Sorry for the wait, please let me know what you think!

When in doubt, change the subject. 'Wanna go to Pino's later?' I asked.

'How about Rossini's?' Ranger finally said.

'That's cool.' I said nodding, 'we could go there. They have great tiramisu.'

Ranger sighed, 'Babe.'

Chapter 15

Lester went with me back to my apartment; I didn't really feel like skip tracing for some reason. He made a slight detour on the way; we pulled up at the seven/eleven and without a word he brought me a tub of Ben and Jerry's.

Lester may be a wiseass, but when push comes to shove, it turns out he's a good man to have by your side.

We entered my apartment, and Lester did a Charlie's Angel's style walk through – though I doubt he'd appreciate the comparison. Then he handed me a spoon. I slumped onto the couch and started eating. Lester flicked through my CDs until he found something acceptable.

Twenty minutes later, and Lester's ice cream had all gone to its rightful place: my tummy. Twenty minutes later, and The Game ft Fifty Cent 'This is how we do' was blaring out of my sound system, full volume, and Lester and I were dancing in my living room, shaking our asses, rapping at the top of our voices.

Well, Lester was rapping, I was doing a white girl's impression of rapping. I don't know what half these terms mean, I only found out that 'shorty' means 'girlfriend' a few weeks ago. Some say I'm slow on the uptake.

I prefer to think that I'm special.

Two hours later and Lester was explaining some of the terms to me. Three hours later and Lester was trying to teach me how to say 'Mother-Fucker' street style.

'Mutha fucka!' Lester said.

'Muther fucka!' I repeated.

'Mutha fucka!' he said, trying not to laugh.

'Mutha fucka!' I tried.

He grinned, 'Jeez Steph, you're so white.'

'Sometimes I tan.' I said defensively.

Lester cracked up, 'that's not what I meant, beautiful.'

I rolled my eyes, 'whatever. Bet you can't do Italian like me.'

'Fine.' He said. 'Teach me.'

Two hours later, Lester could finally flip the bird to my satisfaction, as well as various other hand gestures, and he could cuss pretty well. Three hours later and we were joined by Hector. I was trying to teach them an essential Italian phrase.

'Forget bout it.' Lester said.

'No!' I rolled my eyes, 'You're doing it street, you need to do it Italian! Fuggedaboutit.'

'Foggedabout it.' Hector attempted.

'Not bad, but not quite; fuggedaboutit.'

'Forget boutit.' Lester said.

'Jeez Lester, you're so street.' I said, amused.

Lester grinned, 'fair play.' He conceded.

My cell rang, 'Yo.' I answered.

'That's my line.' Ranger replied.

'You're supposed to say 'yo yourself'.'

'I'll remember for next time.' He promised, sounding amused.

'Good, cos you know this shit aint cuttin' it.' I said, Lester style.

Ranger paused, 'Don't think I gonna let Lester be the guard o' ya sweet body if he be teachin you bout the street, shorty.'

Shorty? OMG! What does that mean? Quick, don't be silent too long, talk dammit, say something, anything!

'You're hot.'

Shit! Not that! Don't say that! Backtrack!

'Not that I just want you for your body cos that would be really superficial and I'm not really like that, though I do really love your body – I have your naked body burned into my brain…'

I could feel the amusement over the phone line.

'You don't want me just for my body, huh? That means you want me.'

'I…uh…' What if he didn't want me?

'I want you.' Ranger whispered sexily.

'You can Esp over the phone?'

'I'm a talented man.' He said, his voice implying things other than Esp.

Ever had really vivid flashbacks? So strong, so detailed, that for a second you can feel, taste, smell, and hear everything about that moment. For a second I froze as memories flooded through my mind and my body.

'I know that.' I said huskily.

'You remember?' he asked, his voice deep.

'I remember.' I breathed, my heart thudding in my chest.

I heard a knock on the door and realised it was on Ranger's end of the phone. 'What?' he said, sounding irritated at the interruption. I heard someone talking but I couldn't quite make out what was being said.

'Babe?'

'Yeah?'

'I've got to go, I was just calling to say we have a reservation at Rossini's in two hours, that ok?'

'That's great.'

'Good. Babe?'

'Yeah?'

'You doing ok?'

'Yeah. Lester gave me ice cream.'

'Bet he shot straight to number one on your favourite person's list.'

'Number two.' I corrected.

'Oh? Who's number one?'

'You have to ask?' Then I hung up.

I could get used to that, it's kinda fun.

My cell rang, Batman didn't like to be hung up on either.

'Yo.' I said.

Pause. Sigh. 'Yo yourself.' Ranger finally said.

I laughed.

'Babe, that's twice you've hung up on me. I told you not to do that.'

'Oopsie-'

'-your bad?'

'Yup.'

'Babe?'

'Yeah?'

His voice roughened, 'Glad I don't need a cat.'

Then he hung up.