Master of Death (Hollow #2)

CHAPTER 28

On Monday, I spot Marie drawing on a notepad when I head to my desk. It was hard coming in to work today. After the nice weekend Damon and I had camping, I didn’t want to leave.

I still can’t believe we’re engaged.

“How were the jealous bitches today?” she asks in a monotone voice.

I shrug. “I can handle them. Thanks for replacing me again.” We haven’t told people we’re together. Only Julia knows, and I suspect Marie does too.

They might know eventually when I start showing and people start gossiping about it. We’re not actively hiding our relationship; we’re just not confirming it either.

I do feel relieved when I’m back at my desk. While I find the science department interesting, I also already do most of the research and drafting of reports for my job.

I didn’t even know that Damon changed my job title to ‘executive assistant and scientific report analyst,’ which was the basis he used to justify my raise on paper after we broke up the first time. He’s the boss, and he can do whatever he wants, but Damon likes to abide by a certain set of rules.

My plan is to finish the internship but remain in my position until my maternity leave, then go from there.

Maybe once Blu’s older, I could do my master’s and pursue my goal as a conservation biologist, but for now, I don’t wish to go on site. Even the trip I did last week at a conservation site nearby didn’t get me going.

“Oh, Mr. Dreygon, you seem happy—a novelty!” Marie spits her daily dose of sarcasm his way.

He narrows his eyes at her, and she’s slurping on her Pepsi the entire way to the elevators.

“In my office.” He beckons me, and I twist my tongue to bite back the harsh words. “Please,” he says, turning around.

We step inside and he hands me a small bag. I take out a cream onesie with black birds flying over the caption, Don’t mess with my mother , with the earth symbol replacing the letter O .

I clear my throat because so much weight has been lifted off his shoulders since he told me everything. Since I forgave him. Since we’re moving on.

I thank him with a kiss. A pressure-building, moan-inducing kiss. The fact that he took the time to walk inside a baby store and buy this makes me both laugh and cherish him even more.

“I hope our kid won’t be reckless like you.” Every one of his words is full of seriousness, but I see the glint in his eyes.

“Fun, you mean?”

He shakes his head, smiling, and I love him even more than I did yesterday.

Damon works late tonight, and I have a date night with Henrik and Gia at my place.

I miss Hen.

He’s been busy spending a lot of his time with Harvey. I’m grateful for him and grateful that Harvey’s doing much better.

We order Chinese food, and we’re spread out in the living room, mindlessly discussing our days. Hen takes out his lighter and grabs the blunt behind his ear.

“Don’t you light that joint up, Henrik. There are two pregnant women in the room,” Gia says, frowning, and her eyes widen at her revelation. “Dammit, Gemma. I’m so sorry!”

Oh, for the love of God, Gia.

I shake my head.

Henrik looks between the both of us, twice, with his mouth hanging open. “Is she serious?”

I nod. “Yeah. I’m pregnant. With Damon’s baby,” I say, in case he needs clarification.

“Come here.” He brings me into a tight hug, and he smells like weed and cologne and something fresh. “Congrats, pretty lady.”

“Thank you.”

“I won’t tell Harv. This is your secret to tell.”

I see Gia answer James’s call, and I turn to Hen as she leaves the room. “How is he?”

“He’s actually ... happy. He started work, and I think it’s doing him some good.”

“A few hours a day?”

“Yeah.”

“And therapy?”

“He’s still going. Doing individual and group therapy, and he’s starting couples therapy with Claire at the end of the month.”

“That’s a lot of therapy.”

“He needs it.” Henrik places his hand atop mine. “You’ll be the coolest mom. If you smoke with your kids? Coolest mom, I’m telling you.”

“Henrik.” I shake my head, suddenly nervous. “I appreciate our friendship.”

“Me, too, Gemma, more than you know.”

“Are you sure Harv’s cool with this?”

He nods, the unlit joint between his lips. “I asked him, and he said by us remaining friends, he feels like he has an invisible connection to you. One he’s not ready to sever, so to speak.”

“Yeah, well, he might change his mind.”

“True, but then again, I’d also have to change mine.”

Our fun evening comes to an end, and Henrik leaves Gia and me behind. I grab my ring from my room and show it to her.

“Shut up! You’re not engaged!”

“I am. Seriously, don’t tell Dad. He’ll have a heart attack with all the news I’m sending his way lately.”

She waves me off. “You could never do wrong in his eyes, but I’ll wait until you’re ready.”

“We need time. I need to know he won’t leave, and I’ll probably never stop having anxiety about it until Blu’s born.”

“Blu?”

I caress my flat-looking stomach. I’m excited to grow a bump; it’ll make this more real. “Our baby. I’ll tell Dad soon, but not now. We just got back together.”

Her misty brown eyes pour out all the love she has for me. “My sister’s getting married!” She shrieks, hugging me tightly.

I almost can’t believe it myself.

Not even when Damon comes home and stares at me like he wants to devour me—Gia be damned.