Page 18 of Swipe Right for Orcs
I can’t help but feel a twinge of envy. It’s not just the fact that he’s clearly smitten; it’s the ease with which he’s found someone who makes him smile like that. I want that. I want someone to make me feel the way he’s feeling right now.
How could anyone ever do such a thing, though, when they find out what I’ve done?
Leaning against the doorframe, I cross my arms and take a moment to watch him. While I do feel happy for him, there’s a slight pang of jealousy that I can’t ignore.
Unable to resist giving him a hard time, I push off the wall and saunter closer to the couch. “Date didn’t go well, huh? You didn’t text me, so no first-date fuckery for you?”
He looks up, a flicker of surprise in his eyes quickly replaced by a mock glare. “For your information, we did the fucking at her place.”
I raise an eyebrow, trying to hide my shock. “Why are you here, then? I heard you come in late last night.”
“She fell asleep right after,” he says, shrugging. “I snuck out to come home and check on you. I heard you on the phone with Whimsy, so I just went to bed.”
Fucking hell. I try to process this as my mind races.
“You’re telling me that you, Osric, my big oaf of a brother, got a piece from a sexy woman last night, and instead of staying with her for round two or just to be with her, you came home to be with your sister? Are you fucking stupid?” I roll my eyes and nod at the phone. “Is she telling you to go sit on a cactus?”
“No,” he says, shaking his head. “It was her agreeing to come here Wednesday for dinner and to meet you. I told her I was worried about you and that you’ve had a bit of a rough go, and she understood.”
A surge of anger courses through me. How dare he paint me as some lost fucking puppy who needs to be coddled and babysat? “Why would you do that? I’m fine, Osric.”
“You’re not,” he says, his voice softening. “I’m worried about you, Ovivia.”
“Doesn’t mean you need to tell your five-minute girlfriend how pathetic I am.”
“You’re not pathetic. Do you think she’s my girlfriend? Should I have asked her that?” He looks genuinely puzzled.
I roll my eyes, exasperated. “You’re a fucking idiot. I’m going to make breakfast. I am excited to meet her, though.”
I turn and head toward the kitchen, my thoughts a jumbled mess. With automatic movements, I grab the dragonfruit and mango from the fridge and begin to dice them. I can’t help but wonder what this woman will think of me. Will she see me as a crazy, mopey emo orc who can’t be left alone at home? Will she hate me for unwittingly stealing her orc away from her as soon as they were done?
As I’m lost in thought, I hear Osric’s voice call out from the living room. “Oh, I didn’t use a condom, so she might be carrying my child!”
I freeze, the knife slipping from my grasp and clattering onto the cutting board. “Does she know that?”
“No,” he says casually. “She asked this morning about orc reproduction, and I told her I’d tell her Wednesday, but she should be okay.”
“She’s going to fucking kill you.”
Osric smirks, unbothered. “She can try. But back to my first question: should I ask her if I’m her boyfriend?”
I sigh, feeling a mixture of amusement and frustration. “Since she could be carrying your child, yeah, you probably should do that. Also, don’t be an asshole. It’s not like you. Tell her the truth about babies and your freaky breeding kink.”
“I will.” He assures me.
“Good. If you don’t, I will. Don’t do that shit again! It’s not right. I’ll kill you myself.”
I pick up the knife and continue dicing the fruit, trying to shake off the strange blend of emotions swirling inside me. My brother may be a walking disaster, but he’s my walking disaster, and that makes all the difference.
As I blend my smoothie, I think about Wednesday. This woman who has managed to capture my brother’s attention piques my curiosity. I hope she’s kind and understanding, someone who won’t judge me based on the mess that is my life right now. I hope she can see past the chaos and see the orc I truly am. And that I’m not trying to steal the spotlight from my brother’s chance for happiness.
I glance at the clock and realize I need to get moving if I want to be ready for work. Quickly, I finish making my smoothie, gulp it down, and start rushing around the kitchen. Today is crucial.
We have a huge meeting about the cost of meals per student if we integrate all schools district-wide. It’s a pivotal moment for us, and I can’t afford to mess this up. We’re also discussing adding more human staff to ensure a fifty-fifty split, rather than the current eighty-twenty ratio. This means some monsters are going to lose their jobs or get transferred, which breaks my heart, but I believe a fifty-fifty balance is essential for the changing dynamics between humans and monsters.
With barely enough time to check my reflection in the mirror, I pull on my jacket and grab my purse. I take a deep breath, knowing I have to be on top of my game today.
Before I leave, I shout over my shoulder, "Heading out, Osric!"
