Page 5 of My Orc in Uniform

She leaned over and plopped the pen in a holder on her desk that was made from a toilet paper tube and painted popsicle sticks, something a kid might make. “Memnon is your brother?”

“My twin brother.” I grinned. “He’s uglier.”

With another snort, she sank down into her chair. I guess she was done feeling uncomfortable around me. “I guess it depends on what you’re in the mood for. The diner has amazing fish tacos and burgers, Waterfront is known for its fried flounder, Pastabilities is the fanciest, the taco truck is the best deal…” She shook her mouse to turn on her monitor. “Patrick always likes the ice cream shop, and I’ve heard good things about the Asian fusion place.”

Well, one thing for certain: Eastshore Isle, which apparently had one restaurant per type of food, was nowhere near as diverse as New York City.

“Do you like Asian fusion?” I asked eagerly. “I haven’t been either.”

Her attention on her computer, Rissa said flippantly, “Oh yeah, I love sushi.”

“Wanna try it? Together, I mean?” When her gaze slammed upward, her mouth dropping open in what I really, really hoped wasn’t horror, but looked like maybe it was, I hurried to add, “I mean, whenever you’re free. Doesn’t have to be now. This week.” I winced, knowing I was digging myself a hole.

Computer forgotten, Rissa slowly stood once again. “You…what?” she rasped.

She didn’t sound angry, just disbelieving. I tried to take stock of the situation. “Would you like to go out to dinner with me, Rissa?” I asked carefully. “Sometime. Whenever you’re comfortable?”

Her skin had paled again, which made her wide blue eyes seem more prominent, and she was gripping the edge of the desk as if it held her upright. “You’re…asking me out? On a date?”

“Yeah.” I tried for a nonchalant shrug and that charming grin again. “I think it’d be fun.”

Judging from the fact she fastened her gaze on the wall over my shoulder, she disagreed. “I don’t think that would be a good idea.”

Ah.

I’d done my homework; I’d asked subtle questions about Marissa Gray, the school administrator who took no shit from anyone. I knew enough to know she wasn’t married and not in a serious relationship. But the way she was looking at me told me she’d never consideredIwould ask her out.

Well, maybe she wasn’t into dudes. Maybe she wasn’t into orcs.

Maybe she wasn’t intome.

“Okay,” I managed, hoping my smile didn’t slip too much. “It’s okay, I get it.”

Her eyes flicked to mine, then away again. “No, you don’t understand—”

I’m not sure how she would’ve explained it, because at that moment, the door to the front office opened again, and a teenage boy stomped through. I recognized him as the reason I’d been late to the staff meeting today.

“Hey, Trick,” I called, grateful for the distraction. “Did you get that water fountain working?”

The kid, who wore his brown hair too long around his brows and ears, had stopped short at the sight of me, and I’ll admit I got a little bit ofschadenfreudeat that. “Uh…hey, Officer Simbel.”

“Trick?” Rissa repeated in what sounded like exasperation. “You’re really going with that?”

“Yeah, so what?” the kid asked mulishly, lifting his chin. “Sounds cooler thanPatrick.”

“And what was wrong with the water fountain?”

I can’t believe it took me this long to put it all together: The way Trick was glaring at her like she’d personally offended him, the way Rissa had her hands on her hips and was practically tapping her foot in exasperation. She was his mom, wasn’t she? When I asked around if she was married, I remember hearing she had a kid at the school, but I didn’t realize it wasthiskid.

I hurried to explain, “The reason I was late to the staff meeting was I found Trick and one of his friends at the water fountain in the back hallway. They said it wasn’t working, so I stopped to help.”

I mean, I wasn’t an idiot; the two of them had clearly been up to something, but I played the overly helpful dumb cop and showed them which button to press to make the water come out.

To my surprise though, Trick now glanced at me gratefully. “Yeah, that’s it.” He relaxed a little. “Officer Simbel, uh…helped us. We got it working again.”

No shenanigans here, his body language was screaming.

But Rissa didn’t seem to buy it. She sighed, “Was it Jaxon?” she murmured. Then, holding up a hand, “No, never mind. I’m glad you…got it working again.”

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