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Chapter Six

Stephanie

A tiny sigh escaped from my mouth as I walked down the hospital steps.

After the cops calmed down the Bar and the fire from the car wreck was put under control, we had searched for any remains. Strangely enough, there hadn't been any. No Greg Madison. No Greg Madison body parts on fire. I had glanced at Diesel but he only offered a scowl. I had asked if it was possible that Greg had poofed away and Diesel grimaced. I took that as a yes.

We didn't waste any more time on Greg however. We were all too exhausted.

Aside from a few bruises and scrapes, I was okay. I had bandages around my arms, because apparently the skin had been rubbed raw when I hit the cement. Nothing permanent, nothing overly serious. I was given this creme to apply to my arms and then I was suppose to just, as the doctor said, wait for them to heal.

Morelli hadn't had much wrong with him either. Just a few torn clothes, some cuts and the humiliation of having to tell his boss that he had lost his car. And his pants. I had given him a ride to his house and he had been silent the whole time. I wasn't sure if he was mad at me but he wouldn't even look me in the eye. He seemed fed up by the whole situation.

Physically, Lula was fine. A lot of medication was applied to the cuts on her face and such but emotionally, she was a wreck. Her hair was hanging half off her head, her clothes were torn and she was pissed. She was on a warpath. Her face had been beet red but she hadn't said a word. Which was unusual since Lula was one of the most talkative people I knew. I wondered if she too were angry with me.

She had called Connie to come take her home and I made a weak attempt at a joke that involved mobs and men and cross dressers.

Her exact response had been, "Fucking A."

Diesel and Ranger, however, had the most injuries by far.

A bandage had been wrapped around Diesel's forehead, partially covering one eye. And his foot, which had been stomped repeatedly by a heel apparently, was broken. It was in a cast. I had looked at it and exclaimed that I hadn't known they made cast for feet. How sweet, right?

Ranger had two broken ribs from where the car rammed into him (something I winced at when I was told what had happened while I had been knocked out) and a large gash scarred his forehead, covered by a bandage.

They both had been taken in an ambulance and ordered to stay over night.

Neither one agreed to it.

So, here I was, walking out the hospital with two broken men behind me. Diesel, on crutches, frowning and Ranger with a horrible limb, holding his ribs. The doctor had told him that if he did indeed insist on leaving that he should have a wheelchair but the man belligerently refused. Mostly because he did not want to look like a wimp in front of Diesel.

The two had been competing ever since we arrived at the hospital. Who could last longer without anesthesia, who could withstand more shots. They almost got to the point of seeing who could dive out the hospital window and still be in one piece but, luckily enough, the doctors had stopped them.

At the moment, they were in a heated discussion about who had lost the test of strength. Diesel claimed it was Ranger because he could barely stand up right. Ranger countered and said Diesel needed the help of crutches to walk. A headache flared underneath my eyes and I groaned. Testosterone was so annoying.

Diesel had just dropped his crutches and exclaimed that he didn't need them when I exploded in rage.

"Damn it, I'm SICK of you two arguing!" I whirled, threw up my hands. "Diesel, pick up your damn crutches and get your ass in the car."

They had gone silent. Bug eyed. Diesel wasted no time in collecting the items off and ground and ambling away. I turned on my heel and stalked after him.

It took me a beat to realize that Ranger hadn't moved. I gave him a sideways glance. "Are you coming or not?"

"Me?" Ranger asked, pointing to himself. "You're giving me a ride?" He made it sound like the most bizarre statement in the world.

I rolled my eyes. "No. You're giving me a ride." I threw him the keys and he caught it. A puzzled expression came over his face. "Since I fucked up your car, I figure you'd drop me off at my apartment and then take my car to Rangeman." I explained blandly.

He looked pained at my tone but said nothing. Just grumbled something incoherent and got into the car. I followed suit, ducking into the passenger side and slamming the door closed.

Ever since Ranger had, quite literally, BLAMED me for the entire fiasco today, I had gone through extreme measures not to make eye contact or speak to him unless I absolutely needed to. A bit juvenile I suppose but he had been a jackass to me the entire day. I could understand that he was going through a bit of crisis but I was starting to think that Diesel's spell was beginning to show Ranger's true colors. And they weren't pretty.

Either way, I was so fed up with men at this point. Super men with magic powers. Jealous police officer men. Mysterious men who weren't so mysterious anymore and had transformed into assholes. Men dressed as women. I was sick of them all.

The car ride was silent. Uncomfortably silent. I was staring at the window, working hard not to look at the man driving but not being able to miss the tight line Ranger had his mouth set in or how hard he gripped the steering wheel. While Diesel just sat quiet in the back, seemingly in a daze, oblivious to the tension floating around.

As soon as he came to a stop in my apartment lot, I bolted out of the car and speed walked to the door, not even bothering to look and see if Diesel was following.

o0o0o0o

Ranger

Stephanie was mad. At me.

I sighed and watched her disappear into her apartment without a backwards glance. I banged my fists against the steering wheel. I was such an idiot.

"You are quite an idiot, aren't you?"

I turned to give Diesel a hard glare. I almost forgot he was still in the damn car. "What? It's not enough to completely eradicate my self control? You have to invade my privacy and read my mind as well?"

He blinked. "You were talking aloud."

I groaned.

"Well?" He urged.

"Well what?"

"Aren't you going to go after her?"

I pondered for a moment. "I want to. But I...I can't."

"Why the hell not?"

"She's mad at me. I wouldn't know what to say. Old Ranger would just call her 'Babe.' and do something slick and it'd all be fine. But this Ranger...the person I am now...I stumble over my own words. I can barely concentrate. I can't think straight. I ramble too much. I wouldn't be able to make my thoughts comprehensible. It'd come out all wrong. What would I say?" I said all of this in rapid succession, running my hands through my hair, turning my mouth down in a frown. I felt more things bubble up in my chest and tried to keep it down. It was hard, fighting against my self for control but I was managing. Slightly. "I'm trying to get a hold of myself. But it's hard. You've ruined everything. Do you know that?" My voice turned deadly and I gave him another glare.

Diesel said nothing for a moment. Just watched me. I hated how he looked at me. I hated his gaze. I hated being like this in front of him. Did I mention I hated him? "You're making excuses."

"What?"

"You're making excuses." He repeated, making my blood boil. "Stop trying to fight yourself. You'll never win. Do you know why I placed that spell on you, Ranger?"

I growled. "Because you're a dick. Because you're a maggot. Because you get your jollies out of making me miserable. You're a low down, dirty, good for nothing-"

"I put that spell on you," He interrupted smoothly, grinning like an idiot. "Because I believe that you love Stephanie and she loves you. I believe she'd really do you some good."

"Do...me some good?" I furrowed my eyebrows.

He smiled again. "You need...no, you want someone to show you that your love is worth giving."

"What a fucking load of sh-"

"Do you love Stephanie?"

"Yes." I replied without a moment's hesitation. "I always have. I always will. I just...I don't know if she feels the same way."

"So ask her."

"What if I pour my heart out and she goes back to Morelli?" I instantly cursed, regretting the line that had just came out of my mouth.

Diesel raised an eyebrow. "I figured you had some insecurities about the cop. Listen, you can't sit on your ass and expect her to come to you. If she wanted that guy, she'd be with him. But she isn't. She's hanging around you, waiting for you to open up and frankly, I'm sick of it. I'm tired of seeing you skirting around the real issue. Which is that you're afraid. Of giving yourself up fully, of being rejected. Which is fine. Because, well, you're human. But it's time to step up to the plate, dude, because Stephanie isn't going to wait around forever."

I opened my mouth to curse and scream and tell him that he didn't know a damn thing about me and that I was going to shoot him but the only thing that came out of my mouth was, "How...what...is...what do I tell her?"

"Simple." He said, grabbing his crutches and opening the door. "Just tell her the truth."

0o0oo0

When Stephanie opened the door to Diesel and me, my heart felt like it was ready to explode. Diesel wobbled past her into her apartment (I hated that he was staying with her by the way) and Stephanie and I were left staring at each other. She had a hand on her hip and, from her expression, I could see that she was still angry. But at least she hadn't slammed the door in my face.

After talking with Diesel, I realized he was right (which only made me hate him more). I was making excuses. Mostly because I was scared. Opening up had always made me uneasy. The people I worked with, my family, my friends. It was easy to keep my distance from everyone. I liked that the things they knew about me were only the things I allowed them to know. It kept me from growing attached, from getting hurt, from putting them in danger.

But now I was standing before a tiny, brown haired woman from the burg who had the power to send my emotions into a frenzy and a magical fucking spell on me that prevented me from staying closed off.

I was absolutely terrified.

"Is there something you wanted to tell me?" She asked carefully.

I took a deep breath and blurted out, "I'm sorry."

Her eyebrows raised in surprise.

"I didn't mean it. I know it wasn't all your fault. It just slipped from my mouth. I'm so stupid. I hate when you're mad at me. I would never try to hurt you. I hate seeing you like that. I hadn't meant it, I swear. I couldn't care less about a dumb car. I was just mad and frustrated. I've been like that lately, if you haven't noticed. I'm sorry about your arms. I wish I was there to protect you. I'm sorry."

Stephanie was staring at me like I had grown three heads and I bit my lip and flexed my fingers to keep from running them through my hair again. She thought I was insane. She would never have me. I was a loser.

"It's okay." She finally said, smiling. "I forgive you."

Sweet relief filled me like a balloon. "Oh thank god. I'm so glad you said that. I feel so great. I feel like dancing."

That made her laugh out loud and I felt my face get red from embarrassment. That just sent her into hysterics and she doubled over, holding her stomach.

She was happy, she was laughing, she was not longer mad at me. It was the perfect time to tell her how much I loved her. To put my heart on the table. This was it. I opened my mouth and felt my throat close.. Sweat broke out on my face and my heart started to beat crazily. A jumble of words came to my mind but when I tried to force them out, nothing happened. My chest heaved. "Stephanie I love..." I wheezed. It started to get hard to breathe.

I couldn't do it. I was going to have a heart attack. I was dying.

No, I had to. Stephanie was going to be mine. I wanted Stephanie to be mine.

No, I couldn't do it. My words weren't coming out!

Just spit it out, Manoso!

"Stephanie, I love cake!"

There was a beat of silence where I blinked in confusion. I love cake?

"I've always loved cake. But when I was little, I was kinda big...and over weight. I use to consume tons of candy. I got teased. I toned up in the army but the love never wavered. I don't eat it now because it takes me back...to bad times. They use to call me Ricky McFatty."

By now, Stephanie had straightened up. Her eyes were wide and her mouth was shaped like an O.

I mentally cursed and elbowed my damaged ribs. Screaming out in pain, I buckled over and held my stomach. Stephanie gasped and reached out to me. "Ranger, are you okay?"

"I...think it's my...ribs...I accidentally...hit them..." I strained out, wincing. "Aahhh, oh man. That hurts." Stephanie helped me inside her apartment and eased me onto her couch beside Diesel. "Whew. I think I should just camp out here for the night."

"You're so stubborn. You should have just taken the wheelchair they offered." She was grumbling this but a little smile played across her mouth. I wondered if she knew I had did this on purpose. "I'll go get some covers. Ranger can sleep on the couch and Diesel, on the floor."

"What?" Diesel exclaimed, throwing up his hands. "On the floor? I have a broken foot!"

"And he has broken ribs." That said, she turned on her heel and disappeared into her room.

Diesel gave me a look. "What?" I asked.

" 'Oh Stephanie' "He mocked, holding a hand in front of his heart and fluttering his eyelashes. " 'I'm a huge wimp who has to injure myself to get out of telling you how much I love you. Oh, woe is me!' "

I scoffed but glanced down at the floor. "I was going to tell her...I just..."

"Chickened out?" He asked dryly. A devilish smirk lit up his features. "Ricky McFatty?" I glowered at him and he laughed nervously. "Kids can be so cruel."

0oo0o0o

Diesel

Un-fucking-believable.

Ranger was becoming a lost cause.

Even with my spell, he was too much of a coward to tell Stephanie how he felt. I gave him a spectacular pep talk, I damn near awed him with my wit. I mean, I gave him all kinds of great lines. I told him that it was okay to be scared, that I thought him and Stephanie were good for each other. Sweet shit, I'm telling you. I felt like Dr. Phil. Fuck, I felt better than Dr. Phil.

Then, he had the perfect opening to spill his guts but the guy just didn't do it.

Why? Why, why, why, why?

He seemed perfectly fine when it came to telling me that he loved her. So why couldn't he just tell Steph?

Nerves, probably. As I expected, my spell had enhanced every emotion in his body. It was a neat little trick but had it's set backs. You couldn't open up one thing without expecting other things to be tampered with. Preventing him from telling lies, for example, meant that he couldn't portray himself as calm if he was actually jittery. Nothing on him could hide. What you saw on the outside of Ranger was how he felt on the inside.

He was nervous about telling her. So nervous that he couldn't even get it out of his mouth.

It was up to me then. I would have to devise a plan to get Ranger and Stephanie together before everything blew up in my face.

Mission Get-Ranger-to-say-he-loves-Stephanie-while-catching-my-unmentionable, finding-myself-a-doughnut-and-getting-the-hell-out-of-Trenton was in effect.

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