Page 54 of Horn in My Side

MAL

Mal closed up his duffle bag, the loud zzzzzziipp sealing the finality of it all.

He’d packed up his possessions into this one bag, ready to go.

His cab would be arriving soon to take him to the airport.

He’d be on his way to the orc homelands tonight.

Dewberry Falls would be far behind him, a distant memory.

It had all been too good to be real, anyway.

Mal replayed all their times together, wondering how he could have missed the signs that she didn’t feel anything for him. Jasmine had been sweet, warm, and burning hot for him. And then two weeks ago she’d turned cold. Basically told him to leave.

See you, don’t let the door hit you on the way out.

Yet his stupid, stubborn hearts refused to let go and forget about her.

He could not erase her from his mind. She was always in his thoughts, his throat aching like he’d swallowed a handful of nails.

He couldn’t count how many times he’d nearly marched to her apartment to knock on her door and beg for her to love him.

To tell her that he’d stay and give up the historical center job. Give everything up for her.

But he had to accept that Jasmine didn’t want him to stay.

So he’d accepted the historical center job and made all the arrangements to leave. To his surprise, it wasn’t just his breakup that made it difficult to go. Last week, he’d also had to say goodbye to his squad.

Mal thought it would be quick and easy. He showed up for training a couple days ago, so that he could tell his squad mates that he was leaving in person. It didn’t seem right to just send them a text message.

“You’re leaving?” Nick had exclaimed. Everyone else had taken the news with the same degree of shock and disappointment.

“But why?”

“I told you, I was just here temporarily.” Then he had explained about the Orc Historical Center job.

“What about Jasmine?” Ven had asked.

Mal hadn’t known what to say so he just shrugged.

Thankfully, Ian had piped in. “It’s none of our business. Mal, you’ll be missed around here, but congratulations on achieving your dreams. Your father and Vrig would be so proud, I’m sure.”

Jim cancelled training and they all went to the Salty Dog for drinks.

More emotions churned in Mal, and while his squad mates provided a good distraction, a different kind of emotion roiled within him.

He’d come to enjoy spending time with his squad, and once he left, he would never get a chance to see them again.

Slinging the duffle over his shoulder, he walked out into the living room.

He hadn’t decided what he’d do with the house yet.

Putting it on the market now would be cruel to Jasmine.

Even though she’d kicked him to the curb, he wasn’t about to do the same to her.

He left instructions with Howard Nakamoto to deal with everything and contact him once Jasmine’s loan went through.

In any case, if the shop continued to do well, she’d be able to afford another place at market rate.

He’d give her at least a year in the garage apartment before he sold the house.

He should have stuck to his first plan. Get in, get it done, get out. Then he wouldn’t be walking around every day with a giant hole in his chest, wondering if he was ever going to feel like his old self. He was a zombie, just a shell of an orc, going about his day, but completely dead inside.

Mal tried to distract himself, tried to get himself hyped for the historical center renovation. There were designs to be drawn, meetings to attend, schedules to make. He buried himself in his work, but each time he had space in his brain to think, Jasmine immediately slotted in.

It had been her idea, this thing between them.

Of course, she’d guarded her heart and he should have done the same.

He’d told her from the start that he was leaving, no matter what.

That this was not his home or his dream.

That nothing here could ever make him stay, not the community, not the shop, and certainly not her.

The doorbell ringing jerked him out of his thoughts. His taxi was here. With one last look around him, he lumbered to the door.

“Good morning,” said the young man on the other side. He was dressed in the distinct blue-and-purple uniform of a national shipping company. “I have a delivery for Mal.”

“I’m Mal. But I didn’t order—”

“Here you go.” He shoved the box into Mal’s hands. “Have a good day.”

Mal scratched his head as he examined the box. The name of the store on the shipping label didn’t ring a bell at all. The box was heavy in his hands and the contents inside rocked to and fro when he shook it. What could it be?

There’s only one way to find out.

Dropping his duffle to the ground, he used a claw to rip at the tape, then reached inside to remove a heavily bubble-wrapped package inside. After tearing through the plastic cocoon, he pulled out the mystery item.

“A snow globe?”

Mal definitely hadn’t ordered this. The shipping company must have made a mistake.

He was about to put it back in the box when he noticed something peculiar about the insert.

Holding it up to the light, he peered through the glass.

The scene inside featured the cross-section of a building—a pet shop, to be exact.

There on the first floor were all the land-based and avian animals and the second floor was filled with tanks of sea creatures of all sizes.

He twisted the globe around, to the front of the miniature.

Three figures stood under a sign that said Fantastic Tails and Magical Scales.

One was a tall orc with a grumpy face and the second, a petite woman with a bright smile.

Between them was a small, dark-blue dragon hatchling.

Who could this be from?

Then he noticed the inscription on the base:

This will always be your heart-home. I love you.

A deafening roar rushed into his ears. There was only one person who could have sent this.

Jasmine.

And she loved him.

Why wouldn’t she come to his door and say it? He was only ten steps away. Why would she send this to him now?

Unless . . .

A gift like this would have taken time to make. She had to have planned it in advance. Then he’d received that email . . .

Anyway, it didn’t really matter when she’d ordered it. Only that she had.

Jasmine loved him.

He had to see her.

Hearts leaping into his throat, he dashed out the door, making the usually ten-minute trip to Fantastic Tails in half the time. When he reached the door, he nearly ripped it off in his haste. As he tried to enter, something collided into him and a cloud of familiar, flowery perfume filled his nose.

Jasmine cried out as the momentum of bumping into his chest sent her staggering back. He reached out, catching her before she fell, one arm winding around her. He was tempted to keep holding her, but he let go once she steadied herself.

“Thank—Mal?” she said, the shock and surprise in her voice evident. Brown doe eyes grew large as her gaze focused on him. “Wh-what are you doing here?”

“I came to see you,” he rasped. Glancing down, he saw her purse over her shoulder. “Where are you going?”

“To see you.”

Every molecule of air left his body. She looked beautiful and radiant, and he soaked up the sight of her like an orc starved of fresh water for days. His hearts pulled him to her, and the whole universe fell away.

Her eyes dropped down to his hands. “You got it?”

He’d carried the snow globe with him all the way here. “Jasmine,” he managed to croak. “Can we talk, please?”

“I think we should.” Stepping back, she made way for him to enter. Once the door closed, he turned to her.

“Jasmine, there’s something I should tell you. I shouldn’t have—”

“I love you, Mal,” she blurted out.

“Godsdamnit.” When her face crumpled, he cursed again.

“No, no, I didn’t mean it like that.” He raked his claws through his hair.

“I should have said it first. I love you, Jasmine. I’ve been wanting to tell you all this time.

For weeks. And then that email came, and I panicked.

I really wasn’t expecting it. I was torn between taking the job and staying here.

And not just because I fell in love with you, but this town, for some reason, has grown on me.

I didn’t know what I wanted. Choosing was too hard and I froze up. I fucked it all up.”

She reached toward him, placing her small, warm hand on top of his.

“I thought I was doing the right thing, letting you go. This was your dream, and I didn’t want to hold you back.

If I’d told you to stay, you would have resented me for it.

It would have been this cloud over us and I’d always be wondering if you regretted it.

I pushed you away because I wanted to guarantee your future, your legacy.

As someone who loves you, I wanted that for you. ”

“Jasmine . . .”

She moved first, slipping her arms around his torso, her body melting into his as she pressed her cheek to his chest. He wrapped his free arm around her as finally, after two weeks of torture, he could breathe again.

“You’re wrong, you know.”

She rested her chin on his chest to look up at him. “Wrong? About what?”

Gently, he disentangled her arms from him and lowered the snow globe between them. Snow and glitter danced around the miniature pet shop before settling down. “This shop isn’t my home. And Dewberry Falls isn’t, either.”

“I know.” Her voice turned quiet. “But we can make long distance work.” Her teeth worried at her lower lip. “I mean, that’s what you want, right?”

“No, no, you’re not understanding me.” He turned the globe so the inscription was face out. “Remember what I said about orcs having two homes? That ashak’roca is our heart-home, the one we carry with us wherever we are?”

She nodded.

“There’s another word we use for our heart-home. Ashak’a. The person who lives in our hearts.” He grinned as her face went blank. “You’re my heart-home. My ashak’a. I feel most content and at peace with you and I carry you with me wherever I go. I love you, Jasmine.”

Her eyes shone bright with emotion. “Mal . . . I love you too.”

Reaching for her once more, he lifted her up with one arm and leaned down, kissing her with all the emotion in his hearts. He didn’t need the Historical Society job or to solidify his legacy. Jasmine was all he needed and all he ever wanted.