Hope nods, leaning in for a hug. “Of course, and don’t stress if you can’t. I knew duty would call at some point. I’m just glad you were able to spend time with us tonight.”
“Me too, my dear,” Cate says, stroking Hope’s hair during their embrace. “I’ll make sure I see you before you call it a night, okay?”
Retreating from the hug, Hope nods again. “For sure.”
“Thank you for the wonderful evening, Cate,” Ogram says.
“Thankyoufor being a wonderful mate to my girl.”
“Loving and caring for Hope, and for our child,” he places one large hand on his bride-to-be’s protruding bump, “is all I want to do for the rest of my life.”
“Good man.” Cate smiles warmly at him, then at Hope. When her gaze swings to me, her expression immediately cools. Her lips part as if she might say something.
Whatever it might’ve been doesn’t materialize. All I get is a curt nod before she walks away and disappears down the stairs.
Two sets of wide, staring eyes bore into me.
“Congratulations on your other news,” I say, gesturing at Hope’s baby belly from a safe distance. “I would’ve said that sooner, but then you started making out, which I took as my cue to find someplace else to be.”
Hope giggles and snuggles closer to Ogram, who, in turn, wraps his arms around her tighter.
It’s like watching magnetic puzzle pieces.
“Thank you.” Ogram inclines his head in a deep nod. “You’re probably wondering why we’ve waited this long to have the wedding.”
“Didn’t cross my mind. Whatever your reasons, that’s your business, not mine.” A viewpoint I hope the two of them adopt on the subject of Cate, since I’m sure it’s obvious there was tension between us. “I’m just glad you’re happy and have everything you always dreamed of. You deserve it more than anyone I know, brother.”
“He is wonderful, isn’t he?” Hope says, smiling up at him as if he painted the sky by hand, just for her.
And if anyone could, he’d be the one.
“He is and always has been,” I say with a nod before shifting my attention to my brother’s face. “The only man equally good was our father.” Emotions I haven’t entertained in a very long time climb into my throat, forming a ball.
“That is the greatest compliment, Grüsh.” Ogram pulls me into an inescapable hug before I can respond. “I am so grateful you are here.”
Well, fuck. I really have been an asshole, staying away and out of touch. “Thanks for getting me here so I didn’t miss more than I already have.” Giving in to the moment, I hug him back. A couple of solid thumps on each other’s bodies later, we disengage. “When’s the baby due?”
“Don’t I wish I knew!” Laughing, Hope rubs circles over her belly. “There’s not much documented medical data aboutinterspecies reproduction between a male troll and a human woman, so it’s kind of a ‘wait and see’ situation. I can tell you I’m just about done with the ‘wait’ part, though. I’m not sure how much more my body can stretch to accommodate this big bundle of joy.” She laughs again, a brief, blissful sound, despite her complaint.
Being a parent has never entered my mind. Even when Cate and I were together, I didn’t experience the breeding fervor that overcomes male trolls during the rut. That’s why I didn’t think it was possible for us to be true mates. And I didn’t care. I loved her. I only wanted her.
Because we weren’t mated, I expected the feelings to fade after I left town. To disappear as time and distance ticked by. Only they never did. Not on my end, anyway. No matter how much I’ve consciously tried.
“I hope this isn’t too personal a question since we just met…” By the time Hope trails off, the bubbliness in her voice has all but vanished, replaced by steady seriousness that’s mirrored in her eyes. “Do you know Cate? Because it sure looked like the two of you were having an intense conversation before Ogram and I joined in.”
“Does it matter?” Even keeping the edge out of my tone, there’s no mistaking the defensive nature of my words.
“It does, actually.” Hope shifts out of Ogram’s embrace, her gaze not leaving mine. “Cate is my closest friend and my found family. She’s giving me away at the wedding tomorrow, and for all intents and purposes, she’ll be the baby’s grandma.”
“Grandma?She’s only forty-two.”
Ogram’s thick eyebrows shoot up his forehead.
Hope’s gaze narrows before she turns her head to look up at him. “You’ve been casually and professionally acquainted with Cate for years now. Did you know how old she is?”
“I did not.”
“Neither did I,” Hope says as her attention returns to my face. “I know for a fact that she cares about me and trusts me, yet I only know her birthday because I was with her in the office downstairs when Bloom & Vine delivered a bouquet from her sister who lives in Maine. Cate is very protective of personal details.”
