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Abby: Yes, I like them. You’re not the first to wear vanity glasses, and you won’t be the last.

There was a few seconds of dots as Bwat typed and deleted, until his response finally appeared.

Bwat: I do not like the word “vanity”. Although I need to honestly admit it is probably a good word for this situation and my motivation.

Abby: I don’t mean it as a criticism. Wear the glasses next time we’re getting lunch or dinner if you like. You look good in them.

“Is that the ‘just friends’ orc?”

I started, realizing that Mom had moved to look over my shoulder at my phone. Although it was rude to be reading someone’s text messages, it was equally rude to be messaging my…friend while I was here visiting my mother.

“I think we might be more than friends,” I admitted.

The smile on my mother’s face was downright smug. “I thought so. Invite him to dinner. Next Sunday. And I’m not going to take no for an answer, Abby.”

24

BWAT

Iarrived early Monday morning with four coffee beverages in a sturdy carrier. One with chocolate and whipped cream, one with almond milk and a single pump of vanilla, one with a tiny bit of milk foam on top of the blackest beverage I’d ever seen. Then mine, which varied each day as the coffee artists introduced me to their creations. Today’s drink was over ice and included oat milk, brown sugar, white chocolate mocha sauce, and a drizzle of caramel on a layer of sweet vanilla foam. Even though it wasn’t quite seven o’clock yet, Abby was already hard at work with her laptop open and her hair pulled up in a knot. Her two coworkers were also there, standing at a table with several large computer screens.

“Malik.” I gave the male the almond milk and vanilla beverage. He grinned and thanked me, holding out a fist for me to bump with my own.

“Daniella.” She received the inky drink with the milk foam, and glanced up with a smile of appreciation.

“Abby.” I gave her the chocolaty-coffee, relishing the brief brush of her fingers against mine as she took it.

“Bwat, you are the best,” she told me.

“I am the best,” I agreed. Then I handed her a warm bag that held two egg bites with turkey sausage and spinach because I knew she wouldn’t have eaten breakfast and chocolate coffee on an empty stomach would make her jittery.

Her cheeks turned faintly pink and she smiled at me. “Thank you. I really appreciate it.”

“Lunch today?” I asked her.

All three humans exchanged a glance that told me there was something they knew that I did not.

“You may not be having lunch today,” Abby informed me. “Why don’t I order out and get food for all of us. I’ll bring it down to the ice and if you get a break, we can eat together.”

“Ozar never makes us skate past noon. Why is he changing this? “ My mind raced through all the terrible possibilities, finally settling on the most likely one. “Am I being punished for having two penalty-jail-box times on Friday?”

I would not blame Ozar. The human spectators might have loved me flattening the enemy, but it was not good to have so many penalties. Or maybe I was having extra ice practice to improve my skating. If so, then I probably would not be practicing alone as others on the team were equally bad.

Abby’s lips twitched. “You have a team personal trainer who starts today, so Ozar’s ice practice will be later than usual. Better get down to the gym. You don’t want to be late for workout.”

I ran, reading the inference in her words that whoever this trainer was, their punishment for tardiness would be severe. It took me a while to find the “gym”, but I managed to arrive with the last three of our team.

The room was huge, but it was crowded with equipment and twenty orcs. I was torn between wanting to push my way to the front to see this fearsome coach, and a desire to remind behind everyone where I wouldn’t be noticed. Curiosity won, and I squeezed my way through the crowd, surprised to see Abby’s friend Willa standing in front of us.

It may have seemed odd for nearly two dozen powerful orcs to be nervous around a human female, but Willa was no normal human female. She was tall for a human and just as muscular as the males we played hockey against. But it was more than her size and strength that made her an impressive figure. Willa had a fierce confidence about her that gave me no doubt she could battle any of us and come out the winner.

Ozar and Ugwyll stood near her, affording her noticeable respect.

“Stand and listen,” Ozar shouted.

We all did as he said–well all of us except for Eng who was standing against the wall with his arms crossed in front of his chest. He was standing, though. And he was clearly listening, his gaze fixed on the human female with an unusual intensity.

“We have a coach too,” Pug whispered to me. “He starts Wednesday.”