Page 21 of Glory Troll

“Is the food not to your liking?” Arne grinned over the table at our centre.

“Shut up, Cap,” he snorted. “I miss my man.” With a shrug, he cut off a chunk, chewing it slowly. “The food is great, but I prefer when he cooks for me.”

Our captain met his eyes, looking slightly ashamed of himself. “Sorry, Nate.”

“It’s all right, don’t worry about it.”

Ollie had been eyeing me all evening, and I hoped he would come to find me when I excused myself for a moment and left for the terrace for some fresh air.

Making my way around the building, I waited for him to catch up on me.

Instead, I faced two men who looked close to hitting each other. Taking a step closer so I could intervene, I heard them exchange heated words.

“I am not interested inanythingyou have to say,” Callum hissed, pushing Gilliatt hard in the chest, before a tentacle wrapped around his wrist and pulled his arm away almost lovingly.

The Kraken did indeed make a move, but not to hit Callum. He pressed a gentle kiss on his forehead, muttering something I couldn’t understand. Then he let go, and left.

He stood stock still and gaped after the Kraken, not even moving as I came closer.

“Callum?”

He kept his eyes on the spot where Gill had disappeared.

“Hey, Cal. Are you okay?” Nothing. “Callum, can you please nod if you’re okay? Did he hurt you?”

He shook his head in slow motion. “He didn’t hurt me, no.”

I stepped nearer, reaching out to grip his shoulder, slowly to give him time to back away.

He didn’t. “Hey, wanna go for a walk?”

I steered him away from the windows, towards the forest. I craved only my man’s presence, but couldn’t just abandon Cal.

“The freaking audacity of him,” he suddenly blurted out, rubbing the wrist Gill had held with his other hand. Then he let go and touched his forehead. “He gives me nothing but radio silence for months! Months! And then he pretends he didn’t freaking ghost me? Can you believe this shit?” His drawl was difficult to understand, and I didn’t know if he wanted to vent or to have my input, so I just hummed in agreement.

“Shit.” Callum took a deep, shuddering breath. “I should hate him, but…” The rest of his sentence went unheard when I turned my head and spotted Ollie on the other side of the terrace, his eyes flickering from Cal to me and back, lingering on my hand holding his shoulder. Then he spun on the spot and almost ran away.

“Go. I’m okay,” Callum told me, pulling out of my hold.

“Are you sure? I…”

“Go.” He gave me a little smile and nodded.

I hoped he had gone back to his apartment. Not caring who saw me but quite sure I’d be all right with everyone at the party, I snuck through the tiny garden to his back door.

Nothing happened after my first gentle knock. I tried again, already making a list of places I could check next.

A pale face appeared in the space between his curtains, surveying me, and for a moment I was sure he wouldn’t let me in.

“Hey,” I murmured, ready to hug him, but he stopped me with raised hands. “What is it, älskling?”

“Oh God,” he groaned, hiding his face in his hands. “I’m so sorry, Bo. I understand if you never want to see me again.” Ollie pushed his hands into his hair, gripping fistfuls and pulling the strands hard.

“Älskling!” With one step, I crossed the distance and captured his wrists in my hands, prompting him to stop hurting himself. “What are you doing?” I muttered, bringing his fingers to my mouth and kissing them.

“Stop being so kind to me, Bo! Bloody hell, the last thing I deserve is your love.”

His eyes flew open when his words registered with his brain, and he groaned again, struggling to get out of my hold.

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