“He did.” I nod.
“Good. Then I think that’s everything.” She starts to pull the door shut.
“Robyn, please.”
She stops.
“Five minutes, that’s all I’m asking. Five minutes, and if you still want me to go after that, I’ll go. I won’t come back. I need a chance to explain.”
“There is nothing to explain,” she says. “You apologized, and I accepted it. Thanks for coming by. I wish you all the best.” She closes the door.
I stand there looking at the grain in the wood.
What the hell?!
Smoke chuckles softly. “Sorry.” He holds up a hand. “She’s seriously pissed.”
I sigh.
What now?
I should probably go. I scrub a hand over my face.
“You had better not be giving up,” Smoke tells me. “Knock again. Insist on a conversation.”
I give him another hard look.
“I’m overstepping. Apologies. It’s the last you’ll hear from me.” He pretends to look the other way, which means he’s staring at the door two apartments down across the hall.
He’s right.
I’m being a pussy. I need to do this.
I knock. After a minute, I knock again.
Robyn finally opens the door, looking flushed. “What is it? There is no more to say.”
“There’s a lot more to say. Hear me out, please. You don’t even have to say anything in return. I swear. I have to tell you a few things.” I hold her gaze. “Please. It’s important.”
“Fine. I’m listening.”
“Not here…inside. It needs to be private.” I look down the hall at Smoke, who grins and gives me a thumbs-up.
Holy shit!
Robyn looks at me for a few seconds, then she steps back from the door. Her face gives nothing away.
I go in, and she closes it behind me.
“I’m not going to offer you a seat or a drink,” she says, “because this won’t take long.” Her chin is up; her eyes are hard and focused on mine.
I knew this was going to be tough, but I still think I underestimated just how tough.
“Fair enough.” I stay where I am. “I want to apologize again for the way I handled things.”
“You already apologized, and I already accepted. Let’s just move on with our lives. I’m good, Ridge.”
“I can’t. I need you to understand.”
