Page 71 of Robbin’ the Rich

Trust wasn't something life had rewarded her for.

"That makes sense."

A small smile appeared.

"Most people tell me it's unhealthy."

"Most people don't know your story."

She studied me for a moment before looking away again.

"I always feel like I'm waiting for people to disappoint me. Even when I like them." She laughed softly and shook her head. "Especially when I like them."

The knot that had taken up residence in my chest tightened.

Robin picked at a loose thread on the blanket. "I keep expecting there to be a catch. Like eventually I'm going to find out someone wasn't who I thought they were. I think it all stems back to what happened with Jess… but who knows... Lots of people are disappointing."

The words hit harder than she knew. The secret I'd been carrying seemed to take up all the space in the room suddenly. It sat between us, invisible and growing heavier every day.

Still, she kept talking. "Something about you is different."

I looked down at her. Robin met my eyes, and for once there was no sarcasm there. No joke waiting to soften the moment. Just honesty.

"You make me feel safe."

Robin wasn't someone who handed out trust carelessly. She guarded herself and questioned everything. She kept pieces of herself tucked away where they couldn't be hurt. The fact that she felt safe with me should have been one of the best moments of my life. Instead, it felt painfully complicated.

She reached for my hand then, lacing her fingers through mine as naturally as breathing.

"I trust you, Micah. More than I've trusted anyone in a long time."

I closed my eyes. Those should have been treasured words. They were the kind a man remembered for the rest of his life. Instead, they tightened that knot of guilt, because she was trusting me while I was still keeping something from her. It was not a small thing, either. It was something that might be unforgivable.

“That’s why I have to tell you a secret.”

I should stop her. She’d had too much to drink. She was telling me things that she wouldn’t sober. But I didn’t stop her. I didn’t do anything except sit there.

“I’m stealing money from the church.”

I froze. What did she mean?

“That night when I found out my dad was helping them with their accounting, I was fixing his computer and I found the files. I was curious… then I was pissed. They have so much money, Micah. Like so much! So when I got home, I worked a little of my hacker magic and back routed a monthly donation to Lantern House.”

“Good for you.” The words were out of my mouth before I even had time to think about them.

“You don’t think it’s a bad idea.”

“Well… That’s more complicated. I think it's the right thing to do.”

“Right,” she said, sitting up and turning to me. “Like they create this problem. They make places like Lantern House have to exist. It’s only fair.”

“My illegal little do-gooder. You derby name should be Robin Hood.”

I kissed the top of her head and closed my eyes. She was right. I was actually proud of her. She saw a problem and she fixed it… even though it was a crime. But that is the problem when the laws are unjust and the people with the power only care about money.

But that was also the problem… the people with the power only cared about money. She was stealing from my father. While I agreed with her and it was a bad ass move, my father was a powerful man… a powerful man who cared only about money. If he ever found out someone was stealing from him, he would make that person pay.

I took a slow deep breath. I had planned on telling her tonight, but then she got drunk and it didn’t feel right. Now after everything she has told me, how can I tell her? Fuck. This was all so messed up.