Page 22 of One Night with Her Grumpy Orc

Epilogue

Grev

Two Weeks Later

Pride doesn’t beginto describe the sensation in my chest when I see Betty walking around the library, chatting and laughing with everyone who’s here to celebrate the re-opening. She’s built something special, a refuge and a community.

Everyone who helped fix the library is here. Even Matt, our mechanic and snowplow driver, who could be cursed as the reason the library was damaged. Or praised as the catalyst for bringing Betty and me together, finally. Matt stands at the window, hand resting on the wooden frame, smiling, as if he is the proud father of the new window. Here only because his truck crashed into it.

“Good turnout,” Koru says to me, pulling my attention away from the angry words I’m dreaming about saying to Matt. “I can’t remember the last time I visited the library to actually look around. Had to be when I was in Ms. Turner’s class. Remember the essays she made us write? Know how many essays I’ve written since then?” He holds his fat hand up, fingers in a zero shape.

“Betty has transformed this place over the last year. New books. New activities for the kids. She’s worked hard to make this a safe place. It makes me happy to see people celebrating it, and her.” Koru looks at me with that thoughtful big brother smugness that I hate. Like he’s seeing me for the first time.

“Betty has also had a transformation on you, brother. And it gladdens my heart.” He slaps a hand on my back, and for a brief moment, I forget that I’ve kept my longing and need for Betty a secret. That I hadn’t trusted my brothers with who I really am.

“Yo! Great shindig! August sent me over here. She said I wasn’t allowed to re-arrange the books on the shelves anymore.” A quick glance shows August with an enormous stack of books on the floor at her feet, trying to re-alphabetize them. And this is my reminder ofwhyI haven’t opened up to my brothers.

“If you haven’t been in the library since Ms. Turner’s class, how long has it been since this buffoon has been here?” I ask, pointing a thumb at our idiot brother who stands with the cockiest grin on his face.

“What are you talking about? I come in here all the time when August is working.”

“I’ve never seen you,” I say.

“Well, I wait until you’re not here. I don’t need your quiet judgment hovering over me while I’m trying to flirt and be sweet to August. I certainly don’t need you overhearing me quote poetry to her.”

My jaw is on the floor, and I’m not sure how to get it back up to the rest of my face. “Poetry? What are we talkin’? Dr. Suess?”

“See, this is exactly what I’m talking about. In fact, we’ve been working through a book of poems based on Taylor Swift songs.” His voice is almost a whisper as he confides in us. The wordspoems,andTaylor Swift, coming out of his mouth in the same sentence causes both Koru and me to snort. Loudly in disbelief.

The perfect zinger is on my lips when two things happen. I see the honesty in Bjorn’s eyes, and it pulls me up short. I didn’t know my brother had any depth to him, let alone a single romantic bone. It’s weird to think the power that August has over him, has changed him. And I find new respect for her.

And at the other end of the library, I hear Betty’s squeak. The same one from the blizzard—shock and fear. My head whips around to find her standing face to face with her parents, who are standing in the entryway with grimaces on their faces.

Pushing past my brothers, I make my way over to Betty. There’s no way I’m letting her face them alone. When I rest my hand on her back, her rigid spine softens into me.Exactly, I’m here for you.I can smell her spike of anxiety.

“This looks so good,” Betty’s mom says. Then she looks me in the eyes and says, “Grev, you look good today. Thank you for helping to restore the library.” Her lips are still tight. There’s no smile, but the words are sincere. Betty’s dad nods, silent but in agreement.

The background noise of folks chatting is still present. August’s put on a playlist quietly, which makes this really feel like a party rather than a library. But none of that matters as Betty trembles slightly. Her parents showed themselves to be complete asses the last time they were here. Intolerant and small-minded. This community Betty has created is filled with humans and monsters from all over town and the island. It’s vibrant and full of laughter and love.

“You’re welcome to hang out and look around. But only if you can be civil and kind toeveryone.” Betty’s voice is firm and low. If I thought my heart preened at her success earlier, that was nothing compared to the pride I feel now.

“Oh Betty, we’re sorry. Both of us. I was caught up in a fantasy of you and Jake, childhood friends, and I didn’t respond right to discovering you and Grev had feelings for each other.”

Oh, is that it? I must make a sound because Betty puts her hand on me to steady me.

“Really, Mom? How many times have I told you nothing could ever happen between us? Why can’t you trust that I know what’s best for me?”

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