Chapter 17
Woody's POV
Today is Lester's birthday, and Stephanie arranged for most of the Trenton guys to go to a club to celebrate. She has been organizing birthday gatherings for a while now. Usually, only Lester and Bobby join us. Ranger and Tank typically stay behind to hold down the fort. Tonight, though, the entire Core Team will be there. I'm picking Steph up at nine, and we are meeting at the club at nine-thirty. I decide to wear a pair of jeans, a blue t-shirt, and a button-down blue/green plaid dress shirt. I know Steph likes to see me out of uniform. When I arrive at her house, she's standing outside, wearing a sexy purple dress made for dancing and a pair of her painfully high heels. I have no idea how women walk in those ankle breakers. I get out of the car and open the passenger door for her after giving her a kiss.
"You look beautiful, Steph."
"Thanks, you don't look too bad yourself." I grin as I walk to the driver's side. I get in my car and drive us to the club. About half the guys have arrived with their various dates for the night. A few minutes after we got there, the Core Team came, solo as usual. I was secretly glad that they were here without dates, so Steph could see how Ranger picks up women. I notice Ranger looking Steph over, and I observe her do the same to Ranger. I don't get it. He's wearing black jeans, black loafers, and a black short-sleeved button-down shirt. When they arrive, we head for the entrance. It's a few minutes before ten, so it's not too crowded yet. We make our way over to the VIP section, where there are tables and chairs set up for us roped off from the rest of the patrons.
We get our first round of drinks, spending time catching up with each other and introducing everyone. After about thirty minutes, we slowly start to move onto the dance floor. I grab Steph's hand, bringing her out. I know she loves to dance, and even though I have almost no rhythm, fulfilling every stereotype about white men dancing, I go out for my girl. She, on the other hand, is a fabulous dancer. She explained that the only Burg activity she enjoyed was dancing, so Steph took as many classes as possible. Her mom was thrilled that she was doing a Burg worthy activity and happily paid for them, not knowing that they weren't all classic ballroom classes.
After several numbers, we head back to our section to rehydrate. Steph is a lightweight when it comes to alcohol, so she only drinks soda when we go out, having maybe one shot or one mixed drink only. A few minutes later, the club starts playing some Spanish music, and several of the Hispanic Rangemen practically run onto the dance floor. This whole time, women keep flocking to Ranger and Lester, but to my surprise, Ranger is ignoring all the women, not even giving them a second look. Lester has talked to a few, but he isn't as bad as he usually is. I wonder why.
Steph is sitting in the chair next to me, talking with Zero's girlfriend while bouncing her foot to the beat. I wish I could do these dances. Just as that thought crosses my mind, Lester walks over. "Hey Beautiful, how about a dance with the birthday boy?"
"Sure, Les. Let's go."
Les takes her hand, escorting her to the middle of the dance floor. I watch as he spins her and pulls her back to him, seeing a huge smile on her face. They dance a few numbers together, definitely having a great time. Suddenly, I see Ranger cutting in, asking to dance with her, and she quickly agrees. While Steph and Santos danced close, compared to how she and Ranger danced, you'd describe the former as a mile apart. There was practically no room between Steph and Ranger. I can tell they were talking, and from the expression on their faces, Ranger was in control.
A new song comes on, a little slower and more sensual sounding. Ranger pauses, I guess, to ask Steph if she knew a dance. She nods her head, and I see them get in position. I have no idea what dance they are doing, but I must say that the club's temperature rose about ten degrees. In a matter of seconds, all eyes were on Ranger and Steph. The two of them, though, only had eyes for each other. They were utterly oblivious to everyone staring at them. She looked at Ranger with an expression on her face that she never gave me, one of pure hunger, desire, and need. I know, at this moment, that I lost Stephanie. As I think about it, though, I'm not sure I ever really had her. Deep down in my heart, I am aware that once Ranger entered the picture, we were through, but I held out hope that I was wrong. I can see now that they have some connection to each other, one that draws them together.
My mind thinks back to our week in Point Pleasant. Yes, we made love every day, and we slept in the same bed every night, but she wasn't fully present. When Ranger arrived that Saturday with her kids, she was a different woman. Hell, when he lifted her up and carried her into the ocean, I thought she was going to blast him. Instead, Steph spent almost two hours with him and the twins. She allowed him to do things that she didn't like me doing, like putting her towel around her. I know that they sat outside together for about an hour after everything broke up, I saw them. I also noticed when he held her close to him. I know they didn't do anything, Stephanie is too honorable of a woman to cheat, but I'm sure Ranger wanted to, and I'm scared that Stephanie might have as well.
Even tonight, I saw Ranger watching Stephanie, and she, him. But now, it's like I don't even exist. "Holy cow, I didn't think she had it in her to dance like that. Do all Burg women know how to dance like that?" one of the guys said.
"I don't think so, but it seems the Boss is awfully close with Steph," Pete says.
"No shit, he is the father of her children." Zero answers. I just stare, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
As the song ends, their lips meet in a passionate kiss that seems to go on forever. I see the men I work with looking furtively from me to Ranger, wondering what I'm going to do. I would be halfway to them in the past, ready to punch Ranger in the face for taking what's mine, but given their history, their past, I know that she belongs to him. When they break apart, I clearly see that Steph is mortified. She closes her eyes, and Ranger whispers something in her ear. She nods her head, then they walk over to our section.
When they are about ten feet away, I move towards the exit; not wanting to talk to her or Ranger in front of the guys, I need to maintain some dignity. When I step outside, I wait for her to join me. I wasn't surprised to see Ranger close behind Steph as approaches me, solo.
"I'm sorry, John."
"Don't be."
"Please don't act this way; I didn't mean for this to happen." She says genuinely, placing her hand on my arm.
"I know, but it was inevitable. Mich…Steph, I've seen the way you look at each other. I've seen the way you have grown closer. I felt you retreating. I was hoping that I was misreading the signs."
"It wasn't planned. In fact, I didn't even realize it until tonight." Steph tries to explain. As much as I'm hurt, I do know that she is sincere.
"Look, we've been together for over six months, but you still won't introduce me to your kids as anything more than a coworker. If I were that important to you, they would know me as more than that. I understand that dating with children is hard, I respect you for how well you've done on your own but doesn't it say something that Ranger can stay with you and your children, but I can't? Even when Lucia was in the hospital, Steph, you never let me visit her. Steph, it's fine. I just wish it didn't happen in front of our coworkers."
"Me too. God, I'm so ashamed. I don't know how I'm going to show my face at work."
"It'll be fine. Everyone knows that you and Ranger were an item in the past. I don't think any of them will be too surprised."
"You're not mad at me."
Am I mad at her? Yes, there is a small part that is mad that she didn't just break it off months ago, but if I'm honest with myself, I could have let her go. I selfishly kept her, wanting to beat the great Ranger. But, right now, I feel embarrassment, but not the sadness or heartache that I should be, considering. I finally answer Stephanie, "No. I only want you to be happy. And, if Ranger ever hurts you, I will kill him."
Steph laughs, and it makes me glad to know that we will be friends. "Friends?" she asks.
"Friends."
I hug Steph, and she hugs me back. I give her a kiss on the forehead. "I'm heading back in. I'll do some damage control."
I walk towards Ranger, "Don't mess with her; she doesn't deserve that. You better be all in."
"I am. My family means the world to me."
I nod, then reenter the club. When I get back to our section, Zero walks over.
"Are you okay, bro?" Zero is not only my partner but has become my best friend. I know that he will have my back, and is concerned.
"Yeah, in some ways, I'm relieved. I was always waiting for the other shoe to drop. At least now, I don't have to constantly wonder."
"Let's get you a drink," Zero calls the waitress over and orders a round of Tequila for the guys. I see Lester watching us closely, and I give him a discreet nod, letting him know that everything is okay. He seems satisfied and joins us for the shot.
Once the guys see that I'm not angry, they promise me that they won't hassle Steph or Ranger. I am grateful that Steph will still be comfortable at work because let's face it, she's the best PT that I have ever met. I think if I was the reason for her to leave Rangeman, I'd have to run to California to escape everyone's wrath.