Page 132 of Trove’s Purpose

“I have to meet your parents,” he said, and though it was a statement, it sounded almost more like a question.

“Yes-s-s?” She agreed slowly. “Is that… okay?”

“I don’t…” He stopped again, face pinched. “I am just suddenly uneasy.”

“Huh?”

“Am I… I think I’m nervous,” he said, like he was looking at a particularly difficult and confusing math problem.

Chee blinked, then threw back her head laughing. He frowned at her.

“What’s funny?” He asked.

“Nothing. Just… that’s normal.”

“Why would that be normal?”

She embraced him again, happy and excited by the confession. Because it meant that he cared. He was a big, scary, hardened criminal from the darkest part of the universe.

And he was nervous to meet his girlfriend’s parents.

“Don’t worry, they’re super nice,” she assured him.

“I have to fight your father.”

“Why? Oh! Right. The mating thing.” She laughed, patting his chest. “Don’t worry, Trove. He’ll go easy on you.”

He reared back as Chee laughed, turning to gather her suitcase from the bed. He quickly took it from her, giving her a narrow eyed look that just made her snicker harder.

“He will go easy on me?” He repeated, incredulous.

Chee shrugged. “You’re not the only murderer who survived a horrible lock up that forced him to get stronger or let it break him in my life.”

He opened his mouth, but there was nothing waiting for him to reply. And he could just stare at her, baffled, as she led the way from the room.

There was a happy bounce to her step as she walked through the manor. San was waiting below to escort her outside to where their landing shuttle was powered up and waiting, already filled with the others, to take them back up to the Vainglory.

Her new home.

Her new life.

She turned back and smiled at Trove, but he actually looked grumpy. She had to bite back a laugh at his reaction.

The other girls needed to get used to the idea of their murderer boyfriends.

Her murderer boyfriend had to tangle with her murderer father.

It was terrible, but still funny, and she had to bite back a laugh as she looked to the future with real hope and joy.

Chapter 45

Trove

“I would like to propose a toast!” Grace said, holding up her glass.

The others, all in their own conversations, turned to look at her, quieting down as she stood, smiling over their heads.

“A what?” Vytln asked, his eye already twitching like he was coming into this pre-annoyed by whatever she was about to say.