[chapter fifteen]
Disclaimer: If you've heard of them, I don't own them. Everything else is mine, so no stealing, pretty please. ;-)
**
"So…now that my internship is officially over and I'm going back to school, are you going to come out of the closet?" Alexa asked lazily, running a hand through Robby's hair as he lay sprawled on her couch, his head resting in her lap cozily.
Robby's eyes snapped open and looked at her in alarm. "Uh…what?!"
"The I'm-A-Dirty-Old-Man-Who-Was-Breaking-RCR's-Dating-Policy closet?" Alexa teased.
Robby relaxed again and grinned at her. "Yeah, I s'pose I'll tell a few folks. Have to explain your presence at some of the races somehow."
Alexa smiled and said nothing until Robby broke the silence again. "I can't believe you're leaving and going back to school." He said quietly, his eyes closed.
Alexa sighed at the thought. "It's not like I go to school across the country. Besides, once this semester is finally through, you'll be in the off season, and I'll be done with classes. I'll be strictly in thesis writing mode for the spring semester."
"I know, but…" Robby trailed off. "I've kinda got used to you being around."
"Gee, how endearing." Alexa teased and Robby sat up to face her.
"I'm serious, Lex. How am I going to get through the rest of the season not seeing you every day. It's not like I can come up on weekends when you aren't in class." Robby pouted slightly and Alexa playfully tugged on his lower lip.
"One more semester, Rob, and I'm all yours. I promise." Alexa said gently. "Besides, I can write a thesis from anywhere." She winked. "And I'm sure I'll need some very…detailed…interviews with you to complete it."
Robby laughed and kissed her left eyebrow. "Still…the rest of the season is gonna suck without you."
**
Alexa sighed as the phone rang in the graduate computer lab. She was right in the middle of preparing for her last final, and the last thing she needed was another interruption. "Cave. Who do you want?"
"You, baby."
Alexa grinned as she heard Robby's voice on the line. "Hey sweetie…I'm right in crunch mode." She sighed, rubbing her forehead tiredly.
"I know…listen, call me the minute your last final is done. I'm taking you out to celebrate, and then you're going to help me with a chore."
"What sort of chore?" Alexa asked, imagining grocery shopping or a trip to the vet.
"The buying a new house sort of chore. Phoenix appears to be bored with this one." Robby wisecracked and Alexa grinned. She knew Robby had been dying for a new place, ever since his pay raise and points standings had spiked in the last 6 months.
"Oh really?" She said idly.
"Mm-hm. And if you're very good, I might even dedicate a guest room to you." She could practically hear Robby's evil grin through the phone line.
"My hero." She deadpanned, smiling at Robby's answering laugh.
"You in?" He asked.
"Yeah, I'm in. But on one condition." Alexa said seriously.
"What's that?"
"We get to christen every room before you move in." She said devilishly.
"I think I can handle that."