I bit my lip. “I wish they could figure out what had happened to her.”
“They’re doing what they can, I’m sure,” Robby said. “They probably just don’t have what they need to figure it out. We’ll just have to wait.”
“Does Rex want you to fight in the war?” I asked. It had been a question that had been weighing on my mind but hadn’t had the courage to ask.
Robby shrugged. “He has an army. I don’t think he needs me.”
“He hasn’t asked you?”
“No,” Robby said. He wrapped his arms around my middle and smiled. “Come on, let’s take a walk through the town.”
“A walk in the rain,” I sighed. “How romantic.”
Robby raised a brow. “We’ll make it romantic.”
“Fine,” I said with a half-shrug. “If it’ll make you happy, I’ll go.”
“It will,” he said grinning.
He took my hand into his and we left the room. The streets were mostly empty except for those who were working or those who were out shopping. No one was out strolling the streets like we were.
Robby didn’t seem to care. It was like he wanted to pretend things were normal—just for a short time—even if they weren’t.
“Let’s check in here,” Robby said.
“What for?” I asked. “We will never have enough coupons for anything in this shop.”
The jewelry store didn’t have anything displayed in the window but the sign said they were open. If everyone in town worked together, what was the shop owner worried about? Surely, they couldn’t be concerned someone would steal from them.
“Let’s just look around,” Robby said. “You never know… maybe someday.”
I puffed out my cheeks. “You are clearly living in a different world than I am.”
“Nah,” Robby said. “I just think we need to find the good.”
“We’re surrounded by too much bad to find the good,” I said.
“Bah!” Robby said flapping his hand in the air. “There are lots of good. Like you.”
I raised a brow. “I guess this is a romantic walk, after all.”
“Damn straight,” Robby said pulling open the shop door. “Let’s take a look around.”
“Fine,” I said crossing my arms. I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face.
“Welcome!” a large woman said as she wobbled over toward us. Her glasses were so far down her nose they couldn’t have done much good. “Can I show you around or are you just browsing?”
Robby gave the woman a warm smile. “We’re just browsing today.”
“That’s okay. That’s good. Most people do,” she said tapping at the name Charlotte on her name tag. “Just call me if you need help with anything, okay?”
“Will do,” Robby said.
Charlotte hobbled off but she didn’t go far. She sat behind the counter and flipped through a magazine. Her eyes flicked toward us often.
“Check this one out,” Robby said. “Isn’t it beautiful?”
It was a simple blue stone set in silver. The stone glittered so much in the candlelight it glowed.
“It’s so beautiful,” I said entranced.
Robby gestured for Charlotte.
“What are you doing?” I whispered.
“How much for this?” Robby asked as she approached.
“My, you have good taste,” Charlotte said with a wink. “That gem is only two hundred and thirty-five coupons.”
Robby winced before giving the woman a grin that swirled my insides. “What would you do with all those coupons, Charlotte?”
“Even if I could lower the price, I imagine it’s still out of your price range,” Charlotte said with a cocked brow.
It wasn’t the first time a guy tried to smile his way to a steep discount. She wasn’t about to fall for it.
“Best I can do is hold it for thirty days for twenty coupons,” Charlotte said.
Robby pulled out the crumpled coupons and counted them. I covered his hands with mine and squeezed.
“Robby, no.” I shook my head. “We need this for food.”
“I don’t sell a lot,” Charlotte said. She looked back and forth between us and snatched the ring from Robby. “I’ll hold it for thirty days at no charge.”
“What?” Robby asked.
My mouth dropped open. “Why?”
“Because I’m a romantic,” Charlotte said. “Love should always win in the end, right?”
“I think so,” Robby said looking into my eyes.
“I’ll see you in thirty days,” Charlotte said flapping her hand at the door. “Now, go before I come to my senses.”
Robby quickly gave her his name and we left. My cheeks hurt from smiling.
“We won’t ever have enough to pay for that ring, you know that, right?” I said.
“Well, I want to try. I saw how you lit up when you saw it,” Robby said.
“The stone reminds me of your smile,” I said feeling the heat fill my cheeks. “All sparkly and stuff. But it’s just a ring. It’s completely useless now.”
“Nice things are still nice things,” Robby said.
“Sure, but I don’t need it.”
“Hey, you two,” Dirk said in a cheery voice. “Enjoying your day off?”
Robby shook his hand. “Yeah, I am. Joss, you remember Dirk from the other night, right?”
“Yeah, I do,” I said smiling. “How are you doing?”
“Really good. Actually, Robby, I was hoping I’d run into you,” Dirk said.
“Oh?” Robby said narrowing his gaze.
Dirk touched his lips and looked around. “Yeah, I need to show you two something if you have a minute.”
“We’re sort of on a date,” Robby said.
“Well, it’s kind of important. It’ll only take a minute,” Dirk said.
Robby looked at me. “If it’s okay with you.”
“I don’t mind,” I said.
“Awesome,” Dirk said. “Follow me.”
He led us into an unmarked building. We walked down a narrow hallway before descending a wooden staircase I wasn’t entirely sure was going to hold our weight. I was relieved when we stepped onto the cement floor… until I looked up.
I squeezed Robby’s arm and kept
