Page 27 of The Orc Who Hated Christmas
“Then, once we close, you could come around the back and you could sit whilst I clean and pack up. I’m on closing duty tonight. Then we could go back to your place.” Cas gestured to the apartment above. “I’d invite you upstairs. But no doubt several of my siblings will be around, so we won’t get much privacy.” And Cas wanted to see where Graal lived.
“But only if you want. I understand if you don’t want to spend an evening sitting around and watching me clean.” Cas held his breath.
“That sounds nice.” Graal smiled. He smiled more these days.
“Then come on in.” Cas opened the door and entered.
Jack, Grady, and Lacy worked away in the back.
“How long exactly does it take to get your arse rail—” Lacy cut off her words as she raised her head and saw Graal enter behind Cas. “Oh!” Her eyes widened. “Hi.” She recovered quickly and smiled. “I’m Lacy, Cas’s sister. And you must be Graal.” She came forward, wiping her hands on her apron before offering him her hand.
Graal shook her hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“And these are Grady and Jack, my brothers,” Cas introduced.
Graal nodded in greeting as Cas’s brothers said hello.
“Graal will be around for a bit,” Cas said.
“Well, it’s nice to finally properly meet you, Graal,” Jack said.
“You too,” Graal mumbled.
Deciding that was enough of an introduction, Cas led Graal to a table in the front of the bakery. At this time of day, they usually weren’t too busy. But surprisingly, there were no customers at all.
Graal sat gingerly on the chair as if worried the wood would struggle under his weight. Which was fair, since Cas didn’t know how old the chair was. He was reasonably sure it had been here when Cas joined the family. “I’ll go get you some hot chocolate and cookies.”
Graal nodded, clasping his massive green, work-roughened hands and resting them on the white crocheted tablecloth. Graal’s bulking form dwarfed the table.
With a start, Cas realised he’d never seen Graal sit at one of the tables. He always took his food and left. But despite the contrast, Cas liked the look of Graal sitting at the table in the bakery. Smiling, Cas returned to the back.
Lacy stood on her toes, watching Graal eagerly.
“You two are getting pretty close,” Jack observed. “You’ve been together what, a week now?”
“You spend every free moment with him.” Lacy kept her gaze on Graal, seemingly having forgotten she was in the middle of packing a tray of cookies for the markets. “Is it getting serious?”
Cas gave a quick shake of his head. “I don’t think it would be a good idea. Not this close after breaking up with Xavi. We’re just having some fun. We’re friends, and Graal is nice.”
Lacy scoffed. “He’s a lot nicer than Xavier!”
Cas swivelled towards her. His brows furrowed. “You…you didn’t like Xavier?”
“Well…” She looked to Jack and Grady as if seeking help.
“Xavier’s fine,” Jack said. “Just a bit…”
“Arrogant and condescending,” Grady finished the sentence in a matter-of-fact tone.
“What?” Cas’s mouth fell open. “You never said anything! Do you all think that?”
His siblings shared another look.
“You all didn’t like him?”
“He wasn’t the worst,” Jack said slowly.
“But he just wasn’t that nice to be around.” Lacy made a face. “Sorry, Cas. He just always seemed to look down on us and ourlittle bakery, as he always said.”
