Page 78 of Loving the Sinner
Robin is sitting at a table scrolling away when I walk through the door, but she looks up and waves me over with a big smile.
God, I’ve missed her.
I didn’t mean to focus solely on Elli, but it kind of happened that way. I need to make sure I’m better at giving attention to the rest of my friends because they’re just as important.
Robin stands and meets me for a hug as I make it to the table. “I’ve missed you loverboy!”
“Missed you too, Red.” I murmur against her head.
“Just so you don’t freak out, we all forgive you for being in an Elli bubble. We’re just glad you're safe and happy. We knew you’d reach out eventually and feel really bad so I’m telling you to not feel guilt. Got it?” She pokes my chest to emphasize her point.
“I got it. Thanks Robs. And to be fair, I’ve been hanging out with Jess, Luke, Claudia and Ernie. Jess even did Elli’s hair.” and it looks so good. She cut it to just below her shoulder and added some caramel highlights, so it’s like looking at a decadent piece of chocolate filled with caramel.
Good thing it's still long enough to pull.
“I saw that on her insta story. It looks good. And you both seem happy. That’s all we want for you.” Robin gives me a smirk, “Now, I would normally ask how she is inbed, but I respect Elli’s privacy too much. So you can keep the dirty details to yourself.”
I roll my eyes, “Gee, thanks.”
We order our food and coffee, and then catch up on our lives over the last two weeks. Robin’s been busy, too, with the gallery opening in San Antonio. I’m sad we’ll miss it, since this is Robin’s first time heading up an opening, but it’s happening this weekend and we’ll be gone. I promised her we’d come back and come take a look to support her.
Apparently, one of the artists that’s showcasing their work has been non-stop flirting with Robin, and they’ve been texting off and on about non-work related things and they asked her to go out for drinks after the opening.
“I promised I’d never date artists because they’re usually so pretentious, but I don't know. Maybe it’ll just be a quick hookup, but they’rereallyhot. So that wouldn’t be the worst thing.” She explains.
I know Robs has been burned by relationships too, so I’m not going to push her to date or not.
“So what do you need to work through?” She asks as the waitress brings over our food.
“Why do you assume I need to work through something?” I defend. I sometimes hate that she can read me so well.
She gives me an exasperated look. “You left your little sex bubble to have breakfast with me so obviously something is bothering you, and I’m assuming it involves Elli or else you’d be talking to her about it.”
“Yeah… You’re right. So, you know the band Keely and the Kissers?”
She nods enthusiastically. “Yes! I love them! I saw they commented on your insta reel. That’s fucking cool!”
“Well… after they commented on that, they DM’d me and asked me to go on tour with them. The tour starts in January and goes for eight months. They’d pay me a year’s salary, and all the lodging and transportation is included. It’s a sick gig, and I asked if I could bring a partner and they said yes as long as they share my rooms and stuff.”
Robin freezes with her breakfast sandwich halfway between her mouth and the plate. Then she drops it and yells. “WHAT?”
“Shhh. Robin. Keep it down please!”
“Sorry,” she says quieter. “My best friend just told me he got offered to go on a tour for eight months with a super cool band, I’m freaking out a bit!”
“I know, I know. It’s pretty rad.”
“So what’s the hold up? If Elli can go with you, why aren’t you foaming at the mouth to take this opportunity?”
“Ellijustuprooted her entire life and moved here. I can’t ask her to uproot again and follow me around the country for eight months. That’s not fair to her.”
“Have you asked her to?”
I shake my head.
Robin huffs and mumbles something that sounds like “damn heteros” under her breath.
“Listen, Wes. You can’t make that decision for her. Maybe she would hate the idea and you two are apart for a while. Which would suck ass, but you’d work through it.Or.”
