I had half a mind to chase after him. It wouldn't do me any good. Anyway, I was off on an undie hunt. I made sure the door was locked, then I ducked into Rangers room. I went for the drawer I'd seen the pair earlier in the week. Sure enough, they were in there. Not I was positive he was walking around afresco. I sliped off my shorts and put on Rangers boxers. They were a few sizes to big. I pulled one of his hair ties off the dresser and gathered the boxers on a fist. I wraped the tie around the boxers and I was good to go. I pulled on a pair of sweat pants and closed his drawer.
I found my cell phone on the sidetable by the couch. I picked up the phone and called my apartment.
"Hello?" Angie screamed over her sisters.
"Hey Ang, is you're mommy home?"
"Yeah!" She set the phone down on the counter and screamed for Valerie.
"It's Aunt Stephy." she said happily handing over the phone and ran off somewhere in the apartment.
"Stephanie help me please!" Valerie begged when she got on the line.The baby was screaming in the background, and Mary Alice was neighing away.
"Is this a bad time?" I asked.
"No. Hold on for a minute." Valerie set the phone back down and quieted her children. The baby started to coo over the phone. I suspected Val dragged her playpen out of her room into the living room.
"Back." Val said finally.
"I called to apologize for last night." I said
"No problem Steph. I heard all about it on the news. You and that Sally guy killing Junkman. It was funny how he..." She exclaimed
"Val," I cut her off, "It wasn't him. It was a look alike. He's still out there looking for me. I'd love to help, but I'm not aloud to go anywhere without a bodygaurd."
"Aw, Steph. Please? I haven't slept in hours" I had simpathy for her. Her life was once again moving, and she didn't get the memo.
"I really can't Val. I promise I'll be at dinner tonight though" If I could talk Ranger into going.
"Really? Would you take the kids for like, 48 hours?"
"Sorry. Where I'm staying, there's no kids allowed."
"Where are you staying?" Valerie Damanded.
"If I told you, I'd have to kill you." Words Ranger used often. I hung up on Valerie. I had had nough of this conversation and I knew where It was going.
The phone rang, still warm in my hand. The Caller ID read 'Apartment'. Valerie again. I refused to answer. Once it stopped, I hung it up and sat on the couch. It was already 9:45. I was bored out of my mind. The phone rang a good 15 minutes later. The ID read 'Mom and Dad'. I recognized the number as my mother.
"Hello?" I answered shyly.
"Stephanie Plum! You hit a man with a bus last night, and I haven't heard from you in 12 hours" Her voice was loud and angry
"Mom, it was Sally who hit him, not me."
"Why me?" My mom whined.
"Mother, I'm fine."
"Where are you?" She shot over the phone.
"Can't say."
"I just got off the phone with your sister. She said you refused to tell her anything."
"Still, I can't say."
"Stephanie Plum. I rased you better than this!" She exclaimed
"Mom..."I insisted.
She gasped suddenly. "You're shacked up with that Ranger guy arn't you. First it was his truck, then his clothing, and now you're in his bed!" She wailed.
"Mom, it's not that bad!" I defended.
"He's dangerous. He scares the crap out of the neighbors, and the shit out of me."
I gasped. My mother never cussed. I hear Grandma Mazur gasp too and yell, "Ellen!"
"Mom, he's a good guy. He's watching over me. Nothing more."
"I don't trust him." And she hung up. I considered redialing, but that would have been useless.
I flung myself onto Ranger's couch. My sheet was still there, and half a sandwich I wasn't hungry enough to eat all of. I finished it and fell asleep.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ranger slammed the front door when got in. His gun dropped to the tile floor bye the door and he let out a frustrated sigh. I shifted a little and opened my eyes.He came into view. His face was emotionless, like usual, and there was the normal fire in his eyes. He looked at me and everything seemed to soften up a little.
"Sorry Babe"
I did a full body streach and yawned. Nothing like a good nap. He sat next to my knees and soved me away from the couch. I groaned, but scooted over. I was sure he was going to knock my off the couch, but instead, he settled down next to me and took a deep breath. My back was pressed against his chest and he had one arm under my neck and the other was hanging over my side, brushing my jeans waistband.
"Not sure how she did it, but I got to have a very interesting talk with your mother." He sighed.
I turned in his arms and looked at him. He smiled and pushed my over on my side again. He turned on the television and settled on a hockey game.
"What'd she say?" I asked after a long silence.
"Alot. She said that if anything happened to you, she'd send Grandma after me."
"Oh God forbid that." I smiled
I felt Ranger laugh behind me. "We're expected for dinner at 6." He said.
"Are we going?"
"Depends." He nessled his face in my hair and listened tentively on the game. I tried to do the same, and ended up falling asleep.