A/N: I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. I definitely did my share of too much Black Friday shopping for myself. :p This isn't a particularly exciting chapter but it will open the doors to lead into more of the plot. Hope you enjoy!
Previous Chapter: I threw my arms around his neck and gave him a kiss on his jawline, "You're the best hubby ever!"
"You say that but yet you never reciprocate the appreciation," he winked at me suggestively.
"On that note, I'll see you later," I grabbed the keys from his hands and trotted off.
I'm usually used to flirting from the guys but after the almost kiss from Binkie this afternoon. I wasn't sure if I could take the overload at the moment.
Chapter 3
"Tank, I don't want to go to my sessions anymore."
"Little Girl," the large towering mountain we call Tank said in a disapproving voice to me.
"No, I don't want to argue about it. I've talked through my issues with what happened with Deuce, and yes I am still going to have to deal with some of those feelings. But I feel like I'm at a point where I can move on normally now. The standard requirement for Rangeman employees to go through this is six weeks. I've been doing it for six months! I can't take it anymore. All she wants to do is rehash my past and I don't want to delve into it."
"Ranger and I believe that it's good for you to continue seeing Dr. Francesco. You've been dealt a lot of tough cards over the last year."
"Ranger?" I shouted more loudly than I probably should have. "What gives him the right to say what's good for me? He's not even here. Where the fuck he is, god only knows!"
"Calm down, Little Girl," Tank sand sternly placing a hand on my shoulder.
"Ok, I take that back. YOU know where he is. Probably everyone knows except for me. But that's not the point. The point is that he has no right to say what I need or what is good for me especially when he's not even around! I know what I need and what's good for me.
"And seeing this therapist is not doing me any good. It's causing me more stress than comfort. What I need is to move on with my life normally. What I need is for you to put me back on the field and give me a new partner. I'm tired of being confined to a desk or monitor duty because you're tiptoeing around me. All of that is making me remember and hold onto what's going on with me more!"
"It's not my decision to make. I will talk with Ranger."
"You do that!" I grit out indignantly and turned towards the door, "but no matter what decision the two of you come down to. I will NOT be seeing her any longer. And if the two of you don't like that, then you can just fire me."
I stomped out into the hallway letting the door slam shut behind me.
"Hey, Wifey," Manny smiled stepping through the stairway door and started to hand me my keys. "Whoa, what's wrong?"
"Nothing!" I bit at him.
He frowned and held onto the keys tight into his hands as I tried to snatch them from him. "Tell me," he said firmly and pulled me rigid body into his for a hug.
"Sorry," I muffled into his chest. "Tank and I just had a little disagreement. Thanks for taking care of my car," I pulled away from him and handed the keys to his truck from my purse and exchange them for mine.
"Do you need to talk about it?"
"No," I shook my head. "I'm fine. Go start your shift."
"Ok, you know how to reach me if you change your mind. Also, I think that crow was left on your windshield," his voice had a hint of worry. "I just can't see how it would've just died on your windshield. Have you noticed anything strange lately?"
I shook my head "no" and dismissed his concern. "It was probably just some kid playing a prank. Thanks for taking care of the carcass for me. I wouldn't worry too much about it," I said heading to the elevator and pulling out my phone.
"I need a drink and I need one now," I said quickly into the receiver after dialing out.
^o^ * ^o^
"You need to move on from that asshole," the beautiful blond shouted over the pumping bass.
"There's nothing to move on from. It was never a thing," I stated loudly taking a drag from my beer.
For those who know me, would find this out of character for me. I'm not a drinker. In fact, my college nickname was the "two sip wonder." I don't handle my alcohol well and honestly, I never really cared for the taste of it. But I've been finding myself leaning towards it more and more after my incident and it helps to numb my mind.
"You keep telling yourself that, Alyssa, and maybe someday you'll actually believe it," Misty said sarcastically. "You slept with him and that's something big for you. And then he just dropped you like a sack of potatoes and left. Not only that you were carrying his child for almost 2 months and he wasn't even there for you to go through the loss."
I shook my head, "It wasn't his responsibility to take care of me. And I knew going into it with Ranger that he doesn't do relationships. He's always been honest and up front with me. I shouldn't have had other expectations."
"Whatever. The man's a dumbass. It's time for you to forget about the jerk and just move onto bigger and better things."
"Maybe I should've married Joe and moved to DC with him. Life would probably be much easier right now," I sighed.
Joe would be Joseph Morelli, my ex-boyfriend. He's an ex-Trenton Police Detective who got recruited into the FBI and is now living in DC. Over New Year's he asked me to marry him and move to DC. I turned him down knowing that although I cared a great deal for him. I just wasn't sure if he was the one. So he moved on without me.
Joe and I, throughout our relationship, were usually on opposite ends of the spectrum and there was a lot of tension between us. He didn't like how I lived my life and I didn't want it to change. I know that he loved me and cared for my safety, but I'm just not ready nor am I sure I will ever be ready to have someone dictate what I can and cannot do with my own life.
"Hell to the NO!" she exclaimed. "Yeah, your life would've been simpler but you wouldn't be happy. What you need is to find someone to take your mind off of things. Live a little. Who said that you even need to fall into a relationship at this point in your life? In fact, why not take a vacation and have a little fling?" she clapped excitedly.
"I don't have time for a vacation."
"Bullshit! I know you're making pretty solid money at Rangeman and you've been rolling in the skips lately. I know cause my stupid Cousin Vinnie wouldn't shut up about how the business is booming at the family dinner last week."
She was right. The last couple of months have been generous to me financially. And for once I did start putting money into my savings account.
"I can hear those hamster wheels spinning in your head, Aly. Let's do it. I should be able to take a week off later this month. We can go somewhere together!"
I beamed back at her, "Let's do it."
"So where do you want to go?"
"Somewhere warm and near the water," I suggested.
With all of that swimming I've been doing with Binkie, my body's become pretty tone and I'd love to show it off at the beach and not be self-conscious by hiding it away behind a wrap or towel.
"And there needs to be a lot of hot men," Misty stated then tapped her nose with enthusiasm and pointed at me, "MIAMI!"
"I've never been there before," I let the thought sink in.
"Then it's perfect. There're tons of gorgeous men in Miami. Everyone's gorgeous in South Beach. It's the perfect place for a hot fling."
"I don't do flings."
"You do now!" she exclaimed. "It's just the thing to get your mind off of that Latino Jackoff Sex God and find yourself a new one. Plus, you can do some reinventing of yourself."
I frowned at her.
She waved me off, "Plus wouldn't it be nice for you to finally sink your teeth into a juicy man that doesn't make you feel guilty? Since you have that guilty conscious of not wanting to sleep with your Justice League team of hot men because you work with them? It's time that you get your groove on with some guilt free meat."
My mind wandered to Binkie's almost kiss.
"It's settled!" she broke through my thoughts. "We're going to Miami in a few weeks. We'll fly down and spend a nice relaxing yet fun-filled week in Miami. Now let's drink!"
^o^ * ^o^
The smell of crisp french fries wafted in the air as I attempted to pry my eyes opened and was greeted with the golden arches.
"God what happened?" I groaned rolling over onto my back and threw my hands over my eyes.
"Bones tells me that you girls had quite the drinking binge last night," Binkie smiled down at me as he helped sit me up against the headboard.
Bones is a part of the band of Merry Men who also happens to be Misty's live-in boyfriend. Misty was my best friend and the complete opposite of me in every way. As I was a short and at certain angles semi-attractive brunette, Misty was a leggy gorgeous blond with all of the confidence in the world and perfection for days. She used to be one of those love 'em and leave 'em kind of girls until she met Bones who helped her hang up her single bachelorette shoes and settle into a domesticated, monogamous relationship. I really was happy that they found each other.
"Ugh, worst idea ever," I moaned.
He chuckled while sinking down next to me and began unwrapping the McDonald's goodness for me.
"So what made you come here and bring me goodies?" I asked stuffing a fry into my mouth.
I learned to stop asking how and why these guys are able to get into my apartment. It just seems like they all have the power to and won't share on their tricks of the trade so I just stopped fighting it.
"Bones called me up and knew that we usually go swimming on Fridays so he just wanted to give me a heads up that I probably shouldn't be expecting you."
"Well, thank you. This was just want I needed," I said stuffing the last bite of cheeseburger into my mouth and washing it down with a coke. "You working today?"
He shook his head, "Nope. Off."
"Well, I'm going to take the day off to be a bum," I expressed.
"I figured. So I picked up your files from Vinnie's on my way over and left them on your kitchen counter. Told them you wouldn't be in today and you're not scheduled at Rangeman."
I reached up and kissed him on the cheek, "You're too good to me, Binkie. So what are your plans for the day?"
"I was hoping you wouldn't mind hanging out with me. Movies perhaps? And if you're feeling better towards the evening maybe some dancing?"
"Sounds wonderful!" I snuggled up against his side. "But right now, I need a little nap," I yawned.
^o^ * ^o^
Binkie dropped me off at my place after dinner and a movie so that I could get dressed and he could run back to his place at Rangeman to get changed. I was putting on the final touches to my makeup with my phone buzzed.
"Hello," I answered without looking and swiping on the last coat of mascara.
"Babe."
My heart stopped. My body was taken over with the sensation of uncontrollable tingles.
"Babe?" his voice cut through my thoughts.
I sucked in a deep breath. "Hi, who's this?"
"Babe," he responded with a hint of amusement and exhaustion.
Ranger, the man with so few words could have so many meanings that makes you feel differently with the way he said them.
"Ranger?" I feigned confusion.
I could hear a faintest chuckle fill my ears. And when Ranger laughed it was beautiful that made me want to fill a room with and live in it.
"Sorry, I almost didn't recognize your voice being that I haven't heard in almost half a year," I replied with sarcasm oozing from my voice.
"Babe." (This was a tone of don't be ridiculous, like anyone in this world could ever forget me. Ok so maybe the last part wouldn't be something he'd actually think.) "Tank says you're stopping therapy."
"Yeah," I replied in a more annoyed voice. So this is what he called about.
"Babe, therapy will help you."
"It's not."
"Maybe not now, but it will," he spoke in a calm soothing voice.
"I'm not doing it anymore, Ranger. I know myself. You don't. It's not helping. And you're not even around, how the hell would you know if it's working or not."
Knock. Knock.
I went and swung open the door and stood face-to-face with a gorgeous Binkie dressed in a smart charcoal gray slacks and midnight blue button down that made his light baby blues seem to glow. I licked my lips to keep myself from salivating.
"Babe."
"I'm not going anymore. If you don't like it, fire me," I said firmly and hung up the phone. "Wow," I stood speechlessly at the door staring at the incredible specimen in front of me.
"I could say the same for you," he smiled back at me admiring my blue and silver foiled tube dress and gave me a kiss on the cheek.
"Who were you talking to?" he asked as he shut the door and furnished a bouquet of flowers.
"Thank you," I said taking the flowers from him and walked back into the kitchen to put them in water.
"I wish I could take credit for them, but I just found them in front of your door. No card."
"Oh," I said wondering who would send me a beautiful arrangement.
"So who were you on the phone with?" Binkie repeated his previous question.
"No one special."
"So why would no one special have the ability to fire you?"
I rolled my eyes, "Ranger."
"You're telling him to fire you? Why?" he's eyebrows furrowed in concern.
"Because I'm sick and tired of him forcing therapy on me. He's not here to understand how it's affecting me. It's stressing me out more than it's helping me."
"Don't leave Rangeman. We're growing quite fond of you there," Binkie said wrapping his arms around me.
"I know. 'Cause you guys would end up being bored to tears without me," I said slugging him in the shoulder. "I can't stay out too late tonight. I want to get an early start on some skips," I said as I went to pull on my shoes and grabbed my clutch.
"No problem. I have an early shift," Binkie nodded in understanding. "So let's get this party started."