Page 6 of Orc Charming

“The house has a kitchen-dining room combo on the left.” She gestured. “And truly only one bedroom. The room I slept in before I moved into an apartment is tiny, and Mom made it into an office after I was gone. When I moved back in, I put all my boxes there.” She placed her purse on the kitchen counter and turned, leaning against it. “I want so much.”

“What do you mean?”

“The diner has done well. I’d love to open another a few towns over.”

“Then do it.”

“It takes money, and I’m tapped out at the moment. Hospitals don’t provide care for free, and when she died, I had to pay the lawyers to settle her estate. But I’ll get ahead again and then watch out world because I’m coming! Like you, I want to create something that moves people, only on a smaller scale. I’ll settle for yummy meals in people’s bellies.”

“It’s a worthy goal.” What would she say if I offered her enough money to fulfill her dream?

I suspected it would change things between us.

“I believe in you, Cat,” I said. “And if there's anything I can do to help, count me in.”

She smiled, and her blue eyes shone like the stars I’d admired the first time I arrived in the human world. “I will, Deegar. Thanks.” She looked over at me with a mischievous glint in her eye. “Now that I’ve shared my hopes and dreams, tell me what you want out of life.”

I pondered her question for a moment. It was rare for someone to ask me about my own desires separate from the expectations that came with my role in the kingdom, one that was mapped out before the day I was born.

“I want to be completely happy,” I said softly. “To find something that fulfills me, regardless of what others think.”

“Any ideas how to bring that about?”

“I’ve started already.” Running was the first step.

A smile tugged at the corners of her lips. “Stick with me, and you'll discover a whole new world, starting with my secret muffin recipe and my skill with thrift store finds.” She nudged her head toward the fridge. “It’s four thirty. Are you hungry? I could whip something up.”

“Why don’t I help?”

We made a simple meal of long white strings boiled in water Cat told me were made of eggs and flour, and we topped the strands with a red sauce crafted from ground meat, more tomatoes than I’d seen in one place, and spices.

“This tastes amazing,” I said, scooping up another full bite and shoving it into my mouth as we sat on stools at the kitchen counter.

“They say a way to a man’s heart is through his stomach,” she said with a laugh.

They might be right. I liked Cat a lot already.

“We made plenty of pasta, so dish up a second plate if you’d like.”

After washing the dishes, another new thing for me, we went into the living room and sat on the couch. She was right; itwas very comfortable. She lifted a long black box and pointed it toward the TV. I’d only seen televisions playing as I passed through rooms, and they intrigued me. So many moving pictures and sounds.

“What would you like to watch?” she asked.

I shrugged. “Honestly, I’ve never watched TV.”

Her eyes widened. “Never?”

“Never.”

“I’ll introduce you to the land of make believe.” She frowned as she flicked through screens listing options.

It was almost overwhelming. “How does one choose?”

“Whatever appeals. What are your thoughts about a romcom?” Her lips twitched and her eyes sparkled as she awaited my answer.

“I don’t know what they are.”

She gasped, but I could tell it was a tease. “You’re a romcom virgin.”

---