Page 51 of Robbin’ the Rich

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.