I picked up a copy of Look Alive Twenty-Five recently. Here is what I would have liked to have happen towards the end of Chapter 20.

There was an extra bit with Wulf and the chance to write more, but I think I prefer this as a stand alone.

All characters belong to Janet. I'm just borrowing them.

"I'm not good at the marriage thing, "Anthony said. "I keep having these indiscretions. It would be a lot easier if I had what you and Stephanie have."

I stopped, confused. "What do we have Anthony?"

"Well you know, you see each other, you see other people. Real casual like. Sometimes you and Joe watch a ball game or go to Pinos and sometimes he has dinner with Suzie Moretti. You know, you see each other but you're not 'boyfriend and girlfriend'."

The way I saw it I had two options. I could make a scene in front of Anthony and Ritchie (and I can make a scene with the best of them) or I could pretend I knew exactly what they were talking about. I thought about it. Did I want to make a scene? Not really. Were we boyfriend and girlfriend? We didn't go on dates. Morelli would come with me to my parents' house if I asked, and I liked spending time with him. He was great - in the shower, in bed and anywhere else – but I didn't want to take the next step with him, or with anyone. I had seen my sister's life. I didn't want a ring and a picket fence yet. I could barely keep myself and my hamster alive. It would have been nice if we had discussed it, but maybe he thought it was obvious?

Morelli glanced at me looking slightly panicked. He must have been thinking the same thing.

"I think it's a bit late to tell your wife you don't want to be exclusive, Anthony," I replied.

I ate a meatball sub and finished my beer. I wanted my bed and my pillow. Being watched was getting old.

Morelli came over and wrapped an arm around me. "Are we ok?"

I turned into him and kissed him, "Of course. Do you mind if I head home though?"

"Are you sure you don't want to stay? If it's these two, I can kick them out."

"Nah, it's not them - I miss my things and waking up in my bed."

"Alright cupcake if you're sure, I'll get my keys."

I said goodnight to the guys, grabbed my bag and headed to the car.

"You're not worried about leaving me alone?" I asked Morelli as he drove to my apartment.

"You're not connected to the deli anymore. And I'm sure Ranger has about three trackers on you right now. If you would like to go home, your wish is my command. If you wanted to invite me in though, I'd much rather that than spend the night watching baseball with Ritchie and Anthony…."

"Mmm… tempting but I need some space. You should go home and hang out with the boys".

"Steph?"

"Yeah?

"When Anthony mentioned that I had dinner with Suzie Moretti? We never discussed being exclusive one way or the other and I had just assumed that… If you're not ok with it, we can talk about this."

I jumped in. "No, yeah, of course. I'm totally fine with it." Suzie Moretti was in my sister Valerie's year at high school. She was recently divorced and now worked as a realtor. Lots of blonde hair and bright red lips.

Was I supposed to ask how the date went? This was weird, even for me. Lula would know what to say. Lula would have known she wasn't in an exclusive relationship to begin with. Did this mean I wasn't ok with this? I thought about it and decided I could be ok with it, but also not want the details.
I settled for asking how long he thought Anthony was going to be staying for.

"Who knows? He seems to have really screwed up this time, but then I thought that last time."

We pulled into my lot and he parked and walked me to my door.

He leaned in and kissed me. "Are you sure you're not going to invite me in?"

I smiled said good night and entered my apartment.

I was allowed three minutes of blissful solitude. I dropped my bag, said hello to Rex and checked my fridge for another beer. My phone buzzed and I picked up.

"Babe, why are your shoes telling me you're in your apartment?"

"Because I'm in my apartment."

There was a small pause "The hall camera is showing that Morelli's not there. We had a deal – you're with Morelli or you're with me".

"You had a deal. Nobody asked me about the deal."

This didn't seem to matter much. "I'm sending someone. I'd rather you were in my apartment, or Morelli's house (no one is going to attack you when you're with a cop). If you're going to stay there at least there will be someone close."

"Don't be ridiculous. You can't expect someone to sit outside my building all night. I'm perfectly fine."

He disconnected and I went to take a shower. The next time I looked out my window, there was a black Rangeman SUV next to my car.

I rolled my eyes and decided to go to bed. It had been an exhausting few days.

I felt the other side of the bed sag around midnight and smelled Ranger as he crawled in.

"Did you feel bad for the poor guy out there?"

"Carl? No, he's got a heater and Spotify. Hardly the detail from hell. I just know how easy it is to break in here. I would have told him to stay in your apartment but I didn't want him to see you sleeping naked."

"I'm not naked."

"Would you like to be?"

I thought about it for about two seconds. Very much yes. In response I turned and kissed Ranger long and hard.

I woke a few hours later feeling like jelly. It seemed like anything Ranger put his mind to, he excelled at. That man had talented fingers, a talented tongue and a talented… The alarm clock showed 5am – he would have to leave soon. But first, something was digging into my back at parade ground attention.

"Morning, babe"

"mmmnrgh." The sun was not up. It was not morning.

His fingers danced up and down my hip and outer thigh and I felt electricity go straight to my doodah. How did I still want more? I reached back and guided him in as his fingers came around. It was slow and sensual and perfect.

"Should I ask why you said yes this time? Not that I'm complaining."

"I just asked myself why not, given Morelli and I aren't exclusive anyway."

"Ah, Marie Polansky. Tank saw them having dinner a few weeks ago."

"Marie Polansky?! Suzie Moretti! Anyway, why didn't you tell me?"

"I thought you knew. And if you didn't, I'm smart enough not to be the messenger. Are you ok with you and Morelli not being a couple?"

"Fine. In fact a whole new world just opened up. I might download Tinder, you know to see what the fuss is about."

His hand gripped my hip.

"If you're not with Morelli, you're with me."

"Is that so?" I asked with a smile. Fine with me. I knew dating in your thirties was actually a cesspool. I tilted my head and looked at him. "You know I never pictured you for the sharing type."

He thought about this for a moment. "Well I can't say it's come up before, and I have faith that with my abilities it won't continue for much longer."

Oh no. I'd just had a very good demonstration of those abilities and I didn't like my chances.

Ranger kissed me slowly and went to have a shower while I fell back asleep.