Carrie took a deep breath then said, "Tank, Les and Bobby are on their way to see Ranger.
"Oh shit." was all Stephanie could say.
Steph In The Right Direction
Chapter Eighteen
Tank, Lester and Bobby bounded through the Rangeman office door as if they were on a mission from God. Nothing at that moment could have stopped them, nothing except for the look on Ranger's face. The instant the men saw their friend huddled over the desk, they knew their gut instincts had been correct. Last night wasn't about him and Stephanie. Last night had been only about Amanda.
"What has she done now?" Tank asked.
"What do you mean? You saw her last night, she hates me now." said Ranger, obviously confused.
"Not Stephanie. Amanda. Only she can put that look on your face. What has she done now?" explained Tank.
"Amanda, is just being her usual bitchy self. She claims she wants me back.. That's what she was saying when you guys showed up last night. Apparently she figured Steph as a threat to her plans so she laid it on thick to give you a good show. I swear it wasn't what it seemed."
"I knew it! I knew that hussy was up to something." yelled Lester as he grabbed a nearby vase and threw it up against the wall.
"Feel better now?" Bobby asked Lester.
"Actually I do. I've always wanted to do that, and it just seemed like a fitting time."
"Hey Beavis and Butthead, mind if we get back to business here?" asked Tank as he tried to refocus their attention.
"Now Ric. I understand that it was Amanda's game last night, but you still aren't totally innocent here. You've let this Amanda thing go on long enough. It's time you make some serious decisions, if it's not already too late." said Tank.
Ranger looked up at his friend and recognized the worry in his eyes. "What does that mean?"
"Ric, Stephanie has done a lot of changing. I know you think you know her, but trust me bud she's not the same sweet Stephanie you are use to. She's not going to roll over and forgive you this time. So you need to make up your mind once and for all. Either you love Stephanie and you want a relationship with her, or you walk away and leave her be."
"Steph and I work together…." Ranger tried to interrupt.
"Cut the shit Ric. We all know you better than that. You have feelings for her, but you're too chicken shit to admit them. In the past, we wouldn't have said a word but things are different now. This is Stephanie you are playing with and she's our friend too. I refuse to sit by and allow you to hurt her. She deserves a lot better than that."
Ranger remained quiet for a few minutes before he began to slowly nod his head in agreement. "You're right Tank. She deserves a lot better than me."
"Oh for crying out loud. That's not what he said and you know it Ric." yelled Bobby.
"Oh yeah, then what did he mean?" growled Ranger.
"I got this one fellas." announced Lester. "He basically said it's time to get off your sorry ass, tell Amanda-kiss-an-hug to hit the road once and for all, and last but not least… you need to tell Stephanie how you feel."
Bobby and Tank stood back and shook their heads in agreement.
Ranger leaned back in the chair and looked around at his three best friends staring back at him. He knew if he could trust anyone's advice it was theirs. But there was still one problem.
"What if it's too late for me and Steph?" Ranger questioned.
"Then you start acting like the Ranger we all know and convince her otherwise." smiled Tank.
The four men exchanged some macho handshake then put their heads together to come up with a plan.
-
Tank, Lester, and Bobby sat at the corner table looking as innocent as they could get. Of course neither Carrie nor Stephanie were falling for it.
"Ok. Spill it. What happened this morning and why are you guys all sitting there like you've been hit in the head with a rock." asked Carrie.
All three men proceeded to shove half a roll into their mouths to keep from talking.
Stephanie rolled her eyes at Carrie then reached across the table to fetch the left over bread. "Ok guys. No distractions, say what you have to say and be done with it."
Tank cleared his throat then began to speak in a near whisper. "Stephanie I need a favor from you."
Stephanie leaned back in the chair and crossed her arms. "What kind of favor."
Tank shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "Well, you see… in about ten minutes Ranger's going to call you and ask you to come over to his apartment later tonight."
"And what does that have to do with a favor for you?" Steph countered.
"Well, I want you to say yes. Just give him a chance to explain things."
Stephanie looked at Carrie who stared back and shrugged.
"And what's in it for me?" asked Steph.
"Um.. Well.." Tank stuttered as he searched for an appropriate answer. Luckily his pain was short lived because Stephanie's phone quickly came to life.
She glanced at the read-out and sure enough, it was Ranger.
"Hello." She answered as she stood and headed towards the front of the restaurant for some privacy.
"Stephanie?" He made it a question.
"What is it Ranger? I'm in the middle of dinner."
"Yeah, sorry about that. Anyway, I was just wondering if you would stop by my apartment tonight around 9:00."
"What for?" she countered.
"Because I'd like to talk to you."
Stephanie sighed deeply. "You've been talking to me for years now Ranger, but somehow you are yet to say anything that I want to hear. I doubt that has changed. Why don't we just pretend last night didn't happen. You'll go your way and I'll go mine."
She began to shut the phone, but stopped when she heard him yelling on his end. "Wait, wait Stephanie, don't hang up."
"You have 10 seconds then I'm hanging up."
Ranger took a deep breath and as quickly as he could he said, "Please come by here at 9:00 tonight. I promise to explain everything and to tell you all the things I've wanted to say to you for years now, just give me a chance."
"Your 10 seconds are now up."
And with that she clicked the phone shut.
-
When Stephanie returned to the table everyone was silent except for Tank who was babbling on the phone.
"I don't know. She just returned. I don't know. Dammit man, I just said I don't know. Fine, hold on."
Tank lowered the cell phone and whispered to Stephanie. "Are you going to go see Ranger?"
Stephanie rolled her eyes then motioned for Tank to hand her the cell phone. He hesitated only briefly. "Ranger, stop harassing my friends. If I decide to stop by then you'll know when I knock on the door. In the meantime leave me the hell alone."
Stephanie clicked the phone shut then dropped it a nearby water glass. Tank cringed then mumbled, "I liked that phone."
Carrie placed a hand on his arm then said, "You can buy a new one. Now Lester tell us about this new girl at the gym."
As Lester began his story, Stephanie sent a wink towards Carrie. It may not be visible to the guys, but Carrie knew that Stephanie was definitely shaken by Ranger's phone call. When the meal arrived she took the opportunity to excuse herself and Stephanie for a brief powder room break.
-
"Are you ok? You look a little pale." Carrie asked as the two women touched up their make-up in the bathroom mirror.
"Yes. No. Oh hell I don't know." Steph sighed. "I talk a big talk. I hate how I felt about last night and I was so determined to blow Ranger off. But now…"
"But now what Steph? He just wants to talk to you." Carrie asked.
"But Ranger never just wants to talk to me. I seem to loose myself around him and I can't afford for that to happen again."
Carrie shrugged. "Then don't go see him."
Stephanie looked at her as if she had sprouted a second head. "Are you serious? Should I really just not go over there."
"Steph it's totally up to you. If it's going to just cause you more pain then don't do it. But if it's going to be something you regret if you don't, then really think about it before you make a decision."
Stephanie dropped her head against the mirror. "But I don't know Carrie. What do you think I should do?"
Carrie turned quickly and grabbed Steph's arm causing her to swing around until they were facing one another. "Listen here Steph. It's time for some tough love. I know we just met but I think you need to hear this."
Stephanie swallowed hard then nodded for Carrie to continue.
"Stop worrying about what everyone else thinks of you and stop allowing everyone else to make decisions for you. It's time you stop talking the big talk, and actually start living it. What happened to the Stephanie from this morning? The chick that sauntered out of my spare bedroom today wouldn't let a simple phone call from Carlos Manaso make her crumble."
Stephanie stepped back and glanced in the mirror once again. "You know what Carrie? You're right. I'm stronger than this, and it's about time I started to act like it." With that, she turned on her FMP heels and headed back for the table with Carrie chanting right behind her 'You go girl."
-
Ranger glanced at the clock for the 6th time in the last 15 minutes. "Where's that damn messenger. He should have been here hours ago." He mumbled to himself.
Just as he was about to pick up the phone to call the service someone knocked on the door. He grabbed the door and swung it open. He froze as his eyes traveled up and down the body of the woman that stood before him.
When he regained his composure he mumbled only one word. "Hi."
To Be Continued…
