Page 33 of Marrying My Orc Boss

My fists clench and unclench in reaction to the rage boiling through my veins. My vision narrows, locking onto a particular addendum, confusion at the latest unknown expense.

“What is the Calypso Hills Resort?”

CHAPTER 19

Sally

Iglance around the kitchen, fingers thrumming quietly along the edge of the sink. The only noise is my tapping. Overwhelmed by the empty silence, I break the internal stalemate with myself to look back over into the sink.

There sit two empty coffee cups, one a fainter match to the other. I try to ignore the frown that punctures my features at the sight. It’s an appropriate metaphor for our marriage, and I try to tamper down the pit of loneliness that gnaws at me.

I yank my hand back from the countertop and refocus my efforts on my day. Now that I’ve settled into marriage, my days are busy, with a schedule that is nearly always filled. My thoughts should be turned to all I have ahead of me and not the missed opportunities between us.

“I have to go. I’ve got a meeting.”

“Don’t worry about dinner-”

“Working late,”

“I’ll call you…”

Biting back another sigh, I remind myself that I am supposed to be thinking about my upcoming day, not this morning. Or the other mornings, and evenings, that have transpired recently. Yet I have no one to blame but myself, I suppose.

Going into this agreement, I knew that the ‘marriage’ part of our deal would be contractual, I just didn’t expect it to be quite so transactional. Or rather, I didn’t expect to be hurt by it. There seemed to be a genuine camaraderie building between us in the weeks leading up to the vow exchange, and then there was that kiss…

Trying and failing for the thousandth time to forget about our kiss has me stumbling awkwardly as I go through my morning routine. I’ve got to be sure I’ve got the kids' papers and project assignments, not daydreaming like some lovesick teenager.

Ever since that damn kiss, Drakar has taken professional distance to new heights. Our budding friendship was enough for me to overlook a little embarrassing mishap, but now this awkward distance that’s settled between us has me feeling off-kilter.

Every time I remember how unabashedly I threw myself at him by the lake, in front of my family, no less, I can’t help but groan in embarrassment. So swept up in the moment, I gave no thought to our established boundaries. The ones literally written into our marriage arrangement.

Well, Drakar has no problem reestablishing those boundaries now, it seems. I shake my head, reminding myself I have no right to be frustrated and push the sour thought aside.

Instead, I focus on recalling my priorities on the drive to the school. Mentally going through my daily schedule reminds me that today is my usual checkup day, to visit Dad at the hospital.

My day is the usual hectic blur, and as I climb the steps to the hospital, I can’t help but wish Drakar was beside me. Whatever else is going on between us, I miss the time he took to make the hospital visits.

It’s a small consolation to know I am not the only one missing him, too. “Where’s that strapping young husband of yours?” Dad asks upon my arrival. He struggles to straighten in his bed, and I am instantly at his side, hugging him and discreetly fluffing the pillows.

“Nice to see you, too, Dad.” I roll my eyes affectionately. There’s still a humorous twinkle in his eye, so I do my best to ignore his weakened grip as he clasps my shoulder. “You think you could remember that I’m your daughter and he’s your son-in-law?”

“He tells better jokes than you,” my dad counters for good measure. My mother chides him, but since he’s recovering well, she’s all smiles.

“Speaking of which, did you ever hear what Casper liked most about his girlfriend?” Humor is the best medicine, after all.

He smiles and shakes his head, giving me a mischievous sideways look. Leaning in close, I whisper conspiratorially. “Her spirit fingers.”

Dad gives a wheezing laugh that causes the machines to flutter. Now it’s my mother’s turn to chide me, but seeing dad even remotely close to his old energy levels was worth it. “I’m not sure that’s a joke you should be telling your parents,” he mentions, rubbing his laugh lines.

“Yeah, but it’s a joke that will never die.” Dad laughs again, even as Mom rolls her eyes with good humor. The joke is enough of a distraction to move onto other topics, and I’m reminded of how good things are.

It’s nice to have a more intimate family moment like this, and I realize that I haven’t really laughed with my family in a while, being so preoccupied with life’s harsh realities. Even as I turn back to the conversation, my mind can’t help but wonder what else I’ve missed out on.

The same thoughts follow me until the quiet stillness of home greets me once again. The lights are dim, and the silence tells me that I am returning to an empty domicile. A dull ache weighs on my chest, dragging my footsteps as I move through the silent rooms.

“Ugh, what am I even doing?” I grumble. It’s a question I’ve been asking myself for weeks, so far with no firm answer.

For so long I’ve dreamt about normalcy and financial security. I hardly know what to do with myself now that I have it. Yet I am unable to shake this feeling of dissatisfaction, this restlessness that has pulses through my bones. Being with Drakar has filled my days more than I could have imagined, but it also reveals how truly alone I was before he came into my life, and what I’ll be returning to once our contract has expired.

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