He shakes his head with great amusement as he slowly slinks his fingers around my arm. “Now, Melanie...”
“Go away,” I tell him as I yank my elbow from his hand. “Why are you even here?”
“Got a phone call,” he says. “Hey, Rob. Melanie’s wasted. You should probably come and get her.”
My jaw drops. I spin around to yell at Joel’s back. “You called him?!”
Joel looks at me and shrugs.
“Guess he never heard about the divorce,” Robbie muses. “Which is fine. I would hate to have missed this.”
“Et tu, Joely?!” I shout across the bar.
Robbie pulls out his wallet. “Close out her tab, will you?” he asks Joel as he hands off his credit card. “On me tonight.”
Joel takes it. “Will do.”
I scoff. “Yeah, right. You know your card can only get declined so many times before the bank deactivates your broke ass, right?”
Robbie sighs, bright and happy, as he leans an elbow on the bar. “Melanie...”
“Don’t Melanie me, you stupid sack of sh—”
“What’s up?” he asks, his voice flush with the patience of a second grade teacher.
“My foot in your balls. That’s what’s up.”
He laughs. “Where is Nora and Trix?”
“They went home.”
“And they left you here?”
“No, I stayed behind to drank.”
“Drink.”
“I know what the word is! Don’t correct my grammar!” I reach for my glass. “Who do you think you are? My editor?”
“I used to be.”
“Shut up.”
Robbie pushes the glass an inch away from my hand before I can get it.
Joel returns with the card. “She’s all set, Rob.”
“Thank you,” he says as he returns his card to the wallet.
I take back my glass and raise it to my mouth. “IOUs aren’t acceptable forms of currency outside of college campuses. Double-check that, Joel…”
Robbie slides the glass from my fingers and passes it into Joel’s open hand. “Mel, come on. You’ve had enough.”
“No.”
“Melanie.”
“Leave me alone, Rob.”
He loops an arm around my waist and easily lifts me off the barstool.
I gasp. “Unhand me, you scurvy cur!”
“There’s the pirate-talk!” He guides me toward the exit. “Definitely time to go home.”
“Not with you, I’m not!”
Robbie pulls me along with him, clenching me so hard my face burrows into his chest. The scent of his leather jacket spurs through my nose, triggering a rush of old memories. Some bright and happy.
Others, not so much.
I push against him. “Rob...”
“Just a quick cab ride.”
“Rob.”
“And a big glass of water.”
“I left my purse on the bar.”
He stops at the door and purposefully places me with my back to the wall. “Stay here,” he says. “Don’t move.”
“I—”
He pokes the tip of my nose, silencing me. “Stay,” he repeats.
I plant my feet. “I’m staying. I’m staying.”
Robbie takes a few slow steps backward, his eyes still locked on me. When he finally turns around to head back to the bar, I yank open the exit and walk outside.
I didn’t even bring a purse tonight.
Chump.
I pause on the sidewalk to get my bearings, instantly wrapping my arms around me as a gust of cold-as-fuck wind slaps me in the face. I shiver beneath my jacket, quickly realizing that this was a shitty idea, but I walk toward my apartment, anyway.
“Melanie.”
I walk faster away from Robbie’s voice behind me. Yes, faster. That’ll spur some warmth.
“Mel.”
“Nope,” I say.
“Let’s take a cab,” he says, right behind my ear. “It’s freezing.”
“I’ll walk. It’s not far.”
“It’s ten blocks!”
“Just go home, Rob!”
He steps out in front of me, halting me in my tracks. His breath rushes out in soft clouds of white between cold, pink cheeks. I lock onto his eyes. Those damn big, perfect eyes. Even through everything, he’s always looked at me the same way.
I shake it off. “I’ll be okay, Rob,” I say. “Really. I’m cool.”
“Let me get you home safely,” he says. “I’m not going to be able to sleep tonight knowing you’re out here wandering around by yourself in a drunken haze. Please.”
“I’m fine.”
He doesn’t budge. He just stands there. Tall. Dark. Stupid handsome eyes…
I groan. “Okay,” I say. “But you’re not coming up.”
“Fine by me.”
“You keep your ass in the cab.”
He laughs to himself and waves his arm at a passing taxi. It slows down and stops next to the curb beside us.
“After you,” he says, gesturing toward the backseat.
I walk toward it, secretly thrilled to get out of the freezing cold. Guess this Chicago winter will be a doozy...
I slide into the cab, hopping all the way to the opposite door, and Robbie gets in beside me.
“Where are we going tonight?” the driver says, her eyes studying us in the rearview mirror.
I open my mouth to answer but Robbie talks over me, quickly stating my address from memory. She nods and hits the gas, easing the cab right back into the late-night traffic.
I cross my arms and lean against the seat, sinking into it as the city lights pass by the window. Warmth from the heater bleeds beneath my jacket and sweater, lulling me into a place of comfort. I close my eyes, letting my other senses take over, and I detect a hint of Robbie’s scent again as I doze off.
Two
Robbie
“How long you two been together?”
I glance up into the painted eyes of the cab driver. “Oh, we’re not...” I pause and look to Melanie, who is no doubt ready to set the record good and straight about that question.
But she says nothing. She sits there beside me with her eyes closed, her head gently propped against the seat. Asleep already, but I knew as soon as I got her into a warm, cozy cab she’d do just that.
“Four years,” I answer.
“You married?”
I shake my head. “Nah.”
The woman kisses her teeth. “She ain’t gonna wait around forever, you know.”
I laugh. “Yeah, I know.”
“Better pop that question while you can,” she continues. “I gave my man three years. Told him I ain’t gonna wait any longer than that. Not gettin’ any younger.” She chuckles. “Fifteen years strong next month.”
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
I turn to Melanie again. Her body softly sways with the moving cab. City
