Page 41 of Bidding on the Orc Outcast

“Been a while,” Grondar said, returning to a batch of scones he was forming.

He leaned against a prep table, crossing his arms defensively.

“Flora tell you to lecture me?”

Grondar snorted. “Since when does Gran need anyone to do her dirty work? But I hear things. And I saw you with Posy at the auction. And coming down her stairs this morning.”

Fuck. He hadn’t thought about that. He braced himself for the inevitable warning to stay away from town, to keep his distance. His jaw clenched as Grondar’s expression darkened into a frown.

“What?” he growled, shoulders squaring for a fight.

But Grondar’s next words knocked the wind from his sails. “Good to see you around again.”

What?

He searched Grondar’s face for any hint of mockery or deception, but found none. Just the steady gaze of someone he’d known since they were kids getting into trouble together, before everything went wrong.

His throat tightened, and he only managed a grunt in response, not trusting his voice for more.

“Been too long,” Grondar added, turning back to his baking. “Town’s changed. People have changed.”

His fingers dug into his biceps where his arms remained crossed. The weight of years of isolation pressed against his chest. He’d convinced himself the town would never accept him again, that staying away was better for everyone. Now both Grondar and Flora were suggesting otherwise.

“Most of them anyway. Heard about Sebastian hassling you and Posy the other night.”

His muscles tensed. Of course word had gotten around. Nothing stayed private in this town.

“You should have stood up to that little shit,” Grondar said. “Running away just made you look guilty.”

His jaw worked as he processed Grondar’s statement. He’d been so focused on protecting Posy from his reputation that he hadn’t considered he might be making things worse.

“I wasn’t going to risk?—”

“Risk what? Sebastian getting what he deserves?” Grondar snorted. “You weren’t guilty back then, and everyone who matters knows it. But skulking away like you did? It made you look guilty - and that’s exactly what he wanted.”

Another shock. He stared at the other orc, his mind reeling. “You… don’t believe what they said about me?”

“Never did.” Grondar wiped the flour from his hands, then pulled a tray of pastries from the oven. “Neither did Flora or half the town. But you disappeared before anyone could tell you that.”

All these years, he’d assumed everyone believed Sebastian’s lies. “Last time I got into it with a human?—”

“You got blamed for something that wasn’t your fault,” Grondar cut in. “Then you ran yourself out of town before anyone could sort out the truth.”

His throat tightened. “The whole town turned against me.”

“No.” Grondar set down the tray with a clang. “A few loud mouths stirred up trouble, sure. But you’re the one who chose to hide in those woods. Nobody forced you out there.”

He winced as he recognized the truth in the other orc’s words. He’d been so young, so hurt by the accusations. He’d convinced himself that exile was his only option. But had he really given anyone a chance to stand up for him?

“You let Sebastian and his daddy win,” Grondar said. “They wanted you gone, and you gave them exactly what they wanted. Most folks have moved past it. Only ones still holding onto that old story are Sebastian and his cronies.”

“But people are still staring at me, avoiding me.”

“They’re staring at you because no one’s seen you for the past decade and everyone in this town is interested in everyone else’s business.”

“But those two dryads left when I came in,” he protested weakly.

“Because they were finished with their fucking coffee,” Grondar growled. “You need to spend less time imagining things and pay attention to the truth.”

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