Page 96 of Forest Proximity
My mom isn’t done. “And you say that you didn’t find evidence of Bigfoot.” Her tone says she’s ready to be done with this foolishness. She wants her daughter back.
My eyes blink open. “I got a recording, actually. Last night.” I wave my useless phone, then bump my dad’s shoulder with it. “You’re going to freak out, Dad.”
“Really?” My dad straightens, signaling onto the paved road into town. Everything looks exactly like it did yesterday morning. The road is damp, but the sky is blue. You’d never know Crispin and I were fighting for survival twelve hours ago. “What was it like? High pitched or more like barking?”
“For heaven’s sake, Brian.” My mom swats his shoulder. “Don’t encourage her.”
“Why not? Between this and the video?” My dad shakes his head. He’s too excited to listen to his wife. “I’m loving this, kid,” he says over the seat.
The video.How could I forget? I have more to confess than a secret relationship.
“Actually ...” I close my eyes. This is embarrassing for meandAdam. “I found out something about the video.”
“It’s just some guy in a ghillie suit?” my mom fills in.
“Getout!” I swat her shoulder. “How did you know? How do you even know what a ghillie suit is?” My disbelieving voice fills the truck.
My mother frowns. “I didn’t know it was possible to grow up with your father andnotknow what a ghillie suit is.”
“But why didn’t you say anything?” This doesn’t add up. My mom can’t stand the sasquatch stuff. She should’ve been eager to shut it down.
My mom shrugs. “I wanted to see what happened with the bet.”
She liked giving my friends an excuse to set me up with a lot of men, more like.
My dad tips his head to the side. “A ghillie suit makes sense, I guess,” he mutters. He sounds deflated. He was as hopeful as I was.
I might as well get it all out there. “It was Adam.”
“Adam figured out that it was someone in a ghillie suit?” My dad frowns through the windshield.
I wish that was it. “No.” I sigh. “Adam is the Bigfoot in my video.”
Chapter 36
Stevie
My parents have been laughing since I told them about Adam being my sasquatch back on Highway One. Now we’re pulling into Cape Georgeana proper. They’re out of breath, but they keep making terrible puns, and the laughter starts fresh.
I’m not amused.
My mom wipes the tears from under her eyes. “Oh, I like this one. He’s a keeper.”
“You think every guy who is a potential father for grandchildren is a keeper,” I mutter, folding my arms and glaring out the window.
My mom spins to face me. “And thanks to your dad and your brothers, you think every man you meet is deeply flawed.”
I shake my head. “That’s not true.” I shake my head again, like the truth of it will disappear the harder I deny it.
The cab falls silent.
My mom raises her eyebrows at my dad.
He fidgets with the buttons on the steering wheel.
“Say it, Brian,” my mom hisses. “Tell her what we talked about.”
He clears his throat. “Hon, I may have done you a disservice.”
