Page 30 of The Orc That Got Away

“Always a dangerous way to begin a sentence, “ Bradford quips, and I grin.

“Yeah, I know. But seriously, what would you think about taking a real vacation together?”

“As opposed to whatever this is?” Bradford asks. “You haven’t done any work in days.”

“I know, but I mean that we should both clear our calendars and go somewhere. Somewhere farther away than nature reserves and other small Georgia towns,” I clarify. “New York, maybe. Or somewhere in Europe.”

Bradford nods, a grin spreading over his face. “I like that,” he agrees. “I haven’t taken an actual vacation in a long time. But what about you? I thought things were still up in the air about your role in your company.”

“They are,” I nod. “I think, though, that taking a vacation could prove to the board that I’m serious about working on my temper and actually help me be reinstated sooner rather than later. But that’s not why I want to do this,” I add hastily. “I want to just go away with you.”

“I know,” Bradford says easily. “And I also know that you’ll have to go back to work at some point. But this is a good idea, Ragnar. Let’s do it!”

“Yes!” I agree, enthused. I slow down as the turn-off to the reserve approaches. “So do you think we should stay domestic, or go somewhere in Europe?” I ask.

But before Bradford can answer, his phone rings. He glances at it and looks surprised. “Sorry, Ragnar. This is my agent – I have to take it.”

I nod, but Bradford’s already on the phone, gazing out the window as his brow furrows in concentration. “Are you sure?” he asks. “They really need me? When?”

He shakes his head at whatever his agent is saying, and closes his eyes. “Well, what do you think?” he asks. After a few minutes, he sighs. “Okay, you made your point. Yeah, I get it! You’re not wrong. This is just – it’s a lot. But okay. I’ll be there.”

Bradford puts his phone down and sighs again, but doesn’t stop looking out his window. I turn into the parking lot and shut off the car. We sit in silence for a while, until I can’t take it anymore.

“Dude, the suspense here is killing me,” I say, trying to keep my tone light. “What’s up? What did your agent want?”

Bradford finally faces me, his dark eyes serious. “Ragnar, I’m so sorry. But we have to postpone our vacation.”

“Why? Do you need to go to Atlanta for a few days for a job? No big deal,” I add quickly. “I can come with you, check in with the board.”

But Bradford’s shaking his head. “No, I need to go overseas. It’s this gig that my agent is insisting that I take. I know the timing’s shitty, but this is a really big deal. The fact that I was requested – I can’t turn it down, Ragnar. If I do, I might not get more work.”

I try to smile, even as disappointment hits me like a fist to the gut. “I mean, I’d be the world’s biggest hypocrite if I got mad about someone putting his work before his relationship.”

Bradford smiles slightly. “I thought you might say that.”

“How, um,” I hesitate, not wanting to sound clingy. “How long is the gig?”

“The gig itself is pretty short. But with the travel, and there are more people there my agent wants me to meet, I’m not sure how long I’ll be gone. I’ll try to keep it to the bare minimum.”

“Don’t do that,” I say, my words coming out more harshly than I mean. Bradford looks at me in surprise. “It’s just… This is your career, Bradford. Don’t short-change yourself out of something that could be amazing.”

“I don’t want to,” he says softly. Then he clears his throat and looks out of the window again. “You still want to wander around?”

But the excitement that I felt about spending the day with Bradford has dimmed in the face of his news. “I don’t know,” I hedge. “What do you think?”

“The thing is, I have to leave tonight,” Bradford tells me. “So maybe …” his voice trails off, and he looks even more uncomfortable than he did at the beginning of our conversation.

I decide to say what he can’t bring himself to suggest. “So maybe you should go pack,” I tell him, and he nods in relief.

“Yeah. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize,” I say, starting the car up again. “Please don’t do that.”

Bradford nods, and we drive back to Green Haven in a silence so thick and weighted, my shoulders feel heavy and my head is muddled. It’s almost a relief when I pull up outside of Bradford’s hotel.

“Do you want to come in?” Bradford asks me.

I shake my head. The thought of watching him pack his bags and get ready to leave strikes me as unbearably sad, even though the rational part of me knows that this isn’t a breakup. It’s not even that long of a goodbye, for god’s sake – he’ll be back soon. But I still can’t.

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