Page 49 of Falling for the Grumpy Orc
I turn back to Jason, who watches this exchange with thinly veiled disdain. He's dressed sharply, his tailored suit out of place among the flannel shirts and worn jeans of the breakfast crowd.
He checks his expensive watch in a flashy gesture that exposes the ridiculously expensive item to anyone who happens to be looking. It’s a habit I always found obnoxious, but now I find it simply childish.
“This better be quick.” I don’t bother with niceties and Jason’s grin lowers by just a fraction. It’s barely there, but I know him enough to see he’s rattled by my lack of reaction. Or more specifically, my lack of emotion. “I have a booth to attend to at the Harvest Festival this afternoon.”
“A harvest festival?” Jason scoffs, then his grin fades. “You’re serious? Is this why you came all the way to this shitty little town? To sell, what, handmade little trinkets under a tent for two dollars apiece?”
“It’s none of your business what I’m doing or with whom.” I keep my voice even, but underneath, anger is simmering. I don’t know when it happened, but I’m feeling strangely defensive about the little town of Saltford Bay. “What do you want, Jason?” I ask point-blank. “Why am I here?”
Jason lifts his coffee cup with manicured fingers, taking a tiny sip, wincing before placing it back on the saucer with practiced precision. The gesture is so familiar it makes my stomach clench.
"Come on, Cass. Don’t be like that." His voice carries that honeyed tone I once mistook for affection, but now I hear what lurks beneath. Condescension, ownership. “It’s good to see you.”
I lift the menu even though I already know I’m not going to order anything apart from the coffee. It gives me something to look at besides his face. Because his words make me want to punch it.
“Do me a favor and skip the pleasantries.” I hear my own cutting tone and I’m quite pleased with myself. By the look on Jason’s face, he didn’t expect me to react this way either. “Just sign the papers for the sale of the house and let’s be done with each other.”
Jason leans back, folding his arms across his chest. His tailored suit looks ridiculously out of place among the homey wooden beams andmismatched chairs of the diner. Like he's a corporate alien who landed in the wrong dimension.
"There was a time you actually smiled when you saw me."
“And you made sure that time was over when you slept with another woman in our bed,” I reminded him with the same matter-of-fact tone.
I study him, really study him, for the first time since sitting down. This man once occupied every corner of my world. I built my life around his needs, his wants, his schedule. Now, looking at him feels like examining an old photograph of someone I used to know. The details are familiar, but the connection is gone.
Mathilda, the gnome proprietor, approaches our table with a friendly smile that fades slightly when she catches the tension between us. Her pointed ears twitch as she pours me a cup of her famous coffee.
"What can I get for you folks this morning?"
"I won’t stay long. Just the coffee for me, thank you," I say, returning her smile with as much warmth as I can muster.
"Just another coffee," Jason adds without looking at her, his eyes fixed on me.
Mathilda nods, casting me a sympathetic glance before refilling Jason’s cup and bustling away. I watch her go, momentarily wishing I could follow.
"I just don't want you making a mistake, Cass." Jason's voice pulls me back. "You're living in a run-down pile of wood instead of a real home. From what I heard, you spend your days alone with some orc contractor. I’m worried about you."
My head snaps up, a chill running down my spine. How does he know about Gerralt? I've only told Silvia about it over the phone, and even then, not in detail.
"How do you know about that?" My voice comes out sharper than intended.
“Portland's not that far away.” Jason's smile doesn't reach his eyes. "Word gets around in high circles."
Ugh. Now I know who sold me out.
“You spoke to my mother.” I sip my coffee and almost groan with satisfaction before the feeling leaves entirely when Jason’s smile broadens.
“She’s worried about you, too.”
She’s worried about what her friends will think when they learn I’m staying in Saltford Bay with an orc boyfriend.
Then I blink and I feel the smile spread on my face at the idea of spending more time with Gerralt. Because despite having spent only one night with him, I know this isn’t just a fling. This is real, more real than anything I’ve ever felt with Jason.
“I miss you.” Jason speaks in that low, deep tone he thinks is sexy. “I made a mistake and I know it, but you never even gave me a chance to explain to you how I felt. I thought you would at least give our marriage a chance instead of walking out like you did.”
Fingers reach across the table and wrap around my hand and I blink in surprise, realizing that Jason must have misinterpreted my smile.
I pull my hand away, resisting the urge to hurl my hot coffee at his face.
