Page 42 of That’s My Orc, Tusk Off

“I reviewed the files. They were…” I searched for the word. “Efficient. The new arrangement works better. Everyone can access it now.”

“You love that ledger. Are you saying someone did something better than you?”

“I guess I am.”

He shook his head, clearly amazed.

“I spent too much time staring at it, waiting for it to feel wrong.” The admission felt like stepping off a ledge. “I felt anxious, as if something had been taken from me.” I picked up my mug but didn’t drink. “I also felt relieved. Which makes no sense. I built that ledger. It was mine.”

Drogar’s expression softened. “Maybe that’s the problem. Everything here is yours. Yours to build, maintain, and control.”

He took a sip of his tea.

“Outside of Willa, when’s the last time you let someone change your system?” he asked.

“Never.” The word came out too fast. “Not since⁠—”

I stopped.

Drogar waited.

The steam from my mug rose between us, disappearing into nothing.

“My parents controlled everything,” I said. “I’ve done the same thing, thinking if I kept things perfect and was useful enough, they’d…” My chest constricted. “It never made a difference.”

Drogar set his mug down on the table. “Willa’s not them.”

“You’re right.”

“She’s not leaving because you filed something wrong.” He leaned forward. “You know what I notice? She brings you things. Tea in the morning when you forget. She asks how Nix is doing because she knows you’re worried. That’s not someone who counts what she gets back.”

Each thing he said hit right. The tea. The questions about Nix. The way she remembered. Things I hadn’t let myself notice she was doing.

“Tomorrow, we meet again,” I said.

Drogar’s mouth pulled to one side in something that wasn’t quite a smile but held understanding. “Three times a week. For months. Such suffering.”

Despite everything, my chest loosened.

“I heard you bought twenty-four cookies for the first meeting,” he said.

Brovish had seen. Brovish must’ve shared. Gossiped.

“I didn’t know which kind she liked,” I said, biting back my irritation.

“So you bought all of them.” Drogar nodded slowly. “That’s logical. Very normal orc behavior.” He leaned back in his chair. “Brovish buys Laina flowers. One bunch. You bought twenty-four cookies because you didn’t know which ones she liked.” He shook his head. “You feel more for her than a male should unless he has intentions.”

I scraped my tusks across my lip. “I was being thorough.”

“You were being cute.” He stood, still grinning. “That’s a human word for⁠—”

“I know what it means.”

“Wait until I tell the others.”

“You won’t.”

“I’m sure I will.”