Fuuuuck.
My brain says no.
My heart says go.
“Excuse me,” I say, and run after her down the hall. Hope I’m not too late. I need to catch her and see if she’s angry or hurt or I don’t even know, I just need to talk to her.
I reach her just before reception.
“Rey,” I say, slightly out of breath.
She stops.
She turns.
Rey’s right there, but too far for me to reach. Fuck, how I want to touch her. Hold her.
Her mouth opens and closes. Her already big eyes are wide, searching my face, scanning my body as if she’s looking for something.
“I’m sorry,” I say.
“For what?” she asks, staring intently at me.
“I’m sorry for not telling you when we met.”
“Not telling me what?”
I don’t understand. She wants me to spell it out?
Shuffling my feet at first, I move forward, wanting to close the distance. “What do you mean?”
“I need to hear you say it.” She fidgets with her purse strap.
Adrenaline rushes through me as I prepare to say the words.
“I’m … your Robin.”
There it is. Out in the open. I’m nearly panting, I’m so worked up.
Her mouth opens into a perfect O.
“My Robin,” she whispers. Her throat works hard, and she shakes her head. “Why did you disappear after Saturday? After you found out?” she asks, her eyes glossing over, and I hate that I hurt her.
“I thought that would be obvious, now that you know.”
She nods, looking down, biting her cheek. “Because I’m not a VIP like you. I’m not what you want.”
This ridiculous reasoning makes me step closer and grab her hand in mine. “What? No, youarewhat I want.”
“Am I?” She looks up again, eyes still wide, but she allows me to hold on to her. “Then why did you avoid me?”
“It’s because you work here. You’re anintern. I can’t be seen to be like Damian.” The thought makes me glance around swiftly. The office is empty. We’re alone here.
“You’re nothing like him,” she whispers, shaking her head. “You are wonderful, Mark. And I thought what we had as Alice and Robin was something special, not just…” She looks down and shrugs, kicking the floor. “Were you ever going to say anything?”
Her dainty fingers squeezes mine.
“I’m not sure. Every day, I wanted to…”
