Page 34 of Glory Troll

“Hey, Ollie, mate.” Fitz got up, took his cane, and walked over to me. “What’s wrong?” He sat down on the edge of his desk—I knew it was difficult for him to keep standing for long—and rested his hand on my shoulder.

“I’m sorry, Fitz. I’m so stupid, I messed up.”

My boss cocked his ears at me, a benign smile on his mouth, inviting me to keep talking.

“I, oh God.” I groaned again. “One of the players and I, we…” I couldn’t go on.

“You like him?” His voice was way gentler than I deserved.

“Yes.” It was the first time I had ever allowed myself to speak my truth. I had told Bo, but revealing it to Fitz was different. I whispered it into existence, an incantation that was spreading across my body, across time and space, across sea and land to find…him.My mate.I hadn’t taken Bo entirely seriously, but he was right. We were meant to be.Not just a holiday fling.

“When is your flight?”

My eyes snapped up to find my boss’s green gaze resting on me, a smile playing at the corners of his muzzle.

“I haven’t booked yet. I don’t even know if he wants me there.”

Fitz chuckled. “Oh, he does, Ollie. Book the flight. Take as long as you need, okay?” Fitz hugged me. “And just so you know, Lone Fox, I,” he corrected himself, backing away and giving meanother kind look. “I and all of us would be sad to see you go. But I know better than anyone that one’s happiness matters more than any job in the world. You’ll always have a home here at LFD, Ollie.”

“Always.” My voice broke, and I returned what I knew was a watery smile. “Thank you, Fitz.”

“Not for this. Go get your man.”

“Yeah.” I got up, took a deep breath, and stalked to the door. With my hand on the handle, I turned back. “Thank you, Fitz,” I repeated.

“Go!” he urged me, grinning widely now, and I nodded and dashed from the room.

Back in my office, I immediately typed out a message to Bo.

Ollie: I’ve been looking at flights…

It took him only seconds to reply.

Bo: Flights??

Ollie: To see you…

Ollie: If you want me to come…

Bo: If I want you? Gods, Ollie…

Bo: I want you, älskling.

Bo: Tell me when you land and I’ll come to pick you up

Bo: I’ll leave now x

Ollie: The next flight I can make lands at ten thirty tonight

Ollie: That’s probably too late

Bo: No! Take the earliest available flight.

Bo: I need you

My heart squeezed in my chest.

Fuck, I need him, too. So bad.

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