Fake Dating an Orc Cowboy (Sweet Monster Treats)

21. Rosey

Chapter 21

Rosey

“ I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the woman dressed in a brightly flowered dress said, beaming at Macy and Jacob standing in front of her. “You may kiss the bride.”

Cheers erupted as Jacob dipped Macy back into a kiss that could’ve come straight out of a movie. The sound of the waves crashing beyond them only added to the moment. I couldn't stop grinning. My sister looked absolutely radiant, her curls wild in the ocean breeze and her smile so big it could've lit up the entire coastline. For the first time in weeks, months, even, I didn’t feel that awful twist in my chest when I looked at them together. This was right. This was how it was supposed to be.

Standing beside Macy near the simple wooden arch draped with fluttering ribbons and tropical flowers, I felt like my heart was finally in the right place. Maybe because I wasn’t crushed by the memory of what Jacob and I almost were. Maybe because all I could think about was the orc in the last row of chairs, towering above the rest of the guests even while sitting.

As Jacob lifted his head and Macy gave him a sweet smile, the small group of guests cheered.

“Aw, sweetheart.” Mom and Dad rushed up to the happy couple, doling out hugs.

My gaze sought Ostor's, but he wasn’t staring at me. His eyes were locked on the sand by his feet, the brim of his cowboy hat throwing a shadow across his face. My gorgeous orc cowboy. I couldn’t wait to be with him again.

The officiant’s voice cut through the applause. “Guests, you're invited to make your way to the ocean view dining area for the reception. The wedding party will join you after they’ve taken photographs. Don’t worry, Jacob and Macy will be there in time for dinner. Wedding party and parents? Please remain behind.”

Macy turned toward me, her cheeks flushed and her eyes sparkling. She grabbed my hands, squeezing them as she let out a squeal. “I’m married!” She beamed, like the words themselves were a spell she wanted to recite a billion times.

“You are.” I kissed her cheek. “I’m so happy for you, Mace.” I meant it, with every bit of me.

As the rest of our group began trailing toward the reception area, I caught Ostor’s gaze. My heart softened at the sight of him standing so still, his hands stuffed casually into the pockets of the pants he’d brought just for the wedding. He must’ve run back to the room to shower and change.

I gave him a small nod. It didn’t matter if he wasn’t the loudest, most outgoing person here. It didn’t matter that he didn’t blend neatly into my world. Ostor stood at the center of it all. He didn’t know it yet, but soon? Yes, he would. Last night had carved something new between us, something deep that felt steady and bright and secret all at once. Whatever doubts I might’ve had about us were gone. He was mine, and I was his. The rest was just details. I couldn’t wait to go home and see where those details would take us.

“Rosey, come on, we have photos to take.” Macy tugged on my arm, pulling me toward the wedding party now gathering closer to the arch.

I shot one final glance toward Ostor before letting her drag me along, my fingers brushing over the inside of my wrist where that strange golden imprint still shone—a mark that felt like a promise instead of a mystery. It connected me to him in a way I was eager to explore.

I’d read romance novels. I’d heard of mating marks.

Was that what this was?

I couldn’t wait to ask him.

The photographer, a charming older man with salt-and-pepper hair and boundless energy, herded us into formation. Macy laughed through the whole thing, tossing out instructions of her own while Jacob stood beside her, grinning like he’d won the lottery. Pictures were snapped of the newlyweds, just them first. Poses of them holding hands, looking into each other’s eyes were followed by photos of them with the rest of the wedding party. Mom and Dad.

Peace settled over me. It wasn’t just that today had gone perfectly. It wasn’t just that Macy was ridiculously in love, either. It was the thought of Ostor waiting for me to join him.

Finally, the photographer dismissed us, and we walked to the oceanfront dining room. The late-day sun cast long, golden streaks across the sand, making the entire beach glow like something right out of a postcard. Inside, the tables had been set with white linens, small vases of tropical flowers, and with tiny pink seashells scattered across the surface. Warm light poured through open windows, joined by the distant crash of waves.

Ostor sat near the middle of one of the long tables, a seat pulled out for me beside him. Relief filled his eyes when I joined him, and he slid his hand over mine under the table, his palm warm.

Macy and Jacob had been ushered to their own table at the head of the room, and as the servers brought out glasses of champagne for the toasts, Macy glowed from the inside out.

Waiters swooped in, bringing dish after dish of amazing food I couldn’t wait to taste. But before we could dig in, Macy’s best friend Frannie stood with a champagne glass in hand, lifting it with a big grin. She clinked her knife to the glass. “Alright, alright, everyone. It’s time for toasts.”

Cheers rang out, and everyone lifted their glasses as Frannie began talking. One by one, others stood and took their turn, Jacob’s best man finishing off his speech to a round of applause.

I stood and spoke as well. “To my sister, Macy. To her beloved husband, Jacob. May their lives together be full of sweetness and fire.”

“Yay,” Macy cried out, draining her glass of champagne.

I turned to Ostor, keeping my voice low. “What do you think? Have you seen a human wedding before?”

He startled, though I wasn't sure why. “No, no, I haven’t. It was lovely. I'm happy for them.”

I leaned against his chest. “Yeah, me too.”

“Not sad?”

I shook my head. “Not anymore.” Should I tell him that I'd put that behind me, that I only wanted to focus on him?

Nah, I'd wait until we were alone. This time was for my sister and Jacob. Our time would come.

The newly wedded couple kissed again, sparking another wave of cheers. He whispered something in her ear, and she laughed, shaking her head before kissing his cheek.

“Let's eat!” she finally said.

As everyone dove into overflowing plates of food, I glanced over at Ostor again, catching the way he shifted in his chair.

“Are you okay?” I asked, and he shrugged. Unsure why his mood had changed and . . . Alright, I was uneasy about why his mood had changed, I stared at my plate before picking at the food.

After we finished, people danced, their laughter blending with the perky beat of the mariachi band, while the twinkle lights sparkled on the polished wooden dance floor. The reception had hit its peak. Our plates were gone, champagne glasses had been refilled, and couples swayed in time with a romantic tune. This was exactly Macy’s vibe.

Ostor, though, seemed . . . off. Instead of looking like he was enjoying a party, he sat beside me, his hulking frame stiff and his focus on his hands clasped on the table. His cowboy hat cast a shadow over his features, but even in the dim light, I couldn’t miss the furrow in his brow.

“Hey.” I nudged his arm. “Want to dance?”

His gaze flicked to mine before shooting away. A small, almost smile tugged at his lips, and he shook his head. “I don’t know how.”

“We can fix that.” I leaned closer and lowered my voice. “I’ll show you how. It’s easy, really. Just wiggle your hips and move your arms, and you’ll fit in with everyone else.”

This time, his smile didn’t even rise. He turned back to the table, picking at the edge of a discarded napkin. “Maybe another time.” His voice came out quieter than usual, with none of its usual playfulness.

I tried to brush it off. He was tired. We were up most of the night making love, and the rush to get ready for the wedding hadn’t exactly set a relaxed tone for the day. He probably needed some time to sleep. Relax. It was no big deal.

Still, something tugged at my nerves. It wasn’t like him to retreat into himself like this. Not after everything we'd done together. “Was Jacob okay earlier?” I asked, partly to urge him to speak, partly because I was curious. Jacob inviting Ostor to hang out in the guys’ suite had been a surprise. He hadn’t given me the impression he wanted to be with Ostor, though that could’ve changed. He couldn’t be jealous any longer; not after Macy said I do.

Ostor shifted in his seat, his fingers grazing the side of his glass before he lifted it and took a sip of water. “He was nice. Not acting strange at all. Just sharing some human customs.”

“Customs?” I frowned. “Like what?”

He placed the glass down, the movement careful, as if he was buying time to think. But subterfuge wasn't Ostor’s way. “Simple things. How humans celebrate various occasions. How they build relationships. Choices.” His words came out loaded with a meaning I couldn’t pin down.

“That’s . . . interesting.” I tried to keep my voice light. Reaching for his hand lying on the table, I linked our fingers, hoping touch would shove aside whatever had come over him.

Ostor tugged his hand away and lifted his gaze to watch the dancers.

My stomach jerked sideways. “What’s wrong?” A cavern was spreading through my chest.

He shrugged. “Things will go the way they’re supposed to. You don’t need to worry. Please don’t worry.”

But I was worried. His words felt sharp, and they made my heart sting. Something had shifted between us, but I couldn’t put my finger on what it might be. Was he regretting last night? It could've been too much or too fast for him. I knew almost nothing about orc customs, which meant it would be easy for me to do or say something that might offend him. I told myself not to overthink it, but that cavern in my chest widened.

The day had been off-kilter for both of us. Rushed mornings could throw anyone off, right? We could talk later. I could fix whatever I might’ve done to . . . offend him—assuming I’d offended him. The rest of the night would be fine. It had to be.

The band took a break, and everyone wandered back to their tables. Macy and Jacob still swayed in the center of the dance floor, gazing at each other like no one else existed. That goofy, heart-pounding love they shared radiated through the entire room. Seeing them like that made my heart ache. Not with jealousy, but with longing. I wanted what they had, but I wanted it with Ostor.

“Maybe we should go back to our room,” I finally said. The guests were beginning to trickle away, a few stopping by to say goodbye to the happy couple who continued to sway, gazing into each other’s eyes.

Ostor’s attention shifted to me. “Alright.”

We left, strolling through the resort. His hand hung close to mine, brushing my fingers as we walked, actually, but he didn’t reach out. He didn't say anything either.

I searched his features for a sign of what could be churning in his mind, but his expression gave nothing away. His quiet demeanor usually calmed me, but tonight he felt distant, and I had no clue what to do about it.

Had I imagined the spark I’d seen in his eyes? The way he’d held me, kissed me, whispered my name like I meant something to him? No. This had all been real, as vivid as the golden mark on my wrist that flickered whenever I looked at it. If the fates or whatever cosmic forces linking us had brought us together, I had to trust they knew what they were doing. Trust in Ostor.

We reached our building, climbing the stairs to our room. He opened the door for me, his hand brushing my back as I walked inside. The touch reassured me, though I couldn’t shake the anxiety spiking through in my belly.

I slipped off my sandals and set them in the closet, glancing back at him as he followed me in. “I should pack. They're picking us up to take us to the airport really early.”

“Me too,” he said.

It didn't take long to gather my things, and after setting aside the outfit I'd wear on the plane, I wheeled my bag to the wall where it would wait until morning.

“Would you like the bathroom first?” I asked, eager to get out of my formal dress.

“You can have it.” Turning, he walked out onto the balcony.

Okay. I could deal with this. He wasn’t rejecting me like Jacob had.

It didn’t take me long to shower off the makeup and oodles of hairspray, plus scrub my body. I dressed in my PJs and did my teeth. But instead of leaving the bathroom, I stared into the mirror.

My sad eyes gazed back at me. “He’s not going to dump you. He cares as much as you do.”

But my eyes stung as I opened the door.

“All yours,” I called out with fake cheer.

Ostor rose from his chair on the balcony and passed me in the hall, his big body brushing mine in the narrow space. Nibbling on my lower lip, I watched him retreat into the bathroom. My heart gave a rogue thump. Another. And, oh, how it stung.

With a sniff, I slipped under the cool, crisp sheets of the bed, pulling them up to my chest. After turning off the light, I laid on my back, staring at the ceiling. Anticipation curled in my belly. Tonight felt different. Bigger. We’d connect again tonight, and everything would feel normal in the morning.

I waited.

And waited some more, but he didn’t come out of the bathroom.

The want in my chest began to shift into an ache I couldn’t deny.

A rustle told me he was moving around inside the bathroom. An eternity passed. Was he pacing? Making sure his tusks were super clean?

Worry started digging its claws into my confidence, and I started making up excuses. He was taking his time. He was nervous. Would it be strange if I checked on him? I didn't want to come across clingy.

The canyon solidified itself inside my chest, shoving aside the happiness I’d found over the past few days. I tried to convince myself this was nothing, to shrug it off as him needing space. But it didn’t stop the stab of pain deep in my belly.

As my eyelids grew heavy, the light on the balcony faded.

The last feeling skating across my mind wasn’t one of excitement anymore.

It was a quiet whisper of sadness.