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“I don’t know how.”
“Oh boy.”
“Look,” I said, “I know I’m stupid about guns. I don’t like guns. I’m afraid of them and I don’t want to shoot anyone. But I’m in a bad situation and I have an opportunity to learn something about my weapons, and I’m going to make the most of this opportunity. So just try to be patient and I’ll try to pay attention.”
“Deal,” Tank said.
Twenty minutes later I knew all the parts of the gun. I knew how to load it and safely carry it. Ranger had tried to teach me all these things a couple years ago, but we’d ended up naked on thefloor. There was no danger of this happening with Tank. I liked Tank a lot, but naked? No. And besides, Ranger might kill him.
“Okay,” Tank said, “let’s see you shoot. I’ve set up three targets at different distances. Try the closest target.”
I two-handed the little gun and squeezed off a shot.
“You’d have more luck hitting the target if you didn’t close your eyes,” Tank said.
“I know,” I said. “It’s one of those reflex actions.”
“Well, we have lots of ammo and we’re going to stay here and shoot until you keep your eyes open. If your eyes aren’t open after ten minutes of shooting, I’m using duct tape on your eyelids.”
“Jeez. You’re tough.”
“I lied about the duct tape.”
He adjusted my grip and after about twenty rounds I started keeping my eyes open.
“This is better,” he said, “but you’re making a scrunchy, slitty-eye face that’s creeping me out. Pretend you’re Ranger and you have no emotion.”
“Ranger has emotion,” I said.
“He doesn’t show it when he’s shooting.”
I took a moment to channel Ranger, then I fired off a round and almost got a bullseye.
“Wow!” I said. “Did you see that? Look what I did!”
Tank was smiling. “You have a good eye. Your problem is attitude.”
I shot for the rest of the hour and Ranger came in.
“How’s it going?” he asked Tank.
“She’s a sharpshooter,” Tank said. “I might marry her.”
“That doesn’t work for me,” Ranger said, “but I’m glad she can shoot.”
“We only had time to spend with the Glock,” I said. “I’d like to come back and learn how to use the S&W.”
“We’ll set something up,” Ranger said. “I want you to come upstairs with me to look at the photo.”
I thanked Tank, took my guns, and followed Ranger up the stairs, into the elevator, and into his apartment. He closed the door and pushed me against the foyer wall. He leaned into me and kissed me. The first kiss was soft and serious. The second kiss was all passion.
He broke from the kiss and our eyes met.
“Let me guess,” I said. “You get turned on by sharpshooters.”
“Not all sharpshooters,” he said. “Tank is obviously a better instructor than I am.”
“Yes, but I wouldn’t marry Tank,” I said.
