And she wanted him.
Galen was not exactly husband material...
Bad comparison.
Well, not even relationship material...
Roula took a breath. If she was being honest, Galen didn’t even tick the ‘transition guy’ or ‘dating’ box...
Yet Galen had turned something too awful to contemplate into something rather beautiful. And that languid moment when she’d briefly woken in the early hours... Well, Roula had gone back to sleep, but that moment rather fascinated her now.
There was a certain peace and harmony that came over her when she was with Galen.
He was on the bed when she stepped back into the room.
‘I borrowed—’ she started, but then saw he was on his phone.
Fine, he mouthed, and waved her away, thankfully oblivious to the transformation that had taken place.
Not so.
As Roula sat on the bed, combing her hair, he glanced over and tried—really tried—not to notice that her breasts had honestly doubled in size.
‘I’m very pleased to hear that, Dora.’
Roula smiled as she combed her thick hair.
‘I can’t. I’m sorry. I have to keep it a pet-free space,’ he said, and pulled a face at Roula. ‘For allergies and such. But if you need a few days more at home...’
He spoke for two minutes more, then scowled at Roula as he turned off his phone. ‘See what being nice does?’ he accused. ‘Now she wants to bring her dog on wheels in to work. I said no.’
‘I heard.’
‘Roula, I am not having dogs and babies and bring-your-pet-ferret-to-work days...’
‘I get it!’ She laughed. ‘It’s nice that you called, though. Send flowers.’
‘Later.’
‘What does—?’ Roula stopped her question. She knew Galen did not speak about his staff, and certainly she wasn’t about to dob Dora in.
‘Go on,’ he invited.
‘Nothing.’
‘Are you asking what does Dora with her lazy get-out-of-any-work ass do?’
‘Galen!’
‘I love her,’ Galen said. ‘Now, no one knows this—not Kristina, not anyone... Well, Nico does. But you can never tell.’
Good God, what was he about to tell her?
‘Dora is my number one beta tester,’ Galen said. ‘Not that she knows it.’
‘So you know she sits playing on games all day...?’
‘Not all day.’ He smiled. ‘She checks her horoscope, does a little shopping, occasionally sends the annual leave sheets over to HR or stocks up the mini bar. But she gets through all the levels and we see the bugs, what bits she loves...’