“Willa, I swear to God if he hurts you I’m going to have Ozar fuck him up and toss his body in the Patapsco.” Her voice lowered in volume as she must have turned to talk to someone else. “No, Mrs. Turner, everything is okay. My friend has just once more thrown her heart at a total jerk of a man.”
I faintly heart Mrs. Turner tell Jordan she was a good friend, and that she knew where to hide the body.
“We kind of broke up after they had their away games, but he’s been so kind and patient and just awesome since then. He’s serious about our relationship, Jordan.”
“Are you sure this is Eng we’re talking about?” she asked. “Because that does not sound like Eng.”
“No, it doesn’t sound like the Eng he shows the rest of the world, but I assure you that he is serious. I just wanted you to know because he spent the night last night and we arrived at the arena this morning for the team workout together, holding hands. Ozar is going to say something to you, and I wanted you to hear it from me first.”
“I should have heard it from you last month.” Jordan’s voice held the sharp edge of hurt feelings. It made my feelings of guilt deepen further.
“I should have told you, but in the beginning it was just sex, and by the time my heart was involved…well, I didn’t need to hear that I’d screwed up again and that I would never learn.”
“Willa.” Jordan’s reply was soft. “I would never say that to you. I know what it’s like. You’re one of my best friends and I might worry about how a choice you’ve made might hurt you, but I’d understand, and I will always be here for you.”
Tears blurred my vision. “Thank you. And I hope you’ll reassure Ozar that I am not some helpless damsel. I’ve made the decision to date Eng, and I hope that he’ll accept that.”
Jordan blew out a pfft noise. “Accept it? Damn it, we’re going to be going on double dates with you two. I don’t care how awkward that might be for the guys, I don’t want any friction between me and a bestie. I’m going to marry Ozar, and if you’re going to consider marrying Eng, then the guys need to get over it.”
I laughed, because yes, they did.
The other calls went pretty much the same. Abby was just as concerned as Jordan. Stephanie was torn between excitement that my mystery booty call guy had turned into something else, and worry that he might be playing me for some weird narcissistic goal. In the end, they both expressed their support and enthusiastic participation in any murder and body disposal a breakup might spur.
After training, Eng and I went for lunch. Then he had a key to his apartment made for me at the hardware store down the street from his apartment. I went back to my place to pack a bag, and he returned to his own apartment to nap. I arrived at his place to find him still sleeping. Once more I admired the changes he’d made to the apartment and the gorgeous Amy Sherald painting. Then I went into the kitchen to see what I might need to supplement from my own home.
The fridge was stocked, although a few of the items seemed a little odd. There were condiments, the usual eggs, milk, beer, and cheese. In fact, the cheese was downright excessive. The guy had entire drawer in the fridge dedicated to the stuff, and some of what he had was quite expensive. I also found luncheon meat, thick slab bacon, steaks, and four pounds of chicken.
Luckily he’d also stocked the non-food items in his kitchen and I was able to bag and freeze some of the chicken, thinking that I might cook the steaks tonight.
Did he have a grill? A broiler pan? How the heck could I pan-fry New York Strips?
The cabinets were loaded with dishes, housewares, spices, dried goods. The guy had bought out half of a Trader Joe’s from the look of it.
“Hi, beautiful.”
I turned to see Eng, naked except for a silk cap on his head. I stared at the hair accessory.
“For once I don’t wake up to matted and flat hair.” He swept the cap off with a hand to reveal his short locks. “We seriously need to import these back home—both this version and the one you wear. Orcs tend toward the hair type that would make these very useful—especially those with longer hair.”
I laughed, walking over to wrap myself around him. “I was exploring your kitchen. Steaks tonight?”
He made a grumbling mmm sound and held me tight against him. “Steaks. But first I feel the urgent need to return to my bed. With you.”
40
ENG
We took to the ice and my gaze immediately went behind our benches where my shrew sat with her friends. Her smile broadened as our eyes met and she waved her hand.
I needed to turn my attention back to the ice where I had to concentrate to skate. A fire burned through me at her presence, at her enthusiastic support. I would play my best, and it would all be because of her.
We stood for the patriotic song, then half the team went to the bench where the rest of us took our assigned positions. My hands were sweating under the huge gloves, but I assumed the stance the coach had taught me, waiting for the puck drop.
The crowd was already roaring, but when I dropped into my stance, everything inside the arena sharpened. I crouched low—shoulders hunched, leg pads planted like slabs of stone. I was the wall. I was the gate that guarded the kingdom. I was the orc that would allow no enemy to pass.
My human coach called thisthe lockdown. Hopefully the human enemy team called it the beginning of their problems.
The puck snapped into play at center ice. Within seconds, the enemy forwards punched into the zone, weaving past defenders with too much speed and too much confidence.
