Page 113 of Robbin’ the Rich

“How can I help you?”

“Hi, I’m Micah Nottingham.” I reached my hand out and shook hers. “I brought Ariel home last night and she told me your van has a flat. I would love to change it and get it all fixed up for you.”

“Oh, that’s not necessary.”

“Please. I would really like to help you out.”

The woman took a beat before she shrugged. “Yeah, that would be really helpful. I’m Maggie.”

“It’s nice to meet you.”

“There are tools in the garage, let me get them for you.”

Next thing I knew I was jacking up the van and getting the flat off. For the first time in weeks, I felt useful, like I wasn’t just surviving. I needed to find more things to do to make amends. This wasn’t for Robin as much as it was for me.

The next day I headed over to Nate’s for our weekly game. I missed the last two Sundays. Too busy moping around my house, but it was time for me to get back to things. After standing up to my parents at the concert and helping out at Lantern House I was ready to join the land of the living again.

As I walked into Nate and Jordan’s house, Maya was already at the table setting up. “Hey! Welcome back! Nate tried to kill off your character, but I wouldn’t let him.”

“Thanks,” I said, dropping my bag next to my usual seat.

“Well, look who finally decided to join us,” Nate said.

I knew this was coming. The price of blowing off your friends was getting shit but then support. I deserved this too.

“I know, I’m sorry man. I was just going through some stuff.”

“Welcome back,” he said before pulling me into a hug. “Now, let’s get down to killing some stuff.”

We all got out our dice and started the game.

After a while I got up and went into the kitchen for a drink. Jordan was in there fixing some snacks.

“Hey Micah. How you holdin’ up?” The pathetic tone in his voice set me on edge, but I had just been MIA for a few weeks, so I guess it was warranted.

Lie or honest, that was the only choice now. Surprisingly I went for honesty, a new choice for me really.

“It’s been rough, but I’m doing better.”

“What happened anyway? I asked Nate and all he said was you and the hot nun broke up.”

I huffed a rough laugh. “Yeah, we did.”

“But why?” Jordan said as he sat at the kitchen table and kicked the chair across from him out with his foot.

I took the hint and had a seat.

“I was lying to her.” Honesty again.

I ran my hand through my hair before opening my Mountain Dew.

“That’ll do it. And she found out before you could tell her?”

I nodded and took a long pull from my soda, wishing it was something a little harder for this conversation.

“She found out on Thanksgiving, when unbeknownst to both of us our families were eating together. Apparently, her family was trying to get her to attend. I tried to explain myself, and to her credit the next day she did listen. But she decided she couldn’t forgive me and broke it off.”

“Damn. That sucks.”