Chapter Three:
Patrick woke up and took a minute to remember where he was. He sat up and stretched, his back aching and his hair sticking up in weird places.
He was in a tent. He was in Robin's tent.
Robin wasn't here.
He sat up and pulled his clothes on before smoothing his hair down and opening the tent. The bright sun hit him and he squinted as he looked at his watch.
7AM.
Where did she go?
He saw Lainey and Steven starting a fire in the pit for breakfast and he knew the kids would be up soon. He walked towards the wood and was relieved when he saw Robin. He was worried when she limped towards him.
"Hey, where did you go?" he smiled at her when she saw him. He felt a flush cover his cheeks as he took in her beautiful frame. She was incredibly petite and her long brown hair framed her face and fell over her shoulders. There was a slight curl to the ends he knew was because of the rain and it made him want to run his fingers through it. When she met his gaze, he felt naked in her eyes.
"I wanted to find my phone. I dropped it when I fell and I couldn't find it in the darkness."
"Did you find it?"
"Yeah," she smiled and held it up. "How did you sleep?"
"Good, thanks. You?"
She remembered waking up in his arms and she blushed.
"Really good, thanks."
"Good."
They stood in silence and Robin shifted, her ankle throbbing.
"So I think I need to go sit down and wrap my ankle before I attempt to drive home."
"Oh, right, you should totally do that."
Again, neither one of them moved.
"Excuse me," she said and went to walk, but stumbled and felt his strong arms around her.
Shit.
"Let me help you," he said and half carried her into the tent. She sat down and smiled at him.
"Thanks. I can take it from here," she said.
"Okay. Bye," he said awkwardly and stepped out of the tent. He made his way back to his own tent, shaking his head.
Nice dipshit," he mumbled to himself as he went to join the rest for breakfast.
Robin zipped the tent closed and lay back on the blanket. She exhaled and willed her stomach to settle down. She closed her eyes and thought about the morning's events.
She hadn't slept so soundly in a long time. If she was honest with herself, it felt amazing having a man hold her all night. She had been so lonely and it wasn't something she dwelled on, but she missed companionship. She missed romance and love and passion.
She missed living.
It wasn't that she was unhappy with her life. Just the opposite, really; she was successful and had a promising career back in the town where she grew up. She was respected in her field and despite this latest blip with her meds; her health had been really stable.
But something happened to her last night. Talking with Patrick and flirting with him ignited a spark she thought was long gone.
He was gorgeous and caring and he helped her when he didn't have to. He also seemed guarded about things and she could relate to that. She wanted to know more, but she also knew she needed to tell him everything.
Maybe it was easier to just stay away? Besides, who said he wanted to even see her again? She was building this whole setup in her mind and it was a real possibility that he was involved with someone else and was just being a gentleman last night.
She drifted off to sleep as thoughts of Patrick filled her dreams.
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Everyone had left the campgrounds after the bus took the kids back and Patrick was packing his tent up and getting ready to head out when saw Robin's tent was still up. He had been unable to get her out of his mind all morning and when Liz pulled him to help corral the kids after breakfast and time just got away from him.
She couldn't still be in there, could she?
He carried his bag and pack to her tent and sighed.
"Robin? Are you okay?"
There as no answer and he tried to figure out a way to knock on the mesh.
Maybe he should just leave. She had an injured ankle, not a head injury and he knew she could get up and go home when she was ready.
Still, he was concerned. She seemed off and it was more than a twisted ankle.
He sat down on a large rock and rested his elbows on his knees.
There was something about her. She was beautiful and generous and intelligent and giving. They had talked all night and she was truly interested in the answers and not just telling him what he wanted to hear.
Patrick realized he had been missing that. He wanted to connect with someone. He wanted to be important to someone. He wanted more than sleepwalking through life.
"Patrick?" Robin asked as she stepped out of the tent.
He looked up from his daydreaming and smiled.
"Hi."
"Why are you still here? Is everything okay?"
He stood up and nodded.
"Yeah, everyone left."
She started taking her tent down and looked at him.
"Not everyone."
He helped her and shrugged.
"I was worried about you. I was just making sure your ankle was okay for you to drive home."
"Oh, well it's sore, but I think it just needs to be elevated with some ice. As soon as I get home I'll take care of it."
"Right, well that sounds like a good idea."
She hesitated and then looked at him.
"So do you have a place to stay yet?"
"I'm at the Metro Court for now, but I want to find a place right away. The hotel is nice, but not really conducive for a home."
Robin watched as he picked up his bags as well as hers and she reached to his arm.
"Would you like to come to my place for dinner? I'd like to thank you for your help last night."
"Dr. Scorpio, are you asking me out on a date?" he grinned and his dimples were deep and inviting.
"I'm asking a friend to have dinner," she said and then smiled. "It will depend how things go before I consider it a date."
He hesitated and she blushed.
"You're in a relationship, aren't you? I'm so sorry. I totally stepped in that one. Just forget I asked."
She turned to walk away and he moved to stop her.
"No, I am not in a relationship."
"Okay, are you gay?"
"What? No."
"So it's me? I can take it, don't worry."
"Robin, would you stop and let me answer?"
She rubbed her forehead and sighed.
"Sorry. Shutting up now."
"I would like very much to come over for dinner, but I want it to be a date."
"You would? You do?"
He smiled.
"I would and I do."
"Okay then," she said as they walked to the cars. "I'll text you my address. Can I have your number?"
He pulled out his phone and told her the number and she called him.
"Hello?" he grinned.
"Hi, I'm calling to ask you out on a date."
"Oh, well let me check my calendar," he said and she rolled her eyes.
"It appears I'm free. I'll be there."
They hung up and laughed as they got into their respective cars. They drove off and both of them had a smile on their faces.
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