Abby, right? Or maybe Valerie? No, Valerie had come before Abby in a long string of women brought to A Lie I Can Live With - 5
the office to be shown off. And she didn't like skiing, or at least that's the reason Steve gave why, "It didn't work out."
Of course, in Otis' humble opinion, Valerie, "Don't call me Val," didn't like much of anything but her own perfectly-groomed, expensively-dressed self. She reminded Otis of a Cyber-harpy, complete with blood-red talons, from his favorite video game, Invasion of Akutan. He shivered, glad he hadn't run into her high-maintenance male equivalent -- yet. Based on a few brief meetings, however, Otis wouldn't mind a male version of Abby. Sweet, adorable, and no idea of her own beauty. Did they even make men like that?
He sighed, imagining his very own Captain Nathan, the hero of Invasion : handsome, confident, and hard-as-nails on the battlefield, kind and caring to the men in his unit. And boy could he kick some alien bootie! Only, what would the good captain do in the real world for a day job? Pest control? Yeah, that might work.
Steve's next comment pulled Otis away from visions of the Captain's seductive grin beaming over a flamethrower scientifically designed for eliminating cockroaches. "Ya know, I think she might be the one ."
Otis and Danny both chuckled. Since Steve's joining the staff two years previously, there'd been seven "the ones" thus far. Or maybe eight. Still, Otis wished the man well. At only twenty-three, Steve needn't hurry to settle down. For Otis, at thirty-two, the idea of finding the perfect partner -- or even an imperfect one -- looked more like a pipe dream with each passing day. Then again, if he looked like either Steve or Danny, young, handsome, and fit, instead of the love child of an Italian grizzly bear and a bespectacled accountant, he'd probably have a much easier time navigating the treacherous maze of dating.
A Lie I Can Live With - 6
"How about you, Big Guy?" Steve dared to ask the dreaded question.
"Me?" Otis swallowed hard, scrambling for an answer that didn't sound pathetic. Why did they even ask? Didn't they know by now that he didn't have much of a social life? "What about me?" His voice came out strangely high-pitched for such a large, barrel-chested man.
Danny saved Otis from the necessity of lying, answering for him. "Ah, you know how it is with single guys." He gave Otis' back a teasing swat. "The boss here'll probably be out partying until the wee hours, bringing home some hot young thing." Okay, maybe they didn't know about his weekends spent alone in front of the TV.
Recovering from his moment of awkwardness, Otis forced a grin and reinforced the fallacy. "Oh yeah. You know me too well. I'll head out to the club, see what's happening. Then I'll hang out with friends, drinking beer and watching football." He flipped a dismissive "ah, it's nothing" hand. He didn't feel the need to inform them that his "friends" came in a six-pack and were the beer, or that he'd spend way too many hours parked on the couch, saving worlds via a game controller.
"You live in the fast lane, dude." Steve signed his name with a flourish to his last work order and added it to the stack. "Well, I guess if we're done, I'll see you guys Monday. Can't keep a lady waiting."
"I'm heading out, too, Otis," Danny said, rising from his chair and stretching. "Have a good weekend, and don't get into too much trouble." He winked before sauntering toward the door.
"I'll try not to," Otis replied, knowing he stood a better chance of being abducted by the Legion of Noorvik than he did getting into the kind of "trouble"
A Lie I Can Live With - 7
Danny meant. Although he'd gladly cooperate with six-armed malicious space pirates if the kidnapping ended with Captain Nathan swooping in to rescue him.
He watched his two employees bundle up against the cold and shuffle out the door to their cars. Another lonely weekend. He couldn't even count on going out as his
the office to be shown off. And she didn't like skiing, or at least that's the reason Steve gave why, "It didn't work out."
Of course, in Otis' humble opinion, Valerie, "Don't call me Val," didn't like much of anything but her own perfectly-groomed, expensively-dressed self. She reminded Otis of a Cyber-harpy, complete with blood-red talons, from his favorite video game, Invasion of Akutan. He shivered, glad he hadn't run into her high-maintenance male equivalent -- yet. Based on a few brief meetings, however, Otis wouldn't mind a male version of Abby. Sweet, adorable, and no idea of her own beauty. Did they even make men like that?
He sighed, imagining his very own Captain Nathan, the hero of Invasion : handsome, confident, and hard-as-nails on the battlefield, kind and caring to the men in his unit. And boy could he kick some alien bootie! Only, what would the good captain do in the real world for a day job? Pest control? Yeah, that might work.
Steve's next comment pulled Otis away from visions of the Captain's seductive grin beaming over a flamethrower scientifically designed for eliminating cockroaches. "Ya know, I think she might be the one ."
Otis and Danny both chuckled. Since Steve's joining the staff two years previously, there'd been seven "the ones" thus far. Or maybe eight. Still, Otis wished the man well. At only twenty-three, Steve needn't hurry to settle down. For Otis, at thirty-two, the idea of finding the perfect partner -- or even an imperfect one -- looked more like a pipe dream with each passing day. Then again, if he looked like either Steve or Danny, young, handsome, and fit, instead of the love child of an Italian grizzly bear and a bespectacled accountant, he'd probably have a much easier time navigating the treacherous maze of dating.
A Lie I Can Live With - 6
"How about you, Big Guy?" Steve dared to ask the dreaded question.
"Me?" Otis swallowed hard, scrambling for an answer that didn't sound pathetic. Why did they even ask? Didn't they know by now that he didn't have much of a social life? "What about me?" His voice came out strangely high-pitched for such a large, barrel-chested man.
Danny saved Otis from the necessity of lying, answering for him. "Ah, you know how it is with single guys." He gave Otis' back a teasing swat. "The boss here'll probably be out partying until the wee hours, bringing home some hot young thing." Okay, maybe they didn't know about his weekends spent alone in front of the TV.
Recovering from his moment of awkwardness, Otis forced a grin and reinforced the fallacy. "Oh yeah. You know me too well. I'll head out to the club, see what's happening. Then I'll hang out with friends, drinking beer and watching football." He flipped a dismissive "ah, it's nothing" hand. He didn't feel the need to inform them that his "friends" came in a six-pack and were the beer, or that he'd spend way too many hours parked on the couch, saving worlds via a game controller.
"You live in the fast lane, dude." Steve signed his name with a flourish to his last work order and added it to the stack. "Well, I guess if we're done, I'll see you guys Monday. Can't keep a lady waiting."
"I'm heading out, too, Otis," Danny said, rising from his chair and stretching. "Have a good weekend, and don't get into too much trouble." He winked before sauntering toward the door.
"I'll try not to," Otis replied, knowing he stood a better chance of being abducted by the Legion of Noorvik than he did getting into the kind of "trouble"
A Lie I Can Live With - 7
Danny meant. Although he'd gladly cooperate with six-armed malicious space pirates if the kidnapping ended with Captain Nathan swooping in to rescue him.
He watched his two employees bundle up against the cold and shuffle out the door to their cars. Another lonely weekend. He couldn't even count on going out as his
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