All characters belong to Janet.
"Cupcake, what do you want to do for your birthday next week?" Joe asked when I answered my phone.
We'd been broken up for about three months but we're trying to make the friendship work. It was touch and go, but we were trying.
"I was thinking I'd just plan an evening out with the girls," I replied.
"You do that every week. Let me take you to dinner and we can catch a movie or something," he replied. He must have sensed my hesitation because he quickly added, "I'm your friend, too. I know you don't want dinner at your family's house"
The voices in my head were arguing, but I chose to hope for the best. "Sure, Joe. Dinner would be nice. I was looking forward to that new horror movie coming out, but the girls aren't interested. I'd love to go see that!"
"Sure thing, Cupcake. Just let me know what time you want me to pick you up, okay?"
"Yeah, I'll text you."
Later that week once the movie times had been published, I texted Joe that I was hoping to go to the new Mexican restaurant and the movie. The movie started at 8:30, so we agreed he'd pick me up for dinner at 6:30.
I smiled at his thumbs up reply. Maybe we were going to make this friendship work.
I should have known better. Italian Stallions don't change their stripes.
Joe showed up fifteen minutes late and had obviously been at happy hour with some buddies. I wasn't upset until he opened his big mouth with a "why the hell aren't your shoes on? Why aren't you ready to go?" As soon as I answered the door.
"Chill," I countered. "When you weren't here on time, I slipped the heels off, they are with my bag. I won't be a minute." I took a deep breath intent on enjoying my birthday and followed him out to his car. It has been a long day of skip chasing and computer research. I was truly looking forward to enjoying the evening.
As we climbed into his green SUV, he started up. "I heard the Mexican place isn't all that good. Couple of the patrol guys went for lunch the first day and said the service was slow and food was cold. Are you sure that's what you want? We could go to Pino's instead?"
"I heard it was great. They probably were just behind on the first day. I've been craving queso all week!" I responded.
Unfortunately, that wasn't good enough. "I don't think we should go somewhere with cruddy service and I don't want to spend money on cold food. Why don't we just go to Pino's?"
"Because I want Mexican. Joe, I'll pay," I countered.
"That's stupid, Cupcake. This is my treat for your birthday, but I want it to be good. I don't want my treat to be disappointing. I know you love meatball subs."
I shrugged my shoulders. This argument seemed futile. Guess it doesn't really matter.
Joe smiled at my shrug and turned his car towards Pino's.
I'll admit, the meatball sub was good but not what I'd been looking forward to.
Dinner conversation was fine…just gossip and stories Joe wanted to tell from the cop shop. Any time I tried to offer a story of my week, he cut me off with a "that reminds me…". I was starting to get frustrated. We both started watching the hockey game on the big screen in lieu of a converstation. At least we always had that to fall back on.
We'd just about finished our dinner when Lester walked in to pick up a to go order. Seeing me, he walked over to our booth. He seemed a little surprised when he realized who was sitting across from me.
"Hey, Beautiful. Happy birthday!" He offered with a great big grin. "Fun plans for the evening?"
"Hey, Les. Thanks," I said with a big grin. "Joe and I were just hanging out, catching dinner, and then headed to the new horror movie. Girls weren't interested, so Joe agreed to accompany me. He and I haven't had much of a chance to catch up lately."
"Cool. Heard the movie is awesome gruesome! You should have told me, I'd have joined you," he joked.
"I'd invite you to join us, but it looks like you are on duty," I said nodding towards his full utility belt.
"Yeah, I'm core team on deck this evening," he replied. "Catch you later. Make sure and tell me what you think of the movie!"
No sooner had Lester walked away then Joe started making comments on hockey game. They started innocently enough, but soon morphed into "we should go down the street to the pub and watch the rest of this game."
"Joe, the movie starts in less than an hour, we really should head that way."
"Cupcake, this game is great. I can't imagine the movie is that great. Horror movies are just a bunch of ketchup thrown on some kids playing with power tools in a shed. Seen one, you've seen them all."
"Joe, this is a psychological thriller. It's supposed to be mind blowing."
He just shook his head absorbed in the game dismissing me without so much as a look.
A few minutes later, I gathered my handbag and phone and made motions indicating I was ready to leave. Joe followed my lead but couldn't take his eyes off the game.
He did ultimately follow me out the door, but pulled me inside the sports bar we unfortunately had to pass on the way to the car with "just a few minutes."
Thirty five minutes and two beers for Joe later, I sent a quick text to Lester asking if someone could pick me up. I got an instant "everything okay? ETA 5 minutes". Then a quick, "Sorry, 10 minutes if that's okay?"
I gave him a thumbs up. Didn't figure Joe would even notice and we'd already missed the movie.
In the time we'd been in the sports bar, I'd only had a glass of water so I didn't feel the need to drop any cash on the bar eight minutes later when I nodded to the restroom and got up.
I slipped out the front door in time to see a black Turbo turn the corner. Ranger pulled up to the curb and popped the passenger door for me.
I climbed in without a word and we pulled away. He drove a couple blocks before asking, "Babe, where to?"
I shrugged and couldn't keep the tears from welling up in my eyes.
Ranger pulled to the curb, put the vehicle in park, and reached across to push a curl behind my ear. "Babe?" He left his hand on my cheek.
"Sorry, Ranger. Just a sucky birthday."
He just sat there looking at me and finally took and squeezed my hand.
"There's a 2015 showing. Would you like to see the movie?" He asked.
"You go to the movies?" I asked incredulously and then with a smile added, "do you have to sit against a back wall?"
"I prefer to or I take back up, but yes, I've been known to go to the movies."
I guess he took the smile on my face as a yes, and headed towards a theater. A couple blocks before the theater, he pulled into a parking lot and up to an ice cream shop. "We've got about forty-five minutes before we need to be at the theater. Want a birthday ice cream?"
He must have registered the shock on my face because he graced me with his wolf grin.
I beat him into the shop, and ordered a double scoop of birthday cake ice cream. Seemed appropriate. Ranger ordered himself an iced coffee and paid for our treats.
We took a seat at a cafe table and enjoyed our treats. Ranger was talkative and happy. He even ate a couple bites of my cone when offered.
"Happy Birthday, Babe," he stated leaning in and giving me a quick kiss. It warmed my heart after the encounter with Joe.
We cleaned up our table and headed to the theater where Ranger was able to secure two back row seats. His lips twitched when I told him, "kids in the back row typically aren't watching the movie."
My phone vibrated in my pocket, but I knew it was one of two people who I didn't want to talk to so I ignored it. Two text messages followed, and I finally peeked. Joe was livid I'd wandered off; he didn't seem worried though. I replied I was at the movie like I wanted. I then switched off the phone.
Ranger had bought me popcorn and a coke on the way in which I was balancing on my lap. He reached over, snagged some popcorn with a smile, and then smoothly dropped an arm across the back of my chair.
The movie was as good as I'd hoped. When it came to a termination, I realized I had finished off my snacks and was snuggled up against Ranger and his arm was curled around me protectively.
"That was awesome," I stated grinning up at him.
"Glad you liked it, Babe. I know technically it isn't still your birthday, but I do have cake back at my place if you're interested," Ranger whispered in my ear as he helped me up.
"Seems like I've done nothing but eat since you picked me up," I countered.
Ranger smiled and said, "if you aren't interested…"
I interrupted him with an emphatic "oh, I'm interested." After I said it, I blushed at the double entendres.
Ranger laced his fingers in mine and led me back to the car.
When we pulled into Rangerman, we got into the elevator to whisk us up to seven. "Babe, would you rather eat here or take the cake back to your place?"
"I'm sorry, Ranger. I wasn't thinking about how late it was. I can take it to go so you can get some sleep. I know you'll be up early."
"Babe, I'm in no rush," he replied, giving me a slow, soft kiss. My mind was reeling. I felt like we were having two conversations. I kept my mouth shut and leaned into his side as he drew me against himself.
On the counter in his kitchen was a chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream icing and bright confetti and a "happy birthday" topper. Ranger added a single candle and lit it wordlessly, waiting for me to make a wish and blow it out. Afterwards, he cut me a large slice and handed me a plate. He cut himself a very thin slice. His slice was ridiculously small but I was floored that he was planning to eat any.
We took our cake to the couch and settled in. Ranger's eyes didn't leave me as I took a bite closing my eyes to savor the richness and possibly escape his scrutiny.
"Oh, that's good. How come you have a cake for me, Ranger? We weren't planning on seeing each other."
"I wanted to make sure you had cake if it was needed, and it was," he said placing a quick kiss to my temple.
"Why?" I queried. He looked at me questioning.
"Why did you need to make sure I had cake?"
"Because it's your birthday," he stated. I wasn't sure he was going to continue, but he did after a pause. "And I want you to be happy."
"Why?" He looked at me again with question in his eyes.
"I'm happy when you're happy, Steph."
It was my turn to look at him questioningly. I continued to eat my cake while he'd set the remaining portion of his on the coffee table.
After a few minutes he continued, "I realized a year or so ago that we only have so many revolutions around the sun and that I wanted to invest more in what made me happy."
Ranger reached over, picked up a remote and turned on some soft jazz music. He took my empty plate and set it on the coffee. He took my hand and stood, dragging me to my feet. Pulling me towards him, he wrapped his arms around me and we began swaying to the music.
I danced in his arms for the longest time mulling over the fact that I made him happy. I don't think anyone that had ever told me that my happiness was important to them…maybe my grandma? But other than my grandma, I couldn't think of anyone outside of Ranger that ever said they wanted me to be happy.
The warmth of Ranger's arms was encompassing and I couldn't imagine anywhere else I would want to be.
We'd probably been dancing for half an hour before I pulled away slightly to look into Ranger's eyes which were full of an emotion I couldn't pinpoint. "I make you happy?" I whispered.
He nodded slightly and kissed me softly. The kiss was slow and sensual but ended way too early for my liking, but I laid my head back on his shoulder relishing the quiet moment alone with this man.
"I love you, Steph," he whispered in my ear before kissing my temple. I held my breath waiting for the qualifier that never came. We continued to dance to the music.
After several moments, I came to a revelation. "I love you, too, Ranger," I whispered. I couldn't see his face, but I could feel his smile and he drew me closer.
"Happy Birthday, Babe."