Honor: a novella Read Online Free

introduced Osric first each time. I came to understand why Harold didn’t get along with his brother. He was a rude man and his wife walked around with this look on her face like she smelled something bad.  
    Once we were introduced to everyone, and had more small talk than I personally cared for, we stepped out back. Osric sat down on a bench and I did the same.
    “Sorry, I don’t do well at social gatherings. It can be overwhelming at times,” I told him.  
    He laughed. “I am sure it has a lot to do with the people at these gatherings.”  
    I instantly knew he meant Brenda. “I think that is why I prefer books to people.” I laughed at admitting that out loud. “I just don’t do well meeting new people.”  
    He looked over at me. “You seemed fine when we met,” he said.  
    My face grew hot and it must have shown. “Well, I guess you’re just different,” I replied.
    “That I am,” he murmured as he looked down at the patio with sadness etched on his face. As those words came out of his mouth I knew they had double meaning, I just wasn’t sure what he meant.
    The back patio door swung open, and an even tipsier Brenda came wobbling out with Lilly and Ryan behind her. “There…they…are,” she slurred.  
    “Hello Honor,” Lilly said with a huge smile upon her face; though her eyes said so much more while she looked over to the god-like man sitting beside me.    
    I chose to ignore Lilly. I turned towards Ryan and asked, “Hello, Ryan. How are you tonight?”
    “I’m doing good. Lilly and I were just stopping by before we head to the movies.” I noticed as Ryan talked he kept glancing over at Osric.  
    Lilly walked straight over. “Hello, I am Lilly. I work with Honor. I feel like I have seen you before. Have you been up to the library?” I rolled my eyes as I looked away. Brenda, who looked to have trouble standing, was also watching Lilly introduce herself to Osric.
    He smiled while shaking Lilly’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you, I’m Osric. I do go to the library often, I am sure you have seen me there.”  
    My cheeks felt hot as I thought back to us spying on him at the Library.  
    Brenda staggered over to Lilly, getting right by her ear as if she was about to whisper. “Isn’t…he so…handsome, Li…lly?” Brenda burped as she garbled. She obviously thought none of us heard her little secret . Lilly wiped the side of her face in disgust. Ryan laughed and I tried my hardest to hold my laughter back. Brenda stumbled a bit and Osric rose quickly to steady her.  
    “I think you should probably switch to water now Brenda,” I told her.  
    Osric went to find Harold, while Ryan helped Brenda inside the house.  
    “What is going on with you?” Lilly hissed once we were alone. “I can’t get you to go out or do anything, then here you are with mister underwear model! How did you two even meet?”  
    I wasn’t sure if Lilly was really upset with me or not. I had seen her play around about being angry, but she seemed like she was really pissed.  
    “We met at the library. Then my car broke down and he helped me. He asked if I wanted to go out tonight, so I asked him to come along.” I had left out the part about him following me to the downtown branch.  
    She eyed me for a minute and then gushed, “Oh Honor, I am happy for you! What is he like? Tell me everything!”  
    I laughed at her. “Well, he is gorgeous, but I don’t have to tell you that. He is a carpenter. He’s very polite and reserved. I don’t really know him all that well, but from what I have seen so far he is a good guy.”  
    She stared at me, taking it all in. “A carpenter…that must be where he gets his body.” She laughed and I couldn’t help but laugh too. Osric and Ryan came walking out the back door as Lilly elbowed me in my side to shut up.
    “Harold is with Brenda, but we should probably get going if we are going to make it to the movie,” Ryan told Lilly.  
    “Sounds good.