Yeti
GLOBAL warming my ass. He snorted and carefully drove on. The world was freezing cold and the streets were covered in snow. The morning meeting had been canceled. He was glad he'd overslept. He'd woken up with an almost painful hard on. Bob had, once again, farted in the bed. Baked beans and grilled cheese. Tonight the damn dog would sleep on his mother's couch. He and Stephanie would celebrate their engagement upstairs first in the bed and then in the shower. Say goodbye to birth control pills, Cupcake. Say goodbye to condoms. Yeah, we are going to become parents. He grinned with expectation. Most of the stores were closed today due to the weather. But he'd managed to find this little store. Yes, it was a second-hand ring. But the diamond was beautiful and the price was fair. He knew Stephanie would loved it. He got home and turned on the TV. He hid the ring inside the meatball sub. He smiled. He started waiting. The ring also had the perfect engraving. "The love of my life, Stephanie".
SHE really should get going. She didn't want to be late. The weather had already warmed up. And the snow had stopped. But the comfortable silence inside Ranger's apartment made her feel safe. She wanted to be gone by the time he came back. She also wanted to stay for another night. She didn't want to miss the game. But Ranger had a bigger TV. And better coffee. And smoother skin. And softer lips. She smelled like his shower gel. Joe would get suspicious. The game would start any minute. She'd turned off her phone. She knew she was being a coward. She was being childish. Ranger hadn't promised her anything. She was here out of her own choice. Or was it poor judgement? She turned on the TV. Rex was soundly asleep. Ella had made her a Cuban sandwich. With too much vegetables. With not enough butter. Delicious. Yummy. She let out a sigh. She flicked through the channels. All of a sudden she wasn't in the mood for hockey games. Or silly movies. Christie was fucked and the world was a mess. There was still time to get up from the couch and drive away. It wasn't too late. Joe knew when not to ask wrong questions. Why wouldn't they be happy together? They would have beautiful kids. Geez. She cringed, and then burst into tears. Nope. She wasn't confused. "The love of my life, Stephanie." The perfect engraving inside her wedding ring. The smile on Dickie's almost handsome face. A future. A promise. Her wedding gown. Her happy smile. Her brand new dining room table. Joyce the Skank. Joe's scowl. The cuffs. Her freaking shower curtain rod. Her bruises. Had Joe ever truly apologized? She couldn't remember.
"It's the small things that counts." Grandma's voice whispered in her ear.
She looked up and saw Ranger. He looked like sin in black. He didn't say a word. She leaned into his arms. She soon found his lips. The snow started to fall. The temperature dropped. She felt warm and safe. Was it time to stop running away? She let out a small happy sigh. Something had changed inside her. She knew it...She could feel it...
THE meatball sub got cold. Stephanie wouldn't answer her phone. Morelli reached for the last slice of pizza. The Rangers had won but somehow he wasn't happy about it. Not at all. The snow kept on falling. A cold shiver ran down his spine.
EDNA Mazur laughed.