Robin rolled her eyes at the fading light cast across the once dangerous docks in which random attacks had been known to occur. She took a seat on the bench provided and waited for Elizabeth to show up. Their conversations had moved past girl talk; now she felt as if her own sanity depended on throwing her life out there to be rationalized. Besides, her friend always had a good story to tell and it was a chance to stay in the loop of an old friend she had, until recently, almost lost track of.
She couldn't believe she had had to exchange her routine tank top for a three-quarter sleeved top and a light jacket. The weather had always been classified as unpredictable and it was already September. Fall wasn't that far away. Still, she couldn't quite believe it was starting to get cold again. It just went to show that no one was ever completely satisfied. When they wanted hot, it was always cold and vice versa. Other than the weather though, she considered herself pretty content.
"Can you explain to me the appeal of this place?" Elizabeth announced as she neared her friend on the bench. "It reeks of cheesy mobster movies."
"It's mid-week. Tourists don't use these docks until the weekend." Robin replied with a grin. She crossed one jean clad leg over the other and took in the calm ocean lapping harshly against the docks.
"This town has issues." Elizabeth declared, shifting in her thin tan leather jacket. She pulled her denim-covered legs under her knees, glancing at the turbulent water.
"How have you been? What's it been? One week? Two? You've kept yourself pretty busy missy." Robin said pointedly.
"Oh don't even try to blame me for that one. You're the one who's forgotten how to answer the phone."
"I have no recollection of unplugging the phone, but it's a definite possibility." Robin conceded with a mischievous smirk.
Elizabeth lifted her eyebrow knowingly. "So I guess it is safe to assume 'issues' surrounding Patrick have been resolved in a positive and productive manner?"
"Yes." Robin answered cryptically.
"That good huh?"
"I still have to pinch myself to prove I'm not dreaming." Robin explained.
"And Courtney hasn't killed you both in your limited sleep yet?" Elizabeth didn't claim to be an expert on Courtney's schedule, but she did think the blonde's movie was supposed to have finished filming by now.
"She hasn't been around a lot. I think she's off stewing at her new boyfriend's place." Robin sighed, wishing her roommate could find a way to be happy for her.
"Well new love will do that to you I guess."
"I've heard them on the phone sometimes. They're always fighting." Robin recalled. "But then, who am I to judge? Look at how Patrick and I got together." She felt a little selfish at her lack of concern for Courtney's overall welfare, but she was out of options. She had put off her own happiness for far too long, at least they could agree on that.
"I think you called that foreplay." Elizabeth was glad that whatever mental block Robin had erected to keep Patrick at bay was at least momentarily shoved aside. It was nice to see Robin start out smiling when she was talking about Patrick instead of working up to it.
"How is Cameron doing? Still think he hates you?" Robin redirected the conversation with a practiced air. She hadn't missed the fact that her friend hadn't even brought up Lucky.
"Damn. You are way too good at that." Elizabeth sighed. "He's doing better. And apparently he doesn't completely hate me. He just thinks I'm going to take his father away forever. Which you know is so much better."
"I thought the same thing when my parents got separated. My mother started dating again and even got close to marrying a guy, but then my dad swooped in and remarried her before she could walk down the aisle."
"So I just have to watch out for Cameron's dead mother to come back from the grave?" Elizabeth cocked her head in Robin's direction. "You're the one who hooked Lucky on that soap aren't you?"
Robin's nose crinkled in disgust. "That's preposterous! I haven't watched soaps since I was a teenager. But, since you brought him up, how is Prince Charming? Is his crown still too big to fit on his head?"
"He's fine."
"That goes without saying." Robin answered intently. "But how is he?"
"He's adjusting to Cameron being home and all. I think the word is overprotective." It was much easier to talk about Lucky in terms of Cameron. Maybe Robin's happiness over her relationship with Patrick would keep her friend from pushing too much about the vague details she was giving.
"I think you're avoiding quite nicely. I'm rubbing off on you. Now, what's going on with Lucky? Between you and Lucky?" She clarified in case Elizabeth continued to squirm around the truth.
"Nothing new." Elizabeth began to study her fingernails. Technically speaking there wasn't anything new between her and Lucky. Her realizing what her feelings were didn't mean they were new, just redefined. And there was no way she wanted to admit Robin was right about yet another thing concerning her relationship.
Robin stood abruptly, almost falling off the edge of the docks. "That's it! I'm going to smack that boy upside the head!" She announced moving away from the bench and in the direction of Lucky's house.
"What? What? Robin! Robin! Stop! Sit down please." Elizabeth ran to stand in front of her friend and block her path.
"No! This has gone on long enough! Lucky cannot be this clueless about your feelings or his own." Robin countered determinedly, pushing Elizabeth to the side.
"Robin, if he says it 'cause you forced him to, it doesn't count." She pleaded.
"Has he said it under his own volition then?" Robin challenged folding her arms in front of her.
"Well..."
"ELIZABETH!" Robin scolded, slapping her forehead as her jaw dropped. "You weren't going to tell me?" She asked in a soft voice.
Elizabeth took a deep breath and sat down. "He said it when he thought I was asleep. Two weeks ago." She looked Robin in the eyes. "And he hasn't said it since then."
"When he 'thought' you were asleep? Have you said it back?" Robin probed further.
"No." Elizabeth looked towards the water, bracing herself for Robin's reaction.
Returning to the bench in a dazed state, Robin dropped into a sitting position and closed her eyes.
"I wasn't expecting him to say anything. I had just figured out what my own feelings were and hearing him say that, well it threw me. And he didn't know I heard him."
"Are you afraid to say it back?" Robin asked tentatively.
"If he really does feel that way, why say it when he thought I was asleep? Why not when I'm awake?" These two questions had haunted her since the initial euphoria wore off.
"How did he say it exactly? I need context."
"We were in his bedroom. We had been talking."
"Talking about what?"
"Benefits."
"I guess you weren't discussing stock options." Robin eyed her friend carefully.
"Not exactly. Let's just leave it at benefits ok?"
"Left. Since that day?"
"Nothing coming close to that discussion." Elizabeth sighed. "I haven't even been avoiding him this time. Just nothing."
"You're not likely to run him off. Why don't you try asking him?" Robin suggested.
"Oh yes. Lucky why haven't you said 'God I love you' since the night you thought I was sleeping? Yeah that will help the situation."
"Is there any way but direct with Lucky? Okay, I guess I see your point. If you let this hang over you, it's just going to keep getting bigger and bigger until it pops...most likely at the worst time."
"Would that be anything new for the two of us?" Elizabeth wondered.
"How are other things?" Robin decided to drop the issue for now; it was clear something else was on Elizabeth's mind.
"Other things?" Elizabeth shook her head confused. She was grateful for the subject change but she wasn't afraid to admit the topic shift left her confused.
"That was almost believable." Robin praised in a mocking tone.
"I do try."
"So what else is bugging you then?"
"Have you seen the papers lately?"
"I've tried to stay away from it to tell you the truth. Why?" She narrowed her eyes in worry.
Elizabeth resisted the urge to snort. If Robin's phone was unplugged, her newspapers were probably piled up in front of the loft's door. "The press is circling around Lucky and they may be close to finding out about Cameron."
"How is that possible?"
"The current theory is a reporter was at L&B's office while Cameron was in the hospital and heard about Lucky taking a leave of absence. How they traced him to the children's ward I won't even pretend to understand but they did. Now I hear most of the calls to L&B are about why he was at the children's ward and who the 'mysterious brunette' they spied him with." Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "And yes that would be me."
"Well I should hope so." Robin smiled touching Elizabeth's chin. "As for the rumors, they can easily be sidetracked."
"That's what I keep telling him, but Tony Grimes is not helping this situation at all."
Robin's lip turned upward. "What does that old jerk have to say about it?"
"'That Cameron should move in with him and Lisa for his own protection,'" Elizabeth quoted using the appropriate air quotes. "That Lucky's plan to wait it out and direct all questions to Lois has disaster written all over it and he'll be damned if his only grandchild's life will be played with in this manner."
"Tony Grimes is a bully. His concern for Cameron has little to do with that sweet little boy. He's really convinced himself that Lucky is the reason Jess was killed. Why not just have Lucky put a spin on the rumors, have him give an 'exclusive' if you will to Cruz? It wouldn't be admitting defeat, but maybe they'd move onto someone else."
"Been suggested, but that's a last possible resort." Elizabeth looked at Robin and pulled at the sleeve of her leather coat. "Lucky's still a little touchy with Cruz about the whole Bobbie situation."
"The doctor told Bobbie that she needs to slow down so that means I'm going to have to take over with this newest account. When she calls, Patrick is 'never there.' Really, I think he's being childish. He told me that he's forgiven them both for lying, but I think a lot of it has to do with jealousy. Does that make sense?"
"In a twisted sort of way, yes it totally does. I'm pretty sure Lucky is feeling the same thing, not that either one of them would admit it." Pulling her knees up under her chin, Elizabeth gazed back out of the water. "Why can't this relationship stuff be simpler?"
"Maybe it is simple; maybe we're just too neurotic for normal." Robin paused to think about it.
"Nah." They said in unison.
"How did you become the one in the normal relationship?" Elizabeth asked in mock seriousness.
Robin tilted her head in confusion. "What's normal about it? We still argue. He and Morgan are in constant battle for my attention."
"Yeah but that's your thing. It works for you guys."
"What works for you and Lucky?" Robin inquired seriously.
"We're trying this whole discussion thing but I suck at it. Obviously."
"Obviously." Robin agreed rolling her eyes. "So what are you going to do about it?"
"Continue to ignore it until he confronts me on it?" Elizabeth asked hopefully.
Robin slapped Elizabeth's hands in sync. "No."
"Spoilsport." Elizabeth crossed her arms in a mock huff. "I suppose you think I should be a grownup and talk with him about this."
"Am I that transparent?"
"As Saran Wrap."
"Well I knew I was popular..." Robin prattled on, fanning herself.
"Don't go getting ideas for your newfound sex life please." Elizabeth smacked her friend's arm with a grin. "Although I will state for the record it is nice to see you this happy."
"I'd forgotten what it was like. I must look like a goof."
Titling her head to examine Robin's face, Elizabeth pretended to take the statement seriously. "Not an ordinary goof. But a satisfied one? For sure."
Robin dissolved into a fit of giggles. "Don't think I'm going to let this Lucky thing drop." She managed holding her sides.
"Well not until Patrick distracts you again."
Robin tried to look appalled at the insinuation, but her cheeks grew hot and she threw her hands into the air in surrender.
"Yeah I thought so." Elizabeth declared in triumph. "No denials necessary."