29. Robin
ROBIN
Iwalk into the cold hand-in-hand with Micah. When I say this Christmas Eve did not turn out the way I expected it to, I’m not messing around.
“What just happened?” I said on our way to the car.
“I’m not entirely sure. That is a lot to process.”
“No shit.”
Micah crossed over to the passenger side of the car to open the door for me.
That in and of itself was enough to squeeze at my heart.
I was a fully capable woman, honestly probably stronger than Micah, but he still took care of me in all these little ways, even when we weren’t together anymore.
As he bent to open the door the urge to kiss him was overwhelming, but we had to talk before we could do that.
So, I sat down and let him close the door behind me. My phone buzzed in my pocket.
Mom: I just wanted to tell you Micah is invited to Christmas breakfast tomorrow. I hope to see both of you then. I love you, Robin. Merry Christmas.
The door across from me opened with a rush of air as Micah sat down and turned on the car.
“Is everything okay?” he asked, motioning to my phone.
“Oh, yeah, that was just my mom… tell me you’re invited to Christmas Breakfast.”
He smiled as he put the car into reverse. “Oh well that’s nice, I have a feeling I won’t be at my own family's Christmas celebration… I’m not even sure when I’m going to see them again.”
“I feel like I should apologize for that.”
“Don’t you dare! That was what I tried to do. I had finally found the courage to break away before all this pulled me back in.”
“Again, I have the strangest feeling to apologize for that as well.”
“Again, don’t you dare! Never apologize for doing what is right, and what you did was just and right. I just wish I would have had the courage to do what was right sooner.”
We sat in silence as Micah made his way down the nearly vacant streets of Briar Glenn. It was just after eleven on Christmas Eve. As we drove, we passed house after house with the decorations lit and Christmas trees in the window all preparing for the magic of Christmas morning.
He pulled into the parking lot of my building and put the car into park.
I finally braved a look at his face. He was already watching me with a careful expression. I had missed him so much, and now that all the drama of tonight was over, that was the only feeling left.
I missed him. I missed the way he understood me. I missed the way he never got pissed when I kicked his ass in video games. I even missed how he wouldn’t stop and explain scienc-y things to me like I had any clue what he was walking about.
“What is it?” he asked.
“What do you mean?”
“You just had a funny smile on your face.”
“Do you want to come up?” I asked. “I feel like we should talk.”
He licked his lips and nodded. “Yeah, I would like that.”
We both got out of the car and climbed the stairs to the second floor.
When I pulled out my key to unlock the door, I was more nervous than I’d ever been with Micah.
Even that first night when I brought him home for a one night stand it was supposed to be fun and flirty, how could I have known then I would fall in love with this man.
I opened the door and we both entered in silence.
“Micah… I… I don’t really know what to say.”
He just looked at me a took a small step towards me, not enough to touch me, but close enough that I noticed.
“I know what to say. And I’ll say it a million times until you stop needing to hear it. I am so sorry. I’m sorry I never told you the truth. I’ve regretted ever since that first morning when you mentioned the church, but I wanted you to give me a chance and not be tainted by my family.”
I nodded, because I did understand that. I knew if he told me that first day, I never would have gone out with him again.
“Then I was just waiting to find the right time. And I kept falling deeper in love with you. I was so scared. It's not an excuse, but it’s the truth.”
My chest expanded as I took in a deep breath. Did he just say he loved me?
“What is it?” he asked, stepping one more step closer.
“Did you just say you love me?”
“You have to know that I do. I have for so long now.”
“Really?” I asked. Why did I feel like I was about to cry? What was even happening right now?
He raised his hand to brush a stray lock of hair behind my ear and my heart nearly pounded out of my chest.
“I love you, Robin Sherwood. I love you with my whole heart. You see what is wrong and unjust in the world and you fix it. You are the most amazing woman I have ever known. And if you give me another chance, I will spend my whole life being a better man, one deserving of your love.”
I couldn’t wait anymore. I walked right into his arms, and he instantly wrapped them around me. I reached up on my toes and pressed my lips to his.
It was as if something inside of me shifted.
The little bits of me that had been out of whack ever since he left all snapped back into place.
I’d never felt anything this instantaneous before.
It felt like slipping into a hoody on the first cool day of fall.
It felt like a thunderstorm after a month of drought.
It felt like getting into your own bed after being on a long road trip.
Micah Nottingham felt like home.
I pulled back to look at him. I didn’t even realize tears were streaming down my face until he wiped away a tear and kissed me cheek.
“I love you too. I hated being away from you.”
“I hated it too!” A grin covered his face, and I could help but answer with one of my own.
“Don’t ever lie to me again.”
His face turned solemn. “I promise. I will be honest with you from here on out. If you’re willing to give me another chance, I will do everything it takes to build your trust again.”
I don’t know how I was so certain, I had done nothing but question myself since I found out, but somehow, I knew he was being honest. He had been willing to take the fall for me. He had given me space when I needed it.
Now I needed him.
I walked down the hallway. I turned and Micah was still standing in my kitchen watching me with a cautious look on his face. How could he still not be sure?
“Micah, will you come to bed with me?”