Page 14 of My Orc Contract Husband
“I don’t want your pity,” I growled, grabbing a burger from the platter. “I want something that’sminefor a change.”
The meat was perfect—rare enough that the juices dripped across my tusks, and popping with creamy flavor.
We ate in silence for a few minutes. Long enough for both of us to finish one burger and start on our second. Abydos was always quiet, keeping his thoughts mostly tohimself—he’d been that way even before we’d crossed through the veil. Tonight, though? The silence was awkward.
Finally, he finished his beer and plunked it on the table. “These fries are shit.”
They weren’tthatbad, but I just shrugged. “Sorry I’m not as good as your personal chef.”
“Burgers are good though.”
Such praise! I grunted in acknowledgement and started on my third burger. The meat was still warm, the cheese melted perfectly, and despite everything, I felt some of my anger start to fade.
“So…” I could see the muscles in Abydos’s jaw working. “What are you going to do?”
I blew out my breath, and the tension seemed to go with it. “I dunno,” I admitted, plopping the burger down onto my plate. “I guess…”
“Can I pay you?” When I snapped my glare up to him, he merely shrugged. “Payyou. My architect designed a house with a lot of glass—great for an island in a hurricane’s path, huh? But I want a lot of woodwork too. To fit the beach vibe.” He was trying to sound casual, but I could hear the hope in his voice.
My hackles slowly lowered, and I searched his scarred face for any signs of pity. “You don’t have to hire me just because we’re friends.”
“I’m not.” His movements were nonchalant as he ate, the elbows on the table reminding me he was still themale I’d known and loved for years, no matter his bank account. “I’m hiring you because you’re the best.”
The best. Yeah. Yeah, I was.
And I had a good, steady job with the construction company now, and I was fitting in here on Eastshore with my friends. But the mortgage company thought I was too much of a risk. I sighed in frustration and scrubbed a hand down my face. My claws—when had I allowed those to emerge?—caught on the stubble along my jaw, and I realized I probably looked as rough as I felt.
“Thanks. Yeah, I’ll pick up whatever work you can offer. Unless it comes with a salary though, the mortgage company’s not going to be convinced. I have enough money to build my shop and set myself up, but not enough of a salary to convince them I can pay a mortgage on a house.”
“You need a second salary then?”
I snorted and scooped up my beer, my lips twisting ruefully. “Yeah, Sami suggested the same thing. Said I ought to marry for money, although I think she was teasing.” The beer was getting warm, but I took a long pull anyway, trying to wash away the bitter taste in my mouth.
Abydos reared back, and I could see from the surprise on his face that he’d been talking about something else. “Marrying? I meant I was going to pay you a salary for your work.”
As if that wasn’t a kind of charity. “Relax, Abby, no one was suggestingyouhad to get married.”
Something twisted in his expression, and he looked away. The scars across his face made reading his expression difficult, and I’d become so used to his habitual scowl that I winced when I saw something else in his dark eyes. He turned his head so that the damaged side was hidden, a gesture so unconscious I wasn’t sure he realized he was doing it.
“Sorry,” I muttered, realizing the joke had fallen flat, instead reminding Abydos that despite all his wealth, he was alone. Alone by choice, yeah, and vocal about it…but it couldn’t be pleasant.
In the years since we’d come through the veil, our friendship had mellowed to…well, just that, a friendship. At one time, we might’ve been all the other had, but the human world had opened up so many opportunities, we were both satisfied with how things had turned out.
Weren’t we?
I sure was, and Abydos had never indicated he missed what we’d shared as youths…but was it possible—despite his reclusive tendencies—he was jealous of all our brothers, who were finding their Mates? Surely not.
My friend cleared his throat as he grabbed his empty beer. His chair scraped against the floor as he stood, the sound harsh in the quiet room. “I just meant…you, marrying? Settling down?”
This last was called from the kitchen, and I could hear him rustling inside the fridge.
“Bring me another one too,” I called as I picked up my burger again. “And what’s so wrong with me settlingdown? Everyone else is doing it.” I tried to keep my voice light, but I could hear the defensiveness creeping in.
“Yeah, withhumans,” Abydos muttered as he plunked a bottle by my elbow. “You’re not the marrying type.”
I hid my wince with another bite of the burger. The meat suddenly tasted like ash in my mouth, and I had to force myself to swallow.
Whywasn’t I the marrying type? Because I’d messed around with plenty of females in the past? Did he not think I was good enough to be a Mate—no. Human marriage wasn’t about finding a Mate. It was a legal connection, that was it.
