Page 44 of The Sasquatch and the Hairdresser

I frown. “Why’d you do that?”

“I thought I might be dreaming.”

“What?” I’m completely confused now.

He clasps my hands in his, holding them gently. “Sorry, I’m just overwhelmed, but in a good way. To allay your worries, I do know what demisexual is. I’m on the asexual spectrum as well. I don’t desire or enjoy sex and prefer sharing forms of physical intimacy and affection like you do. In the past, others have turned down having a relationship with me for this very reason.” He shakes his head slowly. “I never thought I’d find someone compatible with me. By the Light, I can’t help but feel like this is destiny. We fit so well in every way, but I have been worried that this one issue could put an end to my hopes and dreams of a relationship with you before we even got fully started.”

I laugh in relief. “Well, fuck. I’m glad I laid my cards out tonight. Now neither of us needs to angst about this issue anymore.”

“It’s a relief. Thank you for being so brave to broach the subject first. I was struggling to figure out the best way to do so myself, but you beat me to it in the best way possible.”

“I’ve never had a relationship like the one we’re gonna try. Where do you think we start, Mr. Romantic?” I ask teasingly.

Hal smiles sunnily. “We take it slow. A proper romantic courtship.”

Trust Hal to make my gut swoosh with warmth over something I never knew I wanted. “Like in some of those historical romances of yours?”

He flushes. “Kind of. Call me old-fashioned, but I want the chance to court you.”

That sounds… well, super fucking sweet.

“Okay, I’m cool with taking it slow, but you better believe you’re not going to be the only one doing the courting.” I yawn. “Sorry, dredging up all that shit from my past kinda took a lot out of me.”

“Let’s head to bed and talk more in the morning,” Hal says. “We have all the time in the world.”

Even though I’m exhausted and can barely keep my eyes open once I collapse in my bed, I already can’t wait for a new day to start as Hal’s official boyfriend.

CHAPTER TEN

Cryptids United in Delightful Dating and Love Encouragement (CUDDLE) Forum

SuperShySasquatch: I’m back with an exciting update!

IPutTheBrahInChupacabra: Huzzah! We’ve been waiting, not so patiently, to hear how things went. Spill the beans, friend.

YetiOrNotHereICome: I’m squeeing with excitement over here. Please tell me he said yes!

SuperShySasquatch: Nothing went the way I planned, but it turned out even better than I could have hoped. HE was the one to ask ME out! I totally didn’t see that coming. I’m still floating over here and having to pinch myself every few minutes to make sure I’m not dreaming.

YetiOrNotHereICome: OMG! You two are just the CUTEST. What a plot twist though. Him asking you out is so romantic. Did your heart flutter?

SuperShySasquatch: I nearly swooned. It was the most romantic thing I’ve ever experienced in my entire life. So much better than the stories I read. I’m in awe of him. He was so amazing, putting himself out there like that, especially after all the pain he’s experienced in bad relationships before. I’m telling you, in my eyes, he’s better than any romance hero ever written.

LoungeSingerLizardMan: The sugar overload is giving me a toothache, but I don’t care. That’s freaking beautiful, man. Hearing your story is giving an old, jaded guy like me hope. Congratulations, my friend.

IPutTheBrahInChupacabra: Talk about awesome news. And him asking you out before you could ask him? That’ll be a golden memory for the rest of your life.

NessieNeedsLoveToo: You’re really keeping the dream alive for all of us, @SuperShySasquatch! Good on you, mate. Here’s to hoping we all have such good fortune in our own time.

MerMagicMan: I’ll drink to that, Nessie! Goddess knows I could use some luck in the love department. But you’ve totally inspired me, SSS. You’re the rock star of this forum right now.

IPutTheBrahInChupacabra: We totally need to find a way to meet up IRL some day and drink a toast to you.

SuperShySasquatch: Thanks, friends. Your encouragement has meant the world to me. We both want to take this new relationship nice and slow, but I’m already dreaming of a future together. In the meantime, I’ll be putting my positive energy out into the cosmos in the hopes that you all find romantic connections soon too!

Hal

“I’d love to take you on a date tonight,” Skylar says over coffee and breakfast the next morning.