Page 41 of Out of Sight

“Did you want me to do your nails this week? I think I have some time before I figure out a new career.”

Ted got excited. “Really? What theme?”

“Circuit board? Daisies? I will get the money from Theo and then go nuts at the beauty supply.”

“Circuit boards. Definitely. Maybe little robots.”

“Nice. Okay. I love having something to pull me into the future. Army of tiny robots it will be.”

Ted smiled. “I am going to find my own normal to grab.”

“Help Sabin and Nora with the new estimate app. That will give you focus.”

“You know about that?”

“I told you. Sitting on your couch... naked.”

Ted laughed and shoved her.

Lucia looked at Yorwell. “Can you show me the shelter you have offered?”

He nodded. “Of course, Lucia. If you allow me to hold you, we can go now.”

“Lucky for you, this is the day I am letting strangers hold me.” She looked over. “Bye, Nanna Anya, Mom, Dad, miscellaneous siblings. And all the cousins and aunts and uncles.” She did a graceful bow and then stepped into Yorwell’s embrace. His arms folded around her carefully, and they disappeared.

Ted grinned at the astonished sounds from the family. “Get used to that. Neither she nor I can waste time in vehicles anymore.”

Ormyet said, “Though it is traditional to step away from large clusters of people.”

Ted nodded. “That makes sense. Etiquette for direct transport. Good to know.”

“That is why my kind are here. Magical manners matter.”

Ted stared at him and burst into laughter. “Out of all the orc porn I have read in my life, that is not a sentence that I had ever imagined.”

He grinned. “You realize that your family has not seen my face without the glamour. The statement confused them.”

“They will recover. They are made of sturdy stuff.” Ted smiled.

“So you read orc fiction?”

“Now and then. It has been trendy, so I have dabbled in that specific fiction.”

“Are you willing to try the reality?”

“Not on the first date, buddy.”

He grinned. “Will you introduce me to your grandmother?”

“Of course. Just so you know, my mother is dead, and my father is in a dementia facility. He and my mother were bonded, and when she died, he started losing his mind.”

“That must be devastating.”

“It happened while I was cursed. I couldn’t console him. Well, I could, but the moment I was out of sight, he forgot I was there at all and freaked out. It became too cruel to try and remain at his side, so I stayed away while he slowly lost more of himself. Now, I visit him, and he holds my hand and tells me about his daughter.”

Ormyet nodded. “You continue to visit?”

“I do.”