Page 50 of All I Want Is Love
“You just had to tease me with that now, didn’t you?” I grind against him, laughing when he smacks my ass. Jumping down from his lap, I wink at him in return. “Keep the thought.”
Soren’s lips curl into his infamous smirk that makes my insides churn in anticipation. “I will.”
“Boooooh!”
I look up, right into the annoyed face of Robin’s ostrich. “No, you know you aren’t allowed to have anything from our Chinese food.”
“Keep staying firm,” Robin calls out from his kitchen.
The ostrich glares at me while my awesome gigantic furball just lies next to me and doesn’t notice I am getting threatened. I bet, in an emergency, I would need to protect him instead of the other way round.
“Francesco,” Robin frowns while he returns to the room and brings two cups of soda with him. “Leave Leo alone.”
“Pok! Booh!”
I grin. Seems like I am not the only one conversing with my pet. It’s hilarious to watch Robin argue with his ostrich, especially with the grumpy expression of the latter. Eventually, Francesco is happy with some seeds and green leaves Robin bribes him with and leaves us alone.
“Had I known, I wouldn’t have brought food,” I chuckle.
“I am actually very happy you did,” Robin says. “I haven’t eaten much. Didn’t even notice how hungry I was.”
“And I was surprised to stumble over this little Chinese restaurant.”
“It’s actually one of my favorite go-toes for soulfood,” Robin says while shoveling rice onto his plate. “You were actually supposed to be out with Soren, weren’t you?” He glances at me, his cheeks reddening. “I am sorry, I hijacked your date.”
“You didn’t,” I say. “Soren and I only had loose plans, but friends are important too.”
Robin looks happy at my words. “Thank you.”
“Are you okay, Robin?”
“I don’t know,” he says, and somehow his answer really resonates with me. A lot of the time, I don’t know if I am okay either. It’s weird not to be able to pinpoint your own feelings. “I feel off,” he admits. “I know it sounds weird. You probably think I am a nutcase for calling you out to meet me because I feel weird.”
“No, I don’t think it sounds weird,” I say. “I know the feeling. Sometimes you just feel off, but can’t really voice why. I have had that too… a lot.”
“Now you don’t anymore?”
“Just occasionally,” I admit. “I… ever since I moved here, it’s gotten much better.” I pause. “There is something that makes you unhappy, isn’t there?”
“Maybe,” he mutters. “I think it’s been there for a while, but I can’t talk to Soren or Aspen about it.”
Just like Soren guessed. “I can listen,” I say quietly.
“Will you tell Soren about it?”
“No. I didn’t show him your messages either, just told him that I had a feeling something felt off. He respects your privacy, Robin. He told me as much.”
Robin chews on his food. “I met the guy,” he finally says.
“Oh, the one who was hitting on you in the club?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“We hooked up,” Robin says.
“Okay.” I eye him carefully, not sure what upsets him. “Don’t tell me he wasn’t nice to you? Did he… did he do something?”
