10. Micah #2
It was easy to see why Robin loved roller derby so much. It wasn't only about skating. It was about finding people who let you be exactly who you were.
When their lane finally opened up, Nate and I joined them as we migrated toward the throwing area. That probably should've concerned the employees. Eight adults carrying drinks and enough collective sarcasm to power a small city didn't scream responsible decision-making.
The attendant gave the safety speech again while demonstrating proper throwing form. I paid attention. Robin did not. She was already eyeing the targets with the focused look I'd seen her wear during derby bouts. The one that said she was about to become annoyingly competent at something.
I should've trusted my instincts. The second Robin stepped up to the line, she planted her feet, rolled her shoulders once, and threw.
The axe spun cleanly through the air.
Thunk.
Dead center.
The entire group erupted.
"Oh, come on," I said.
Robin turned with a grin.
Her next throw landed nearly as close. Then the next. Then the next. Every successful throw seemed to make her happier. She relaxed and her laughter came easier now, dark curls bouncing as she celebrated with her teammates. She looked beautiful.
"Your turn, Father."
I looked at the axe in my hand. Then at the target. Then back at Robin.
"This feels like a trap."
I stepped up to the line and threw. The axe bounced harmlessly off the target and clattered to the floor.
The group went silent for exactly one second. Then everyone lost it. While they were totally laughing at me, it was the kind of laughter that instantly swept you into the joke instead of making you the joke. Belle doubled over. Nate had joined in and looked embarrassed for me.
"Micah," Sonia said gently, "have you considered aiming?"
"I thought I was."
Robin was laughing hard enough she had to brace herself against the divider between lanes. God help me, seeing her laugh like that almost made the humiliation worth it.
My second throw wasn't much better. Neither was my third. By the fourth attempt, Ariel had started offering encouragement, which somehow felt worse.
"You got this!" Ariel chimed.
"I clearly don't."
"Believe in yourself."
"Ariel, I appreciate the support, but evidence suggests otherwise."
The next axe stuck… barely. The blade hung there at an angle that looked more accidental than intentional. The entire group cheered like I'd won an Olympic medal.
I threw my hands up. "This feels patronizing."
"We're celebrating growth," Mel said.
Robin nearly fell over laughing again.
As the evening went on, something else started happening. I was feeling accepted by the Reapers. I was amazing. I seemed effortless. I had never experienced anything like it before.
I stood near the lane waiting for my turn when Robin wandered over holding two beers.
"You're improving."
I accepted the drink suspiciously. "You're lying."
"A little."
"Thank you," I said, taking the beer from her.
She smiled and leaned lightly against my shoulder. The gesture was casual, like she'd done it a hundred times before. I leaned back into her, slipping my arm around her waist, holding her closer. I wanted more nights like this, surrounded by friends, and her.
After another round of axe throwing humiliation, I surrendered my weapon with what little dignity I had left and escaped toward the outdoor deck.
The cool evening air felt good after the noise inside.
A string of Edison lights hung overhead casting warm pools of light across picnic tables and railings.
Beyond the deck, a small outdoor activity area had been set up with cornhole boards, oversized yard games, and, somewhat inexplicably, an archery range.
Because apparently this place had looked at axes and decided they weren't ambitious enough.
Robin followed me outside. She leaned against the railing against the railing next to me. "I've never seen someone lose a fight with stationary wood before."
"Thank you for your support during this difficult time."
Robin laughed and took a long pull from her beer. God, I liked making her laugh.
"You know," I said, "if you'd come to a trivia night, you'd see me in my natural habitat."
Her eyebrows lifted. "Oh?"
"I dominate."
"Do you?”
"Trivia requires an entirely different skillset." I straightened slightly and pointed toward myself. "Years of random information nobody asked for. I once won an entire round because I knew which moon in the solar system has active volcanoes."
Robin stared. "You say that like it's attractive."
"It should be."
"It shouldn't."
I laughed and bumped her shoulder lightly. For a moment we stood there comfortably watching people move around the yard below. Then Robin's gaze landed on the archery range. A few targets stood near the back fence beneath overhead lights.
“Can you believe this place had an archery range too? I remember what you told me last night.”
She narrowed her eyes. "No."
"Come on, show me what you got."
"No."
"You spent twenty minutes last night talking about your Girl Scout archery skills." I pointed dramatically toward the targets. "Prove it."
Robin groaned. "I hate you."
"You like me."
"Unfortunately…"
That answer made me smile far more than it should have.
A few minutes later she returned with a bow and arrows from the attendant. Robin rolled her shoulders once before stepping up to the line. And the teasing version of her disappeared. The shift was fascinating. She became focused. It was the same look I'd seen on her face during derby bouts.
She drew the bow smoothly.
Released.
The arrow struck near the center.
She looked over her shoulder and I grinned at her. She was amazing.
The second arrow landed even closer.
Then the third.
"Okay," I said slowly. "That's actually hot."
Robin lowered the bow.
"I know."
The smile she gave me then was softer than the ones she'd worn all evening. For a second, neither of us spoke.
The noise from inside the bar faded into the background while the space between us seemed to shrink naturally.
Robin stepped closer. I met her halfway.
The kiss started easy. Slow, nothing like the frantic chemistry that had existed between us on Halloween.
This felt different because now I knew her.
At least a little, I knew she organized spreadsheets for fun, hated churches, and loved her derby team.
I knew she smiled at her phone when she thought nobody was looking.
I knew she pretended to be tougher than she actually was.
And every new thing I learned only made me want more.
My hand settled at her waist while she rose slightly onto her toes.
For a moment the rest of the world disappeared. Then Belle's voice exploded across the deck. "There they are!"
Robin groaned against my mouth. The spell shattered as half the Reaper team spilled outside.
"Don't start," Robin warned.
"We haven't said anything," Belle replied.
"Your face says everything."
The rest of the evening passed in a blur of laughter, drinks, and increasingly ridiculous conversations.
By the time people started gathering coats and settling tabs, it was already later than I should've been out on a school night.
Robin walked with me toward my car while the others lingered near the entrance saying their goodbyes.
"You turning into a pumpkin?" she asked.
"I teach middle school. If I don't get enough sleep, somebody is going to try to microwave a pencil tomorrow."
"That feels oddly specific."
"It happened once."
Robin laughed and shoved her hands into her leather jacket pockets. The parking lot lights reflected in her dark eyes as she looked up at me. And once again, I found myself wishing I didn't have to leave yet.
Instead, I leaned down and kissed her one last time. "I'll text you tomorrow."
"You better."
I climbed into my car and headed home. The entire drive, I dreamed about this weekend. I couldn’t wait for pumpkin patches and cider and whatever sarcastic commentary Robin would inevitably provide.