Chapter 44
Chee
Moving around the room, Chee hummed to herself as she gathered all her belongings and packed them up in her old suitcases.
She was going with the guys. Of course, she was. She wasn’t going to let her mate leave without her. It wasn’t even a question.
Her parents were coming here to Hyde’s manor.
He was going to take care of them and get them settled on Holotulle.
That included making sure they had a place to live, a source of income, a means of maintaining their independence.
All of that. Trove promised her that, when they arrived, they’d come to see them and, of course, they’d stop by to visit whenever the ship went to Holotulle.
That was good enough for her. She’d get to spend all day with her father. Her parents would have their life and relationship back.
And she’d have a new life and purpose as a member of the Humble Delivery Service. She wasn’t sure what she was going to do for them yet. But the skills she learned as an event coordinator could definitely be useful in any career.
It didn’t really matter. She’d find a way to help them out. She’d earn her place among the crew. She’d be with her mate, her father would be free.
Chee was practically dancing on air as she moved about, collecting all her belongings.
The last thing she picked up was the picture of her family. In that stupid frame she’d made as a kid with way too much glitter glue. Something completely ugly and absolutely irreplaceable. She kissed her father’s face and squeezed the frame tight.
“You look happy.”
She lifted her head and beamed at Trove. She hadn’t heard the door open. He was standing just inside, leaning against the wall. Looking at her with a tender smile on his face.
“I am happy,” she said, turning to put the picture in her bag.
She flipped the lid shut and zipped it all closed.
Then, she tapped the top with a satisfied breath of air.
“That’s all of it. I left most everything else behind with mom.
She’ll probably be getting rid of most of it as well though, when it comes time for her to move out here. ”
“What did she say? When you told her about Hyde’s offer, I mean.”
“She didn’t believe it was real.” Chee turned back to look at him.
“Don’t really blame her. I didn’t think it was real at first either.
But Hyde was convincing. And he put a lot of money into my bank account.
It was to help my mom while I was gone, pay for my ticket to Switzerland – which is Earth’s only spaceport right now.
And help me just get to him. It was still a risk, I guess, but I was desperate and stupid enough to try. And hey! It worked out!”
She threw her arms around the room, gesturing at everything.
“So, it did,” Trove agreed easily. He walked to her and she used her open arms as a start to give him a hug, throwing her arms around his neck.
“I can’t wait for you to meet my family,” she said. “My parents are going to love you.”
Trove didn’t say anything, but he stiffened suddenly. Chee pulled back, frowning.
“What’s wrong?”
Trove opened his mouth, but the answer didn’t come immediately. He hesitated, looked confused, then alarmed, then pained.
“What?” She asked again.
“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.