“What do you think?” he asked Finn under his breath as they waited for everyone to assemble.
Finn wrinkled his nose. “Honestly, it’s probably going to be Emily and Alonzo again. They missed one of the key steps in their choreography, which sucks, because they’re really good. But Chad fucked up one of the lifts, so maybe he’ll be out of our hair after this week.”
“Finally some good news.” Robbie gave a weak smile.
Finn gave him a calculating look and then returned his attention to the centre of the room. The host hadn’t arrived yet. “More brother stuff?” he guessed.
The lawyer Robbie had hired for Vince—who was lining up to cost Robbie way more than Sawyer ever would—had let him know last night that Vince’s arraignment date had been set for Monday. If Robbie wanted Sawyer to have a chance to see his father outside of a prison for the foreseeable future, that was his window. So of course it was on a show day. “How’d you know?”
“If it was Sawyer, you’d be more fidgety.”
Finally Michelle showed up for their song and dance, and Robbie held his breath. If he and Finn got kicked off the show, at least he’d have Monday free with Sawyer. But once again they escaped the bottom two, and somehow so did Chad and Sophia, so it was off to group practice with a soupçon of homophobic side-eyeing.
The next few days passed simultaneously at breakneck speed and at a snail’s pace as Robbie and Sawyer moved through the days in a mix of emotions.
Finn and Robbie developed a new routine on the ice but didn’t have the chance to develop their horizontal tango. Robbie’s schedule wasn’t exactly full up, except with Sawyer and his feelings, but Robbie’s own feelings didn’t really put him in the mood. Not to mention that he couldn’t curb the urge to keep eyes on Sawyer twenty-four-seven.
The hearing part of Vince’s arraignment went pretty much exactly as the lawyer predicted.
Vince was remanded with bail, which Robbie was reluctant to pay, even though he could, and which Vince didn’t seem to expect of him.
Vince’s lawyer had talked with the crown attorney and gotten them to agree to a face-to-face meeting with Sawyer. It was under guard, but at least it wasn’t literally in prison.
That part went less like Robbie was expecting.
“Hey, kid,” Vince greeted tiredly when Sawyer and Robbie walked in.
Sawyer hung back, lingering near Robbie instead of getting closer or claiming the seat across the table.
Vince didn’t look surprised. “I got myself in a real mess this time, huh?”
Sawyer snorted. “Understatement.”
Vince took it on the chin. Robbie would give his brother that, at least. He might be a dumbass, but he wasn’t totally stupid. Even if he’d failed at anything approaching coping since the death of his wife. “Probably. Your uncle’s fancy lawyer tells me I might be here awhile.”
“Yeah.”
“Good chance until you’re outta high school.”
“So they tell me,” Sawyer agreed.
Vince rubbed his chin and sighed. “I’ve been a pretty lousy dad. Not sure this is the worst of it.”
Sawyer didn’t disagree, though he took a step closer. Robbie wanted to follow but curbed the impulse. Sawyer needed this moment.
“Not saying I wanna be here, but—look, kid, we both know you’re going to be just fine, because you’re… well, you take after your mom and your uncle.” Vince shot a look at Robbie, and it struck him how little they knew each other. Robbie had left home at fifteen and did his best to avoid going back. If it weren’t for Sawyer, he and Vince probably wouldn’t have spoken much at all for the past fourteen years. So Robbie didn’t reallyknow this worn man in a jumpsuit. “Let’s be real, you’re gonna be looked after better now than you were by me.” Vince turned his gaze from Robbie back to Sawyer. “He’s been doing the heavy lifting for years now. Probably better this way if everyone knows it.”
“You haven’t… haven’t been completely useless,” Sawyer granted.
Vince huffed a laugh. “Thanks. We only got a few more minutes…. You’re doing good? Everything okay at school? You like the new place?”
Sawyer melted a little more and took another couple steps closer. “Uh. School’s out now, Dad, but—it was good, yeah. I like it.”
“I can’t believe you’re in high school now.” Vince’s voice cracked, startling Robbie into feeling his own emotions. He edged backward until he pressed up against the wall. “I wish your mom could’ve seen it, kid.”
Robbie closed his eyes. Fucking God damn it, Vince. Why couldn’t he have kept his nose clean?
Sawyer sniffled. “Yeah. I… me too.”
