Page 32 of Size Doesn't Matter

“Tell him I’ll be there in an hour.” I was already getting out of bed and unbuttoning my pajama top so I could put some proper clothes on. “Don’t let him go back out into the cold.”

“I won’t.”

“You promise you won’t let him leave?”

“Of course.”

“All right, I’ll see you soon.”

“Bye, Cyr–“

I hung up, dressed into day clothes, and tried to run a comb through my tangles before giving up and dropping the comb back onto the bathroom counter. I brushed my teeth with the toothbrush that was twice the size of the one Nico had left before returning to the bedroom to throw the sheets back over my bed. It wasn’t made well, but at least it would be more inviting to pull back the covers and get into when I got back home – if I got home before morning at all.

The road to Sylvan’s cabin was empty, allowing me to drive faster than I usually would, but as the paved road turned to gravel and eventually dirt, I was forced to slow to a crawl. My truck could handle the bumpy path well enough, but overgrown tree branches scraped at the sides like fingernails on a chalkboard.

I made it to the log cabin in record time and parked my truck outside, hoping Sylvan wouldn’t be too upset about the fumes poisoning his perfect garden and overgrown field.

I was about to knock on the door when it opened before me and the freckle-faced fae on the other side grinned, waving me inside.

“Come in, come in. There’s tea in the kitchen and some leftover cake in the fridge from a few days ago.”

“Oh, thank you, but I’m not hungry.” I smiled politely and ducked through the door, taking in how small the cabin was inside.

It was not made for an orc, that was certain, but Sylvan and Irving looked happy and cozy in their little home, and that was all that mattered. A pang of loneliness shot through my chest. If I were a fae – or a human – I might have been able to have something like this too.

“Where’s Nico?” I asked.

“He went with Irving to get some ice from the freezer chest out in the back,” Sylvan explained. “They should return in just a moment–“

The door opened and Irving stepped inside with Nico in tow. One look from Irving told me everything I needed to know. He hurried over to the kitchen after a quick nod for a greeting, dragging Sylvan with him.

Nico walked up to me sheepishly, hands clasped behind his back. “Hello, Cyrus,” he said quietly.

“Hello, Nico. I heard that you’re in need of a ride home.”

He nodded. “I hope it wasn’t too much trouble getting here.”

“Not at all. Shall we get you home before it gets too late? I’m sure you want to get to bed as much as I do.”

“Yeah, that would be great. Um, thanks.” He glanced up toward the kitchen. “And thank you both for your hospitality.”

Irving nodded. “Any time.”

Sylvan scurried over, grabbing Nico’s wrists so he could hold his hands. “Remember what we talked about,” he whispered.

Nico smiled awkwardly. “How could I forget?”

“Good.” Sylvan patted the top of Nico’s hand like one might pat a puppy’s head. “That’s what I hoped to hear.”

He let Nico go and we left the cabin together, getting back into the truck in utter silence. I revved the engine and the sound washed away the eerieness for a bit. The bumps in the road kept me focused ahead, but by the time we reached the main road, I knew one of us would have to talk eventually.

“What did you and Sylvan talk about?” I asked as casually as I could muster.

“Oh, dating and stuff,” Nico replied dismissively. “I went on that date with another orc, remember?”

“Ah, yes, I do remember now.” I’d never forgotten, but it was the last thing I wished to bring up. “How did it go?”

Nico shrugged. “Fine.”

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