Stephanie
"I need more sugar"
I whine to Connie and Lula.
"all this health food is getting to me" I say
"Hell yeah girl you have lost like 30 pounds"
I roll my eyes
"ah no more like five, it has only been two months of me living there"
Connie laughed. Working for Vinnie and Ranger has many pros and cons, the biggest pro is that I get to come out Rangeman office to see them. I do enjoy the bounty hunter job as well.
"Anyone skip?" I ask
"Yes just came in"
she handed me the file and I read it. Jennifer Garland, set her husband's car on fire when she caught him cheating on her with a younger woman
"damn, why do they always light things on fire?" I ask
. Lula laughed
"to make a point"
"it is a cliché anyway I am sure she just mis read the date anyway I need to start saving up"
"for what?" asked Connie. I sigh
"its for Gabriella, her teacher called me last night. Even in the advance class, she is getting restless and starting to act out"
I feel guilty now about what Ranger was trying to do with school. I know I should have listened to him now
"so what are you going to do?" I shrug
"well he told me about a school that apparently has a great scholarship program. Have you seen the prices of private schools?"
"umm Step I have one word for you Ranger" said Lula.
I shake my head
"I know, I know but he already refuses to charge me rent"
"but this isn't about your pride this is about Gabriella" said Connie
"I am aware of that thank you. Anyway, I can't do anything about it for this year anyway. Since I basically have no bills expect gas and what not I am trying to save up as much as possible"
"so where is that school anyway?"
"it's a two-hour drive but honestly I think it may be worth it. Apparently, she is getting very rude. She is correcting all the other kids and when she is done that, she tries to outsmart her teacher"
I take a large drink of my coffee
"you may be right about that; she needs a better school" said Connie
"but have you mentioned anything about this to Ranger"
I roll my eyes
"no"
she and Lula exchange a look and then look back at me. I am still confused after what happened on Halloween.
"Girl please tell me that"
The door opens and Morelli walks in
"hey cupcake I brought doughnuts" Connie gives me the look.
Okay I am busted. Morelli has been trying to connect. We have been talking for the last two weeks. I almost feel like I am cheating, even though I am single and we haven't done anything. I am sure Ranger knows; he has been avoiding for the last week. Lester has been acting as a buffer between us.
"Thank you" I say taking one.
Lula has her hands on her hips and walks over.
"Yo why are you here?" she asked him giving him a dirty look
"I came to see Stephanie"
"mmhmmm"
I can see Connie giving him the same look. I grab his arm and drag him outside
"what are you doing here?" I ask him
"just was around, bought doughnuts and thought of you"
I roll my eyes
"well you shouldn't have done that"
he nodded
"I can tell, what's that about?"
"they are just concerned"
"about?"
"me well Gabby mainly"
"ah this is about Ranger" he says with a huff
"no its about what is best for my daughter"
"did you contact that school"
"what school?"
I turn and face Ranger, fucking Batman.
"what are you doing here" I ask him.
He and Morelli are just glaring at each other.
"Morelli it was nice to see you but Ranger and I have to talk"
I nod to him and drag Ranger into the office "
why are you here?" I ask him.
He is just looking at me. Connie and Lula are just watching us
"Well hey we are out of coffee, Lula come on let's go get more, I will buy breakfast"
"but I want to see this show"
"come on"
Ranger just stares at me until they leave
"why?" he asks
"why what?"
"why him?"
"we were just chatting?"
he raises an eyebrow at me
"about a school?"
"yes, you were right, I should have just swallowed my pride and let you help me with Gabby's school her teacher said she is acting out"
he nods
"but why tell him?"
"I was ranting at him but I know you have been avoiding me"
he took a breath
"not him, anyone but him"
"not him what?"
"he doesn't want Gabby, he has cheated on you, he has ripped your heart out multiple times. He is not the one for you"
I shake my head
"you're an expert?"
"yes"
"oh when did this happen?"
"I know everything about you Babe, I know you do not actually want him. You are choosing to cling to the past instead of focusing on the future. He is not it; he is not Gabriella's father; he doesn't want to be. He will leave you again and again"
i breath in
"yeah he has done that but"
"no there is no buts this is a fact, he will break you, he will break Gabriella and then I will end up killing him because he hurt you two"
I start to pace
"if I wanted the relationship thing would you still see him"
I face him
"what?"
"I am sick of you going back to him"
he walks up to me and takes my head in his hands
"the second you and I have any trouble he pops up. No more running back to him, no more trying to parent on your own. Let me help you"
he leaned his forehead on mine
"let me in"
he whispered
"please"
I broke at that and pulled him in for a kiss. He responded right away and pulled me closer to him
"no more Morelli"
he says again
"promise me"
I nod
"I promise"
he gives me a smile
"is that why you have been avoiding me?"
I ask him
"yes, I do not want to be worried that the second he comes back to you, you will accept him. He is not worth it. Leave him in the past where he belongs"
I nod
"it is going to be hard"
"talk to me, do not bottle it up, we need to have honest between us or it will never work"
"Batman is going to share his secrets"
I joke. He chuckles
"I guess so" and he kisses my forehead.