjoy.
Chapter 54: Stephanie's POV
Too many thoughts were going through my head and I couldn't turn it off. Normally I'm a world-class sleeper, but I couldn't fall asleep tonight. After a while, my insatiable stomach started growling at me, demanding to be fed before it would let me sleep.
I crept down the stairs as quietly as possible, not wanting to bother Lester. I tossed a couple of grapes in Rex's cage, and grabbed a carton of Chunky Monkey out of the freezer and a spoon.
I was creeping back through the living room to the stairs when I heard a click and Lester called out, "Freeze!"
I stopped in my tracks and I'm pretty sure my heart stopped too. "Geez, Lester, I just wanted some ice cream!"
The light clicked on. "Sorry, Steph, I thought maybe Ranger was ignoring Tina's warning." I watched a shirtless Lester put the safety back on his gun and slide it back under the edge of the sofa where I guess he'd kept it hidden.
I took a moment to really look at him. I knew he was taller than Ranger but he wasn't quite as muscular. Almost though. His skin was a few shades lighter than Ranger's mocha latte tone but tons darker than my own almost albino fair skin. His muscles rippled in the light of the lamp. He was a sexy man, but I'd never felt a spark for him. I certainly didn't mind seeing a mostly naked Lester, though! A girl has to take what she can get, right?
I flopped onto the loveseat with a sigh.
"Can't sleep, Beautiful?" Lester asked, settling back onto his makeshift bed with his arms behind his head.
"Nope."
"Wanna talk about it."
"Nope."
"What can I do for you?"
"Not shoot me when I need comfort food, for starters!" That did make Lester chuckle for a moment, and then his eyes turned serious.
"If you don't want to talk to him, you don't have to. I can get rid of him."
"I know, Lester, and I appreciate it. I haven't decided what to do yet. I just needed my two favorite guys," I started before Lester interrupted.
"Me and Rex, right?"
I rolled my eyes and continued, "Nope, Ben and Jerry. Ijust needed a little ice cream to get me through the night."
"Want me and Tina to beat him up for you?" I pretended to consider Lester's offer for a moment and then laughed.
"Nah, I think Tina would rather keep you in one piece," I said with my eyebrows raised. Lester blushed a little and got a goofy grin on his face. I nudged his foot with my foot. "So how's it going, Romeo?"
Lester was still smiling his goofy grin. "She's great, Steph, absolutely amazing. The most wonderful person I've ever met."
I grinned at him. "You've got it bad!"
Lester didn't bother denying it. "Just don't know how to make it work when I do eventually have to go back to Trenton."
I didn't have an answer for him either so I just shrugged. "I have no idea, but if anyone can, the two of you can make it work." I paused for a moment. "Has Tina mentioned moving back to Jersey?"
Lester just looked at me. "She mentioned that one day she'd like to move. Why?"
I deflected his question with one of my own. "Has she told you why she moved here in the first place?"
Lester nodded. "She needed to get away after her divorce." He gave me a wry look. "Are you absolutely sure you aren't related?"
I smiled. We were a lot alike in a lot of ways. I only wish I'd gotten to know her better in college but I was glad that we were friends now.
"Not unless her mom and my dad have been keeping secrets!"
"Has she said anything to you about moving back?" Lester's voice was hopeful and he had a puppy dog look of excitement on his face.
"Not so much that she's said anything, more of a feeling. My Spidey senses, if you will. You'd have to ask her about it though, I haven't asked her anything." Lester nodded and I could see him making a mental note to ask her about it at the first opportune moment.
"Well, Ben, Jerry and I are going to go back upstairs so you can get some sleep, if you promise not to shoot me."
Lester just nodded. "I'm here if you need me, Beautiful."
I felt tears well up in my eyes. I was so lucky to have such amazing friends. I whispered goodnight and went up the stairs as quickly as my still healing knee could go. Once I was back in my room, I heard Lester turn off the lamp and the duplex was silent.
I sat Indian-style on my bed, eating my ice cream. I was thinking about how lucky Lester and Tina were, how much they seemed to care for one another. They didn't try to hide it and they didn't try to force it. It just was. That was what I wanted for myself. Someone who would hold my hand in public and think I was special. I knew Ranger thought I was special, but somehow I couldn't see him being willing to just hold hands at a movie or giggle with me late at night.
With my heart heavy and my tummy full of ice cream, I sat the empty container on the nightstand and turned over. I stared out the windows towards the main part of the inn and wondered what Ranger was thinking.
