Page 32 of Deception and New Direction (Ranger Shield Security #3)
RUTHIE
Ellie and I were both off today so we had met up to go shopping. Even though the boot was certainly easier than my cast and crutches, walking for long periods of time was still tiresome. So after two hours of walking around the shopping center, we decided to break for lunch.
Like many people, Ellie and I had realized that Mexican food could solve most of life’s problems. It was my personal belief that many world issues could be solved if everyone just sat down and ate chips and queso with some margaritas—but what did I know?
Jack had spent the morning running errands himself, so he had dropped me off at the first store earlier today and would pick us both up when we were done. This allowed for margaritas as well as enough appetizers to put ourselves into a food coma.
“I say we get cheese dip and guacamole. That way we don’t have to choose,” I told Ellie .
She nodded, chuckling. “ And this is why we are friends.”
“Look, there are a lot of tough choices you have to make in life. Deciding between queso and guacamole should not be one of them,” I justified.
Drinks and appetizers arrived, and we dug in like a pair of starved hyenas.
“So, how did the paperwork signing go a couple days ago?” Ellie asked.
Last week I had met up with Ronald to begin the process of donating all my inheritance money. Ellie , Cat , and Val knew all about the money and everything Ronald had filled us in on.
I had decided to split it up between animal charities as well as charities for women and children in domestic violence situations that could help them move to a safer location and get themselves back on their feet in a new town.
Ellie , having been in a domestic abuse situation herself, had helped me research a bunch of places for this and made sure we could help as many women and children as possible.
Cat and Val had both asked if I wanted to maybe save a little for myself for a down payment on a house or something.
I had thought about that, along with a few other things, but I realized I didn’t need it.
A few months ago, I hadn’t even realized I was getting this money.
I had a great job, a nice apartment—not that it was being used at the moment—and realized I hadn’t wanted for anything before I knew about the money.
I tried offering some to Archer to expand the business.
I told him it was like an investment in the company, but he told me he didn’t need it and to do whatever I wanted with it instead.
I also hoped that if I no longer had the money, my father and Mal would leave me alone. I explained all of that to her.
“It went well,” I told Ellie . “ It was a lot of paperwork. I’m not kidding you when I tell you I think I signed eighty pieces of paper.”
She laughed a little, nodding. “ Oh , I believe it.”
“But I’m happy it’s done,” I said. “ It feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders, and hopefully it will keep my dad and Creepy McCreepface Mal away from me.”
“I’m happy for you,” she said, smiling at me. “ I also can’t believe I ever thought you were an introvert.”
I chuckled at her assessment of me when she first met me. Ellie was the first friend I had made after I moved to Georgia . Prior to meeting her, I hadn’t really opened myself up to making friends because I wasn’t even sure if I would stay here long-term.
“I remember when I first met you at the Ranger Shield office the first day I came to town. You were so shy and soft-spoken.” She and I both chuckled, thinking back on that memory.
“With everything that had happened in Vegas right before I moved here, I was trying to lie low,” I explained to her.
“ Plus , I didn’t want Archer to regret giving me the job, so I just dove into the career and put all my focus into doing a great job and not on making friends or really doing anything for myself. ”
Because Archer and I often rode to work together since we lived in the same apartment building, he had noticed I was only ever going to and from work. Nothing else. He was the one who got me into the self-defense classes.
I knew it was just to get me out of the house, but I also really enjoyed them. It gave me a little bit of my confidence back that I had lost after Mal’s arrest and the investigation into my family’s business.
Then, when Ellie moved here, we started taking those classes together. Not only had we both needed those classes, but it also built up our friendship.
“Are you excited to be free of your boot soon?” Ellie asked me as she devoured her quesadilla.
“Yes,” I told her honestly. “ It can’t come soon enough. Mostly I miss going to the gym.”
“I do miss our hikes, and our self-defense classes, but I can’t say I miss anything else at the gym,” Ellie responded and giggled a little at that admission.
“I do miss those, but I also miss running on the treadmill while getting lost in an audiobook,” I explained. “ It’s my favorite way to exercise.”
“My favorite exercise is a cross between a lunge and a crunch,” Ellie informed me. “ It’s called lunch, and we’re doing it right now.”
We both laughed at her ridiculous joke and finished off our food and margaritas.
I’d sent Jack a text a few minutes earlier letting him know we’d just gotten our food and would be ready in about thirty minutes.
After we ate, we paid the bill and decided to wait for Jack on the bench in front of the restaurant. We were leaned back, soaking in the sun, and uncomfortably full of cheese.
We both waved lazily when Jack pulled up in front of the restaurant.
He rolled down the window. “ How many margaritas did you two have?”
“Bro, you can’t ask that,” Ellie scoffed, offended he would inquire. “ That’s like asking a woman how old she is. That’s personal information.”
Jack shook his head, but I saw the grin tugging at the corners of his mouth as he got out and opened the passenger door for us. “ You two look like you had a good time.”
“We did,” Ellie said solemnly. “ Mexican food is good for the soul.”
“So,” he said, starting the engine. “ Are you two going to make it, or am I going to have to carry you both inside?”
“I just need a nap,” Ellie said.
“Oooooh, a nap sounds amazing,” I confirmed. “ I think I’m going to take one on the bench by your pond.”
Jack chuckled. “ Alright . We’ll drop Ellie off first and then go home to the bench.”
I felt like he also mumbled God help me , but that could have been a dream.