Chapter 23: Robyn

The next morning, Micah and I go to the hospital to see Tony and Ricky. We stop in Tony’s room first, to see how he’s doing.

“Hey, guys!” he says when we walk into his room. Tony’s lying propped up, his head on a stack of pillows.

Cara is seated at his bedside.

Micah walks over to the bed and shakes Tony’s hand. “I’m glad to see you awake and smiling.”

“It’s these awesome painkillers,” Tony says. “They’re some good stuff. I’m feelin’ no pain.”

“Hi, Tony,” I say as I join Micah at the bedside. “I’m so sorry—”

“Hey, none of that,” he says with a dismissive wave. “It’s not your fault.”

I reach for his hand and give it a gentle squeeze. “I’m glad you’re all right.”

“I get a few days off work. What’s bad about that?”

“You can take more than a few days,” Micah says. “Take as much time as you need.”

I notice Cara eyeing me sheepishly. Hoping we can have a fresh start, I offer her a smile. “Hi, Cara.”

To my surprise, she smiles back. “Hi, Robyn. I’m glad you’re safe. Tony told me what happened yesterday. It sounds awful. You must have been terrified.”

“It was pretty intense.” I nod to Tony. “I’m just glad he’s okay.”

While the guys chat for a bit, Cara and I exchange a few more words. It looks like the animosity between us is gone, and I’m glad. There’s no reason we can’t be friends.

When a nurse comes in to check Tony’s vitals, Micah and I get ready to take our leave.

Micah wags his finger at Tony. “Don’t come back to work until you’re one hundred percent back to normal, all right?” He turns to Cara. “Make sure he listens, Cara.”

We leave Tony’s room and stop at a nurses’ station to ask where we can find Ricky.

“He’s being kept in a secured room down the hall, with a police guard,” she says, giving us the room number. “I doubt they’ll let you talk to him.”

We head to his room anyway just in case they’ll let me talk to him. Dennis, one of Chris’s deputies, is standing guard outside the room.

“Can I talk to him?” I ask the deputy as I peer through the window. Ricky is lying in bed, and I notice one of his wrists and an ankle are handcuffed to the bedframe. He looks pale and there are dark circles under his eyes. At least his hair is freshly washed and combed.

He frowns. “I’m sorry, but he’s under arrest. I’m not supposed to let anyone in there, other than medical staff and law enforcement.”

“Come on, Dennis,” Micah says. “She just wants to talk to him for five minutes. You can stand right there by the bed.”

“Fine. But just five minutes. Not a second longer.”

Dennis follows us into the room and stands at the foot of the bed.

Ricky’s eyes widen when he spots me. “Robyn!”

“Hey, Ricky.”

“You’re okay?” he asks.

I nod. “I’m fine. How are you?”

He tries to shift his position and winces in the process. “Pretty sore. But the doctor says I’ll live.” He glances up at Micah, who’s standing beside me, then back at me. “I’m glad you came. I wanted to tell you I’m sorry, Robyn, for everything. I never meant to put you in danger. Everything just sort of snowballed out of control.”

“I know you didn’t. Drugs have a way of clouding someone’s judgement.”

He nods. “I’m detoxing. It’s been rough, but it’s necessary.” He pauses a moment. “It looks like I’m going to jail.”

“I figured you were.”

“Yeah. Besides dealing drugs, I’m being charged as an accomplice to attempted murder. But, Robyn, I swear I never would have hurt you, no matter how strung out I got. I still consider you my best friend.” His eyes tear up. “Some friend I turned out to be, right?”

My throat tightens painfully. “You were a good friend when I needed you most. When you protected me from the older boys, and when you protected me from Doug. I’ll always be grateful to you for that.”

“Thanks.” He winces in pain. “Are you doing okay now?” He glances again at Micah. “Are you safe here? Are you happy?”

“I am.” I smile when Micah squeezes my shoulders. “Very happy. In fact, I’m staying.”

“I’m glad. There’s not much for you back in Denver. It makes me happy knowing you’re happy.”

“Sorry, but it’s time to go,” the deputy says. He nods to the door.

I stand next to Ricky’s bed and reach down to squeeze his shackled hand. “I wish you well, Ricky. Take care.” Now my eyes are tearing up. I imagine this is the last time I’ll see him.

Wiping his eyes with his free hand, he nods. “You, too, Robyn.” He gazes up at Micah. “Take good care of her.”

“I will,” Micah says as he takes my hand.

When we walk out of the room with the deputy, Chris is waiting for us in the hallway.

“She just wanted to say goodbye to him,” Dennis tells the sheriff.

“It’s fine,” Chris says. To us, he says, “Can you both come to the station to give a deposition? Ricky has indicated he’s going to plead guilty to any charges, and the DEA has enough evidence on Verne to arrest and charge him. But they’re going to need depositions from both of you related to what happened last night.”

Micah looks at me for confirmation, and I nod. “Yeah,” he says. “We’ll go now and get it over with.”

“Thanks, guys.”

I hold it together until we get out to the truck. That’s when I finally break down. Micah holds me as I cry.

* * *

Micah finishes working on my car Wednesday morning. The first thing I do, after thanking him, is drive it to the nearest gas station to fill up the tank. It’s such a relief to have my own transportation again—not that I have anywhere I need to go. But at least now I can drive myself to work and not inconvenience Micah. Although, to be honest, I kind of like him dropping me off and picking me up. Especially the picking me up part. That’s been the highlight of my day, to see him walk in, looking so handsome and sexy in his black leather jacket, knowing he’s there for me .

That afternoon, I drive myself to work.

I’m settling in quickly to my new job as a server at Ruth’s Tavern. Jess, another server, takes me under her wing, answering questions and offering advice.

Someone plays an Adele song on the jukebox, and I remember when Micah and I danced here. That was the start of everything. Just that connection, holding each other for something as simple as a slow dance, opened a floodgate of emotions.

I go about my business, taking and delivering orders. Traffic picks up around five o’clock, the beginning of the dinner rush. I recognize some of the customers who come in, mostly having seen them before at the diner. A few of them wave to me or come up and say hi.

Killian and Hannah stop in for dinner. Ruth and Jack sit down at a booth with them for a little while to chat. As I walk by them, I hear snippets of what sounds like wedding plans. I guess someone’s getting married soon. I’m guessing it’s Hannah and Killian because Micah’s never mentioned anything about his sister and Jack getting married.

At six, Tommy Hoffman returns to the tavern and claims a booth. Jess takes his order, and I do my best to avoid him entirely. Unfortunately, he’s making it difficult. I feel his eyes on me for the next hour. After eating a steak and a baked potato, he nurses a couple of beers, followed by a shot of whiskey.

As I walk past his table, Tommy reaches out and snags my forearm. “Hey, sugar, when do you get a break?”

He really does think he’s God’s gift to women.

“Excuse me,” I say as I try to pull away.

He stands to block my path. “Hey, don’t rush off so fast.”

“I’m working.” I’d think that was obvious.

“Your talents are being wasted here, sugar.” His gaze drops to my chest. “Come work for me, and I promise you I’ll make it worth your while.”

“No thanks,” I say.

Suddenly, I feel a presence behind me as a comforting hand settles on my shoulder.

“Let her go, Hoffman,” Micah says in a tight voice.

Tommy grins at Micah. “You going to make me, half breed ?”

The insult has me seeing red. “Don’t you dare call him—”

Micah grabs Tommy’s wrist and squeezes hard. Wincing, he instantly releases my arm.

Micah gently steers me out of the way.

Then Tommy takes a swing at Micah and misses. He growls in outrage and tries again, only to fail a second time, which pisses him off more.

Micah grabs Tommy by his shirt collar, swings him around, and pushes his back against a pillar. “Touch her again and—”

“And what, half breed ? What are you going to do about it?”

“Try me and see, asshole.” Micah presses his forearm against Tommy’s throat, cutting off his air. That shuts him up real quick.

A second later, Jack’s there, pulling Micah back. “That’s enough, guys. You know the rules. No fighting in Ruth’s tavern.” Jack glances back at me. “You okay, Robyn?”

“Yes.”

Jack sets his gaze on Tommy. “You’ve worn out your welcome. Get out, and don’t come back.”

Tommy’s glaring at both Jack and Micah.

Jack gets in his face. “Push me and see what happens.”

“Assholes!” Tommy grabs his coat and storms out the door.

After Jack leaves us, Micah inspects my arm. “Did he hurt you?”

“It’s sore, but I’m fine. Why are you here?”

“I’m hungry. And I miss you.”

Aww. “Really?”

“Can you take a break and eat with me?” he asks.

Before I can say no, I’m working, Ruth is there beside me. “Yes, she can.” She pats my back. “It’s okay, Robyn. I saw what happened. Take a break and eat.”

I wash up in the employees lounge and remove my apron. I am hungry, and getting to eat dinner with Micah is an unexpected bonus. I find him seated at a booth, and I slide in beside him. He smiles at me before leaning in for a kiss.

Jess comes to our table to take our orders. Micah asks for his usual—a burger and fries—and I go for the chicken tenders. We both order soft drinks.

It’s not too long before Jess brings our food.

“So, who’s getting married?” I ask. “I overheard Hannah and Killian talking wedding stuff with your sister and Jack.”

“Hannah and Killian are tying the knot in a couple of weeks. It’s a small wedding to be held at the lodge, just family and friends. Well, not that small,” he says, chuckling. “Her entire family is coming out here from Chicago, and there are a lot of them. Killian’s family is coming as well. Would you like to come with me as my plus one?”

I smile. “Really? You’re inviting me to a wedding?”

“Of course. Will you be my date?”

“I’d love to, but I don’t have a dress for something like that.”

“That’s okay. We can go shopping for a dress in Estes Park.”

Micah offers to pay for our meals, but Ruth says they’re on the house.

“I guess I’ll see you when you get home tonight,” Micah says as he leans in and kisses me.

Someone at the bar whistles at us—most likely Jack—and I pull away, blushing.

“See you in a few hours,” Micah says as he slips on his leather jacket. I watch him walk to the door, my eyes following him until he disappears from sight.

“You’re smiling,” Jess says with a grin as she walks past me.

Yes, I am. Micah has a way of making me do that.