Page 114 of Horn in My Side
“Er ...nothing.But I have to go, Dad.”
“Of course.I’ll talk to you soon, okay?Actually, I was thinking of coming for a visit.”
“That would be great, Dad.Please come anytime.”
“All right.Love you.”
“Love you too.”With shaking hands, she put her phone down.
Mal loved her, Jasmine was sure.And now she had to tell him that she loved him too.She wouldn’t ask him to stay in Dewberry Falls.But they could make it work.Lots of people did long distance.If he was willing to do it, then so would she.
But was he still in town?And was she too late or had she crushed his heart so that he could never want her?
Bolting upright, she grabbed her purse and dashed to the door.
Chapter Twenty-three
MAL
Mal closed up his duffle bag, the loudzzzzzziippsealing the finality of it all.He’d packed up his possessions into this one bag, ready to go.His cab would be arriving soon to take him to the airport.He’d be on his way to the orc homelands tonight.Dewberry Falls would be far behind him, a distant memory.It had all been too good to be real, anyway.
Mal replayed all their times together, wondering how he could have missed the signs that she didn’t feel anything for him.Jasmine had been sweet, warm, and burning hot for him.And then two weeks ago she’d turned cold.Basically told him to leave.
See you, don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
Yet his stupid, stubborn hearts refused to let go and forget about her.He could not erase her from his mind.She was always in his thoughts, his throat aching like he’d swallowed a handful of nails.He couldn’t count how many times he’d nearly marched to her apartment to knock on her door and beg for her to love him.To tell her that he’d stay and give up the historical center job.Give everything up for her.
But he had to accept that Jasmine didn’t want him to stay.
So he’d accepted the historical center job and made all the arrangements to leave.To his surprise, it wasn’t just his breakup that made it difficult to go.Last week, he’d also had to say goodbye to his squad.
Mal thought it would be quick and easy.He showed up for training a couple days ago, so that he could tell his squad mates that he was leaving in person.It didn’t seem right to just send them a text message.
“You’re leaving?”Nick had exclaimed.Everyone else had taken the news with the same degree of shock and disappointment.
“But why?”
“I told you, I was just here temporarily.”Then he had explained about the Orc Historical Center job.
“What about Jasmine?”Ven had asked.
Mal hadn’t known what to say so he just shrugged.
Thankfully, Ian had piped in.“It’s none of our business.Mal, you’ll be missed around here, but congratulations on achieving your dreams.Your father and Vrig would be so proud, I’m sure.”
Jim cancelled training and they all went to the Salty Dog for drinks.More emotions churned in Mal, and while his squad mates provided a good distraction, a different kind of emotion roiled within him.He’d come to enjoy spending time with his squad, and once he left, he would never get a chance to see them again.
Slinging the duffle over his shoulder, he walked out into the living room.He hadn’t decided what he’d do with the house yet.Putting it on the market now would be cruel to Jasmine.Even though she’d kicked him to the curb, he wasn’t about to do the same to her.He left instructions with Howard Nakamoto to deal with everything and contact him once Jasmine’s loan went through.In any case, if the shop continued to do well, she’d be able to afford another place at market rate.He’d give her at least a year in the garage apartment before he sold the house.
He should have stuck to his first plan.Get in, get it done, getout.Then he wouldn’t be walking around every day with a giant hole in his chest, wondering if he was ever going to feel like his old self.He was a zombie, just a shell of an orc, going about his day, but completely dead inside.
Mal tried to distract himself, tried to get himself hyped for the historical center renovation.There were designs to be drawn, meetings to attend, schedules to make.He buried himself in his work, but each time he had space in his brain to think, Jasmine immediately slotted in.
It had been her idea, this thing between them.Of course, she’d guarded her heart and he should have done the same.He’d told her from the start that he was leaving, no matter what.That this was not his home or his dream.That nothing here could ever make him stay, not the community, not the shop, and certainly not her.
The doorbell ringing jerked him out of his thoughts.His taxi was here.With one last look around him, he lumbered to the door.
“Good morning,” said the young man on the other side.He was dressed in the distinct blue-and-purple uniform of a national shipping company.“I have a delivery for Mal.”
