Page 13 of Fake Dating an Orc Cowboy

The male moved on to the mother and youngling sitting opposite us.

Rosey and I talked as we ate, and the more I got to know her, the more I could see the fates had been right in placing me on her path. She would one day agree, or I’d wallow in my own, non-boob-ly version of pain for the rest of my days.

“What do you do to provide for your life?” I asked. “And do you have siblings? Tell me about your family.”

“I work as a radiology technician, which means in the medical field. We use equipment to take images inside a person to help diagnose them with various illnesses or to identify breaks in bones. I run that equipment,” she said proudly. “It’s a great job. Everyone I work with is awesome. And I like helping people.”

“It sounds like a wondrous career.”

Her smile grew. “As for my family, my parents are still together, and I rent the apartment above their garage, partly because they give me such a great deal but also because I like being close in case they need me. They’re still very active and they work as well, but I’m sure they appreciate it when I mow the lawn or weed the flowerbeds. I love gardening, and that’s my only chance to do it. I have one sibling.” Her laugh burst out. “Nota twin.”

“Your sister—”

“Macy.”

“Who is marrying the male you hoped to form a mating with one day.”

“Yeah.” She stared at the remaining cheese on her plate before popping a round green item called agripeinto her mouth. She spoke around the bite. “I’m twenty-eight, and Ithought I’d at least be in a solid relationship by now. Sometimes I feel like life is passing me by and if I could only leap onto the train, it would take me somewhere special. Instead, I remain at my job, living in an apartment that’s cheap but I don’t own, and the train keeps on chugging along, leaving me behind.”

“I’m thirty,” I said. “And I believe you still have a wonderful life waiting for you. One day soon, your mythical train will stop, and you’ll hop on board. What an amazing ride you’ll take after that.”

Chapter 6

Rosey

The plane landed and after going through immigration and customs, we collected our bags and walked outside to find the person from the transport company holding a sign with my last name.

“This way,” the man said, swooping in to grab our bags.

His eyes widening and a growl ripping up his throat, Ostor lifted my bag against his chest and pawed at his waist, I assumed for the sword he’d mentioned he’d use to lob off Jacob’s head—if I felt the need.

“You will not remove this from her possession,” he snarled.

The transport dude reeled backward, his face blazing like he was about to have a heart attack.

“Hey,” I said softly, placing my hand on Ostor’s forearm. “Juan is just trying to help us with our bags. He’ll take them to the van and deliver them and us to our resort. He’s not trying to steal them.”

“I apologize.” Ostor deflated, his face darkening. Those around us who’d paused to stare continued what they’d been doing.

“Not a problem. I should’ve told you,” I said.

Ostor lowered my bag to the ground, and at my encouraging smile, Juan took the handle and wheeled it and Ostor’s toward a vehicle waiting by the curb.

Sweltering sunshine greeted us beyond the awning, and I grabbed my sunglasses from my backpack, putting them on.

Ostor looked down at me, his eyes watering and tears already streaming down his face.

Aw, was he crying?

“Hey, it’s okay,” I said, spontaneously giving him a hug. I tried to, that is. He was so much bigger than me that I couldn’t reach all the way around him. “No need to be upset. Juan’s probably used to people acting protective about their bags.”

“It’s not that. It’s the blazing bulb in the sky. Your sun.” He looked up and glared at the sky, shaking his fist. “Why is it so much brighter now than it was before?”

“Oh, I see.” I’d brought a spare pair of sunglasses, but like the rest of Ostor, his head was much larger than mine. How could we make this work?

“Do you know if your stores carry sunglasses big enough for orcs?” I asked Juan as he urged us to climb inside the second row of the van.

“Of course.” He gave Ostor a guarded smile. “You’ll find some there.” He waved to a bar built into the outer wall of the terminal with a few items for sale on display. “I can wait.”

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