Page 51 of Falling for the Orc All-Star
“Okay, that one was a lie. I... I like to travel. A lot.”
“I’d like to travel with you. Where are we going once my leg is working? I have a six-week break. We could do something really cool, like one of those river cruises that takes you through five countries, or something like that.”
Infuriating man. Stop. Being. So. Agreeable.
“I have family drama that I just bury,” I admit. “But it’s going to come out at some point. I only keep things peaceful by seeing my family in carefully controlled settings a few times a year.”
“I’ll go with you. And when they start shit, I’ll growl, slam a shoulder into whoever is messing with my girl, and take you home. Or to get ice cream. Whatever works. Oh—and family drama? My mother and father are giving me a little break to ‘sow my wild oats.’ That’s what they think staying in Pine Ridge and playing hockey is. My mother expects me to move back to Scotland, marry a beautifulOrc maiden, and provide grandchildren to spoil. My father expects me to suddenly morph from a kid who grew up spending twice as much time on video games and the skating rink as he did hunting in the woods and fishing into some superior landsman like Ian Fenclan. He fully expects me to come home and miraculously hang up my skates, throw on a kilt, and become a rival for Chieftain of the Silverbow Clan.” He flops back. “We love our parents, you and I. We aren’t going to let them run our lives, though, are we?”
Ooof. That last bit hits home.
All of the things he’s said hit home. “No. No, we make our own choices,” I whisper and snuggle into his side. “I’ll stay.”
As I’m drifting off, I think I hear him ask, “Stay forever?”
Stay forever? Or just tonight?
My arm drapes over his middle possessively, and King sighs. “My Ingrid.”
Chapter Seventeen: Game
“Grace’s husband isn’t human!” Ingrid hisses at me, clasping my hand.
“You didn’t notice?”
“Well, not as much as I notice rightnow!”
Thirty minutes before game time. My team is in the locker room. I’m going to be warming the bench, but for now, I’m helping Grace, Nyx, and Ingrid herd a dozen seniors into the row directly behind the players’ area. Nyx has long black shadows unspooling from his arms, and they are steadying some of the tottery older residents, keeping them upright without their knowledge.
“Pretty cool, right?” I grin.
A little part of me is jealous. He’s helping so many people at once, and his wife looks at him with utter adoration.
I want Ingrid to look at me like that. I can tell Nyx is Grace’s hero. Damn it, I want to beIngrid’shero!
Am I having a selfish meltdown about who is more selfless?
No wonder she’s hesitant to give you her heart.
“No, it’s cool, I’m just... I’m surprised how many things I still miss, even now that I can see Pine Ridge better,” Ingrid murmurs.
“Something is in our seats. Should we move?” asks Mrs. Felice, the sweetest, most grandmotherly-looking lady with a purple cardigan, gray curls, and a sweet smile.
“No, no. Those are all for you.” I hurry over—well, as best as I can hurry with crutches and a big plastic brace around my knee. “VIP Lumberjacks jerseys. If you give them to me, I’ll make sure the guys sign them.”
“Oooh, my great-grandson would love that!” Mrs. Felice exclaims. The other seniors sit and start going through the bags left in their seats.
Steve holds his up, and his deeply lined face softens.
“I could make that out to Carol,” I mutter from the side of my mouth, not sure if it’s the right thing to say.
“You remember her name?” Steve’s eyes light up, and he looks ten years younger.
“I just wish I could have gotten it to her in time. I’m sorry it was so expensive. It never should have been. We’re just... minor league." My pride takes a wallop at that, but I shrug it off.
“Oh, son. You’re major league around here. And don’t you worry about that stuff. It’s all passed, and that was before I moved into Hilltop Home. The old house had a lot of work that needed doing, and we had our old dogs, and Carol’s meds, and the shuttle for her dialysis...”
“Well, that’s not going to happen again. If you want something from the Lumberjacks, you get in touch with me. I’ll give you my number. And hey... Steve, would you ever want to have a dog again?”