Page 27 of That’s My Orc, Tusk Off

“Almost certainly.”

Krem was writing very quickly.

“This is a good chance for you two to work together,” Brovish said. “You’re good at organizing. She’s already proving she’s good with people. This project needs both.”

“I can handle both.”

“You can only handle people when you remember they’re not systems.”

Drogar laughed.

I wanted to argue. The problem was that Brovish was correct.

The school coordinator had mentioned parent communication, community visibility, and making the program accessible. Those were the human-facing parts of the project. They required warmth.

Willa had warmth.

I had filing systems.

“Alright,” I croaked. “She’ll work beside me.”

“Excellent.” Brovish pulled my tablet closer and scrolled to the top of my proposal. “This is well done, Traig. Send it to the school this morning. And tell Willa about her new project.”

“I’ll inform her of the assignment.”

“Inform her,” Drogar said under his breath. “That’ll go well.”

I picked up my tablet and left before anyone else could comment.

Drogar said something I didn’t catch, followed by Krem’s laugh and Brovish telling them to let me handle this in my own way.

I was handling it.

I was handling it fine.

I just needed to tell Willa that we’d be working together three times a week for the next few months on a big project that would require regular communication and being close to each other and⁠—

I stopped walking.

This was going to be alright.

I found Willa at the reception desk an hour later, and immediately regretted every decision that had led me to this moment.

Fred floated near the ceiling, grumbling his little song. Willa was writing something in a notebook, her hair tucked behind her left ear.

She looked up when I approached and smiled.

My carefully prepared introduction disappeared.

“Hey,” she said. “How’s your morning going?”

“Productive.” The word came out too formal. I leaned my arm against the counter and tried again. “Good. It’s been good.”

“Awesome.” She was still smiling. “Did you need something?”

Right. The project. I had a whole explanation prepared.

I set my tablet on the desk between us and pulled up the proposal, bracing my hands on her desk, trying not to notice how sweet she smelled.