Page 144 of Bound By Fire
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Robyn
Ridge has been at the office for hours. He came in around mid-morning, set up at the corner table the way he always does, and has barely said two words to me since.
He’s mostly been working on his laptop, his jaw tight. Something is off.
I clear my throat. “Did you eat anything at lunch?”
“No.”
“Aren’t you hungry?”
“I’ll get something when I’m done.”
I know what this is about. At least, I’m quite sure.
“Have you been able to see Magma yet?”
His hands go still on the keys. “It’s none of your business.”
That stings.
I know we’re not together. We’re not even friends, but…still.
He stops typing, sucking in a breath. Then he lifts his eyes to mine.
“I’m sorry, Robyn. That came out wrong. I’m…” He huffs out a breath. “I’m not in the best place today. I did go to see Magma, but he refused to allow me entry. I feel like shit.”
“Oh, Ridge. I’m so sorry.”
“Yeah. Well…” He leans back in his chair. “I shouldn’t have taken it out on you. I feel like an asshole. I just…” He shakes his head. “I feel really guilty about all of it.”
“It isn’t your fault.”
“Isn’t it?” He pushes out a laugh that holds no humor.
“No.” I shake my head. “You couldn’t have told him about the investigation. You weren’t allowed to. You would have lost your job or ended up in jail. You did the right thing.”
“I’m starting to think I should have told him anyway.” His eyes lift to mine. They’re dull. He looks defeated. “He’s my friend, Robyn. He’s been my friend for years. What is a male supposed to do in a situation like this? Tell me. Because right now I cannot figure it out.”
“You did do the right thing. You followed orders. You couldn’t have helped him at all.”
“Some lines shouldn’t be crossed, though. Doesn’t matter who gave the order. He’s my friend, and I let him walk into that without warning. That feels so damned wrong on every level. I don’t know how to live with it.”
“You’re being too hard on yourself.” I push some hair behind my ear. “Magma will come to see that. Maybe not right away. But in time, when he has the full picture and he understands what you were up against, he will. As you said, he’s a good friend to you. He’ll figure it out.”
Ridge looks at me for a long beat. He almost smiles, but it doesn’t quite get there. “I hope so.”
“I know so.”
He nods once. Then he sits back in his chair and rolls his shoulders. “I just?—”
My desk phone rings, and then my cellphone starts vibrating across the desk a second later. And seconds later, Carla bursts through the door without knocking.
“Robyn. The shifter from last night has popped his stitches. They need you in the hangar right away.”
I’m already moving. I grab my cell on the way past the desk and swipe to answer. It’s Brody.
