When we entered the massive ranch home, my sadness and worries evaporated as old friends rushed up to greet me.
“Mar Mar!” Tinker cried, her long, purple hair whipping around me as she threw herself at me.
The scent of bubble gum filled my nostrils. Dressed like a goth and still chewing Double Bubble, Tinker hadn’t changed much.
Tuck didn’t wait his turn. Instead, he grabbed us both and lifted, so that my toes grazed the ground. “Hey, girl! I can’t believe we’re seeing you again.”
“It’s so good to see you guys!”
I caught sight of Tuck’s massive diamond earrings, and an amused grin bloomed on my face. They mostly looked, smelled, and sounded the same, but my old friends had changed.
Once Tuck and Tinker had their turn squeezing the life out of me, they moved aside for Gilly. He was a giant second to only LJ in the group, and twice as gentle. His massive body enveloped me, and a wall I hadn’t even realized had been present inside me broke.
A million feelings tore through my heart as I took in so many old friends, people I hadn’t seen in years. I released a laugh to cover up the fact that I’d almost burst out into tears.
A big hand landed on my shoulder. I turned to find LJ standing there with Robin. They looked teary too, but perhaps only because I knew them so well.
“So, Mar, what do you say you tell us what you found at the Oasis?” Robin asked and gestured to the living area. His blue eyes sparkled, sending a shiver dashing down my spine. “Everyone’s dying to hear the scoop.”
I gave him a wobbly smile. I had many feelings about being around Robin, but one thing was certain, I loved that he’d given me the chance to see these people again.
And to help the orphanage while earning vengeance for my parents,a voice in my head reminded me that there really was a lot at stake.
“Sure,” I said and took a step in the direction he’d indicated. “Let’s get to it.”
After relaying all the information I’d discovered throughout the course of my shift, Robin claimed that he needed to discuss it with LJ. Tuck and Tinker took that as an opportunity to whisk me away. Hours later, I was still sitting by the bonfire, enjoying the cool Nevada night and catching up with everyone over a few beers.
And boy, did I learn a lot that shocked me.
Like how Tuck, after years of working to become a friar, had achieved his goal only to give it up months later. Apparently, that was when he came out of the closet, a truth that the church couldn’t deal with.
And then there was Tinker. We had always been the only girls in our group growing up. We were also about as different as apples and oranges, and the years since had inflated the differences between us. As a class-A hacker, Tinker had broken into many elite bank accounts and drained them dry. She even had a few small governments on her ‘hacked by Tinker’ list.
Will, a bald-eagle shifter who had always been quiet and peaceful, surprised me when he mentioned that he’d done a stint in pro-wrestling.
The stories went on and on, each more incredible than the last. One by one people went to bed, until I was alone by the bonfire. And yet, I found that I didn’t want to leave. I didn’t want the night to end. It had been unexpected, but amazing.
I never could have imagined the lives my childhood friends had lived. Then again, I wouldn’t have imagined myself as a lone maid either. In my younger years, I’d dreamed of traveling the world and helping others. Robin always featured in those dreams, right at my side.
“So . . .” a smooth voice cut through my musings and made the skin on my arms pebble.
I tore my gaze away from the dancing fire and looked up to find who other than Robin himself holding two glasses of water. He offered me one.
“Thought you might want something other than the beers LJ and Tuck kept feeding you.”
I chuckled. Those two always had been keen to party, but Robin was right. My mouth tasted a bit sour from the beer, and I was ready to sober up.
“What do you think of the gang?” he asked, squatting down next to me.
“Everyone’s great,” I admitted. “You guys feel like . . .” I trailed off, the words locking painfully in my throat.
“A family?” Robin offered.
Yes, that was exactly what the Merry Men were. And while I would have liked to say I didn’t understand why that hurt; it would be a lie. Family was the thing I desired most. And once upon a time, I’d wanted one with Robin.
I took a sip of water, needing to do something with myself while Robin gazed down on me with those piercing blue eyes of his.
“I think we’ll be ready to do this soon,” he said. “We’ll spend tomorrow planning and send in a few of the gang who won’t be in on the heist to scout. Can you come back after your next shift, so we can run through the specifics? We’ll strike the night after. You should plan on calling in sick that day. Resting up and preparing will be of utmost importance.”
