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“Well,” Robin said. “I guess we’ll run it through again.”

The whole studio fell silent. Behind her, Eric cleared his throat.

Robin knew she was supposed to feel guilty for snapping, but the band didn’t have time for guilt. This gig was in two days.

“Everyone out.” Natalie’s voice was deathly flat. “Fifteen-minute break.”

“We don’t have time for—”

“Fifteen minutes,” Natalie repeated, while staring her down.

Lauren and Eric shuffled out of the studio without a word, the new drummer, Dale, following behind them with his head down. In addition to being a friend of Kelsey’s from college, he also worked part-time with Shane at the music store and taught lessons with Eric at the music school. They all vouched for him, and Robin had had high hopes when they met yesterday to give him the music. And he was a pretty good drummer, she supposed. But pretty good wouldn’t cut it with only one rehearsal before their biggest gig.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Natalie asked the second the room cleared.

“This guy can’t keep a steady rhythm and you’re asking what’s wrong with me?”

“He’s fine. You’re the one who’s all over the damn place.” Natalie’s face softened. “Take a breath.”

Robin opened her mouth to snap back, but inhaled as commanded instead. Natalie was abrasive and pulled no punches. Ever. But Robin found that oddly comforting. She always knew exactly where she stood with Natalie. No guessing. If Natalie was angry with you, you knew it. If she loved you, she loved you fiercely. If you needed a good, solid reality check…

Natalie was right. Robin was a mess.

“I know you’re worried about Kel like the rest of us, but something else is going on with you.” Natalie’s voice was acidic but soothing. Like tangy lemon sherbet.

“You mean you’re the one person who hasn’t seen the forecast?”

“You know I have. Can’t do a damn thing about that any more than you can control Kelsey’s uterus.”

That got the smallest hint of a laugh from Robin. “You’re the worst.”

“And you love me for it.”

“Damn right I do.”

Natalie put a hand on Robin’s arm. “Seriously, what’s going on? Whose ass do I have to kick?”

“No one’s.” When Natalie frowned and furrowed her brow, Robin corrected herself. “Okay, fine. Mine.”

“What happened?”

“I think I messed up. I blew Matt off all week.”

“Not the good way, I’m guessing.”

“Nope,” Robin said. “But in my defense, he brought me coffee and snacks.”

“That bastard,” Natalie said breathlessly.

“I told him I was busy this week, and he came by the store anyway.” The last thing she needed was some guy being pushy, ignoring her when she’d told him she was swamped. He’d been so sweet with bringing the dog by on Monday, but once she saw that coffee, she was back to thinking he needed more from her than she was able to give. Time. Attention. Lunch breaks.

But for some reason she couldn’t bring herself to call him and end things for good. And the more time went by, the more she wondered if she was overreacting or if she was trying to brush all of these signs under the rug just because she liked the guy.

“Did he demand you drink coffee and eat tasty treats with him?” Nat asked. “Or did he drop them off because he knew you were probably too damn busy and stubborn to take care of yourself?”

That would definitely be a Matt thing to do, looking out for someone else. But Robin wasn’t used to the men she dated being Matts, and she hadn’t reacted accordingly. “Damn.”

“Well, did you jump to conclusions and tell him off or just give him the cold shoulder for a few days?”

“The second one.”

Natalie made a little pout as she thought, then nodded. “Fixable. Just call him. Tell him you’re a busy idiot and you’re sorry.”

“I didn’t even thank him for the coffee.”

Natalie cringed. “Not even a text? Jeez, Robin. You’ve been hanging around me too much.”

“Probably.” She smiled, realizing she hadn’t done much of that at all this week. But she’d done a whole bunch of smiling last weekend. Last Saturday had been more fun than she’d had in months. Years, if she was being honest.

“Seriously. What’s going on? You’re the only person I know who has her shit together like ninety-eight percent of the time. Where’s this two percent coming from? And don’t say Kel or rain or band stuff. I’ve seen you solid as a rock through worse. Why are you pushing this guy away?”

“Oh, I don’t know, maybe because I was married to his brother?”

“Not like you’re still married to the guy and dating Matt.”

“Leave it to you to spin it that way.”

Natalie put up her hands. “I’m just saying this doesn’t have to be a big deal if you don’t make it one.”

“I’m not the one who’s gonna make it a big deal.”

“Who then?”

“His whole family.”

“Since when do you give a rat’s ass what anyone else thinks?”

“Since Matt does.”

“Ahhh.”

“Don’t do that.”

“You’re deciding for him,” Natalie said with a smug, satisfied grin like Sherlock Holmes had just solved the mystery. “You’re taking yourself out of the running because you think it’s best for him.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Didn’t have to. It’s your move.”

“Is not.”

“You did the same thing with your ex—don’t think I don’t remember that. Just so happened it was the right move for you both in that case. But that doesn’t mean it’s right for either of you in this situation.”

Robin narrowed her eyes. “You get in one solid relationship and you think you’re some guru now?”

“Damn right.” Natalie’s smug grin stretched wide now. “And this guru’s ordering you to call that man and fix this.”

She could always count on Nat for a good ass-kicking. “I will. But first I’ve gotta fix the mess I made here.”

“Good.” Natalie nodded and headed for the door. “I’ll get the others.”

 

* * * * *

 

Matt stared at his computer screen and tapped around with his mouse. His energy always waned by Friday, but it wasn’t even lunch time yet and he had zero focus. Hell, he hadn’t been able to focus for the last couple days, ever since he saw Robin with that other guy.

He knew it wasn’t his business who she had lunch with. They weren’t in any kind of committed anything. Hell, they’d only had one date.

Still stung like hell, though.

Especially since he hadn’t heard a single word from her since then. Not even a thank you for the coffee he’d dropped off. He didn’t need a thanks, but it wasn’t like Robin. She was probably just busy and forgot, but he couldn’t help take it personally.

He rubbed his palms across his face to wake himself up. It felt good to be clean-shaven again. He’d trimmed it all off last night, in some New Day, New Matt fit of inspiration. Except it wasn’t a new him. It was more like the old him. Like he wasn’t hiding or pretending to be someone he wasn’t anymore. He was just Matt, and everyone—including him—would have to be okay with that.

His phone rang, and he stared at it on the desk beside him, Robin’s name big and bold on the screen. His hand instinctively reached for it, but he froze with his palm hovering above.

He was torn between wanting to ignore it and lunging to answer it in a clumsy haste. He chose a third option, the boring option. The Matt option.

“Hi,” he said in a calm, even tone. “Ready for tomorrow?”

“Not really. I mean, yes. Maybe.”

“Do you need something? Did one of the posts not go up?” He’d checked everything multiple times, but it was possible he missed something. Or maybe there was a comment Robin didn’t know how to handle.

“No, everything you did was great. Is great.” She hesitated. “Thank you. Seriously, you were a huge help. And I’m an idiot for not thanking you earlier this week for dropping off the coffee and snack. Thank you. That was really thoughtful.”

He swallowed his shame and hurt and blinked away the image of her with that other guy by her car.

“You’re welcome.” He probably should have left it at that, but he couldn’t ignore the strain in her words and even if she could so easily turn her back on him, he couldn’t do the same. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

“It’s…it’s Kelsey.”

Kelsey. He ran the band members through his head. The drummer. The pregnant drummer. “Oh, no. You said they were at the hospital but okay last weekend. Did something happen?”

“She’s fine. I think.” Her words were choppy and hoarse. “We don’t know yet. She’s been on bed rest and has an appointment this afternoon, and…I’m worried about her.”

Her voice sounded so small. So helpless. So unRobinlike.

“I’m sorry. I know you already have a lot on your plate this week.”

“I don’t even care about the festival anymore. I just want her to be okay, and this waiting is killing me,” she said. “I’m sorry. This isn’t your problem. I’ll let you get back to work. I just wanted to thank you for everything you’ve done for us. For me.”

There was a long silence while he debated what to say. What to do. But there really wasn’t a debate. There was only one thing to do.

“Are you at work or home? Would you like me to come over and wait for the news with you?”

“At home. I couldn’t think straight. But…I…you have work. I’ll be fine.”

“You’re always fine, I know,” Matt said. “But it’s Friday. I can take work home to catch up on Sunday if I need to. What you need right now is to not be alone, and I can help with that. I can bring lunch, because I’m sure you haven’t eaten.” He paused. He could leave it at that, but he was done being afraid, and he was done missing out. “If you want my company, I can stay with you.”

After a long pause, she said, “I would like that. Thanks.”

Warmth swelled in his chest, and he grabbed his keys. “I’ll be there in thirty minutes.”