Just then the gym doors burst open and spewed out a couple dozen teens and preteens.
“Shit,” Robbie said, “we got out of the car. Their friends have seen us. We are so uncool.”
“Is that the first thing you’re learning about yourself in your midlife crisis?”
Finn squawked when Robbie pinched him, but decided to save his retaliation for the right moment.
Imogen looked at Sawyer. “Uh, did you ask—”
Sawyer shook his head and turned apologetic eyes to Robbie. “I didn’t ask you to pick us up, did I? Did I, like black out…?”
“No, no. But you did apparently ask your dad—”
Sawyer winced.
“Yeah. Who asked me at the last minute when he realized he couldn’t make it in time.”
Imogen copied Sawyer’s expression. “And I assumed he’d forget and asked you. Sorry, Finn.”
He waved her off. “It’s fine. Robbie’s been teaching me how to be Zen in my old age. Time well spent. Although,” he added with a glance at Robbie, “I’m not sure I’ve offered much in return.”
“Captive audience,” Robbie said seriously.
Sawyer wrinkled his nose.
Finn stepped in before whatever was about to come out of Sawyer’s mouth could make things awkward. “So. What’s theplan? Because, as charming as this parking lot is, it’s about to be a lot creepier now that everyone’s leaving.”
Imogen and Sawyer looked in each other’s eyes, then down at their phones, like they were considering working it out by text to have some privacy. Teenagers.
Miracle of miracles, Imogen spoke up instead. She was usually pretty quiet, especially when she felt like she’d done something wrong, so it was even more surprising when she said hesitatingly, “Robbie’s place has a better setup for movies….”
Finn’s quiet sister just casually invited herself over to Robbie’s place for a sleepover. Well. That told Finn more about the guy than he could’ve learned in any puff-piece interview.
“…but you came all this way,” she finished in anguish, turning her gaze to Finn.
He fought the urge to roll his eyes and opened his arms instead. “C’mere.”
She wrapped him in a tight hug, which Finn returned, then tugged on the end of her ponytail because he was still a big brother, after all. “You’re fine. Go enjoy your movie-night sleepover. As long as Robbie doesn’t object?”
“Do I get to eat the popcorn too?”
Sawyer rolled his eyes. “It’s your popcorn, Uncle Robs.”
Robbie smiled. “Well, I’m sold, then. Our chariot awaits.” He pushed the button on his key fob, then glanced back at Finn and said, “This is definitely going to happen again.”
Sawyer yelped indignantly. Imogen just blushed.
“Maybe we should add the two of you to the family group chat.” That had sounded so reasonable and less… incredibly forward in Finn’s head. Oh well.
“Ah, we should be so lucky.” Robbie waved. “Have a good night, Finn. See you soon.”
He raised his hand to wave back. “Yeah. Goodnight.”
Finn got back in his car and started it, then waited for Robbie’s SUV to move before he put his own in gear.
Part of him said he could try to be a little annoyed about the inconvenience, but truthfully, Finn would rather they double up for the kids than leave them stranded any day. Besides, he liked talking to Robbie even more now that he’d discovered unforeseen depths—he could be silly and give deep advice about aging at the same time.
Maybe Finn liked talking to him a little too much, actually, considering how closely they’d be working together in the next few weeks. But he was a professional; he could deal with his attraction without acting on it or making the straight guy uncomfortable.
