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The clear winner of the day was my video of Eng where I had captioned that our surly prince must have been kidnapped by alien beings and replaced with a cooperative and athletic copy. Shares of the video had exploded into what must be viral status, with humans speculating on what had made the prince decide to participate and if this new Eng would be at the game on Friday, or if the Eng who only stood against the wall would be back. Several humans speculated that he was under a fae or sorcerer’s spell. It took me quite a bit of time to reply to them all, assuring them that magic did not work on orcs. Other amusing theories involved a possible lobotomy, or that Eng was in love.

I snorted at the absurdity of last idea.

My messages were mostly from journalists wanting me to comment about strategy or our season to date. I did the best I could but was relieved when I could turn to fan messages. Saving the best for last, I opened a text from Dylan.

Dylan: That new trainer is kicking your butts. I’m glad ours doesn’t make us do that chain thing. I doubt any of us could picked those damned things up, let alone move them up and down. It’s a wonder you all didn’t break the floor concrete.

Bwat: We did much damage to the floor. I am not sure the owner will allow Trainer Willa to do that exercise again.

Dylan must have been online because his response was instantaneous.

Dylan: I heard you all have a coach. These new developments are very concerning, Bwat. Soon you won’t need to knock your opponents down to keep them from scoring. The Tusks might actually win a game before the end of the season.

Bwat: That is an overly optimistic opinion. Winning games is beyond our current ability. Even if this coach is a wizard who supplies us with magic skates, I do not think we will see any wins this season.

Dylan: Maybe not, but I watch your games and see you improving.

Hey, did you talk to Abby about Spain yet?

Bwat: Abby is excited about the trip. Is your wife, Rae supportive of this idea?

Dylan sent an image of a crying-laughing emoji.

Dylan: Rae is really excited about the trip. She’s sending me pictures and already shopping for new clothes. The grandparents nearly came to blows over who would get to spoil the baby for two weeks.

I was glad that Rae and Dylan would have some spouse time and a break from caring for a small human.

Dylan: We’ll be both missing Sarah an hour after the plane takes off. I’m relying on you two to take our mind off parenthood for a week or two, otherwise this will be the quickest vacation we’ve ever taken. Rae is especially going to find this time away from Sarah hard.

Bwat: It is your job to comfort her. You and your hand-axe need to be prepared for fur-action. That will do more to take her mind off motherhood than looking at artwork with Abby and I.

Dylan: HAND-AXE? LOL. Don’t you worry, bud. My hand-axe and I are always at attention and ready for action.

Bwat: I hope your hand-axe is not always ready, because I have read that is cause for medical concern.

Dylan sent another laughing emoji.

Bwat: You’re playing us in Baltimore this spring. Is Rae coming for the game? If so, maybe we can all have dinner and see how the female’s get along.

Dylan: That’s a plan!

It was going to be so much fun to travel with another couple. I really had come to like Dylan and the idea of doing couple activities with him and his wife appealed. But Abby and my relationship was in what the internet experts called the “friend zone” although I had hopes she would decide to move us into what the internet called the “friends-with-benefits zone”. Still, that was a big difference from a committed romantic relationship, or marriage.

I held my breath just thinking of the possibilities. But I would not rush Abby. I would not pressure her into more than she wanted. If me as a friend was all she could give, then I would accept that and welcome her friendship. For the rest of my life, Abby would be the only female for me. But my emotions and love were mine to deal with. I would not burden Abby with feelings she was not ready to accept. If we were only friends for the rest of our lives, if Abby fell in love and married another, then I would relish our friendship. I would honor her choice in marriage, be an uncle to her children. I would mold my love into whatever she wanted.

But if I ever saw a glimmer, a hint that she wanted more from me, I would be there for her with all of my heart.

“You didn’t have to stay and walk me out to the parking lot,” Abby said.

I shrugged, trying to be as casual as possible while looking at every shadow for potential predators. “I wanted to practice skating.”

She sent me a sideways glance. “Bwat, you are a terrible liar.”

I laughed. “Yes, that is true. I worry about you in the building alone at night, and walking out to your car without anyone around to help in case a bad human tried to hurt or rob you. I have read that homicides are down twenty-three percent and non-fatal shootings are down two-point-three percent this year in Baltimore, but that decline still leaves the city with an unacceptable fifty homicides and nearly two hundred non-fatal shootings so far this year. And then there are the other violent crimes and the car jackings.”

There had been a lot of words I’d needed to look up in that study, but it was important to know the dangers and be prepared. Few humans would attack an orc, but guns were a formidable weapon. And Abby walking alone to her car might be seen as an easy target.

She nodded. “There are risks living in a big city, and I have to admit it’s a little nerve-wracking walking out to my car alone in the dark, even with the lights and the cameras. I’ve got pepper spray. I keep my keys between my fingers. I stay aware of my surroundings. Even so, I do appreciate your presence, Bwat.”