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Steve drops another tape in the rewinder. Robin joins him for the rest of his shift in five minutes. She’s closing with Keith tonight, and he has no doubt he’ll hear about it on the drive to school tomorrow. Steve clocks out at five and he’ll drive back to his place to microwave a dinner for one —his parents away for the next two weeks on a business trip in Chicago.
His father asked before he left if Steve had started his college essays for his next round of applications. Steve didn’t know how to respond. He hadn’t thought about college since he dropped down an elevator and into a hidden Russian base under Starcourt. Didn’t even wonder if a job at his dad’s company was even on the table anymore.
Steve remembered waking up screaming last week from a nightmare: Robin dead, Dustin dead, Erica dead. His parents didn’t look him in the eye at the breakfast nook. Over dinner, his dad asked when he would be over “all that Starcourt drama.”
No college, no company job. Just Family Video.
“Steve? Steve! You’re kind of freaking me out here.”
Steve blinks and he’s back behind the counter, the tape set back to the beginning. Robin’s hands are on his shoulders. Shit, how long was she there? “I’m fine. I’m fine. How was school? Ace that essay for Mrs. O’Donnell?”
Robin frowns. “Hey, you went somewhere for just a minute. Didn’t even react when I said I had the biggest, fattest crush on Vickie—.”
“Oh thank god, Tammy Thomp—.”
“That’s not the point, Steve.” Robin steps closer. “We’re soulmates. Platonic soulmates. You don’t have to hide if you don’t want to. I know I haven’t been around for all the crazy shit like you have, but I think withstanding Russian torture together should allow me in your inner sanctum.” She taps the side of his head.
Steve sighs. “It’s been a tough week. My dad’s giving me shit about college and my job, and I had another nightmare last week—.”
“You could have called!”
“I know, I’m just not used to it. I’m not going to drop that on any of the kids, Joyce has enough on her plate, Hopper’s—,” Steve pauses. “Which leaves my ex-girlfriend, or the guy my ex-girlfriend is dating. It’s the first time in a while there’s someone else for me to really talk to.” He brushes a lock of hair behind her ear. “I‘ve just got to get used to it.”
Robin hugs him. “Well, you have plenty of time to because I’m not going anywhere, Harrington.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way, Buckley.”
The bell over the door dings! and Robin and Steve let go of each other. “Welcome to Family Video.” Robin brushes a tear from her eye.
Steve turns back to rewinder and drops in the next tape.