Page 66 of The Sasquatch and the Hairdresser

When she finds the exact right spot in my lap, she curls into a ball and nestles into me. The sheer trust has me all choked up again.

Do not turn into a snotty, crying mess.

Gently, I stroke her fur, admiring the soft, silky texture as I run my fingers through it. There’s something soothing about petting her, and I kind of zone out and just focus on the warmth of her presence in my lap. Parts of my body that I didn’t realize were tense start to relax and let go.

“You’re fucking magic,” I whisper to her. She makes a snorting noise of agreement.

“All set here,” Hal says, tray in hand. “Let’s move to the living room.”

Elvira opens one eye but doesn’t move from my lap.

Hal chuckles. “I haven’t forgotten you.” He dangles some homemade dog biscuits in the air, and Elvira’s happy to get up for that.

As if in silent sync, the three of us curl up together on the couch under one of Hal’s cozy afghans. While he pulls up the documentary on the television, I sip at my mocha, complete with whipped cream, and nibble on my toast.

He’s seriously spoiling me, but I’ve got no complaints.

“Mmm. This is fucking delicious,” I tell him around a mouthful of strawberry jam.

He beams. “Glad you like it.”

The documentary starts, and after a few moments, I look at him in surprise. “Penguins?”

He gets that bashful look on his face that I find so fucking adorable.

“I love them. Always have. I don’t entirely know why, but I find them fascinating.” He gets a dreamy look in his eyes. “And I think it’s so romantic that some penguin species tend to mate for life, or as close to it as animals get.”

I nod slowly. That makes a whole lot of sense, especially given what I know about Hal’s super sweet romantic fantasies and the fact that he never quite fit in among his family or his own kind. Here in Mystic Hollow, he’s made a home for himself and found community and friendship. The only thing missing is that one special person to share his life with. His very own penguin.

My heart races with a combination of uncertainty and hope when I consider the possibility that maybe I could be that for him. I’m already falling for him.

Hal deserves his own penguin. Right now, he’s taking care of me like none of the past assholes in my life ever dreamed of doing. He deserves the same treatment.

And I want to take care of him right back, but that’s something easier said than done. Can I be who Hal needs as a partner? Fuck if I know, but I have discovered a few little things about him. He likes endearments, and our date was going awesome until a fucking demon portal decided to open a few feet away from us.

Still, I’ve got some stuff I can try to build on.

As we watch the documentary and I sip my mocha, I lean into Hal’s side, resting my head on his arm since I don’t quite reach his shoulder. The show is actually pretty interesting. I never knew there are some male penguins who mate with other males, and some even try to raise offspring together.

When I mention my surprise to Hal, he damn near vibrates with excitement.

“Isn’t it amazing? There have been a number of cases of male penguins even selecting rocks that resemble eggs, which they then try to incubate. Others have raised abandoned young or those who lost their birth parents.” He blushes. “Just like our good girl.”

I can’t help but chuckle. “Hal, I know I said we’re becoming a family. But this is next level. We’re gonna be the most epic penguin dads to Ms. Elvira ever.”

Hal and I high-five in silent agreement and the last traces of my nightmare vanish into thin air.

Elvira lets out a snore.

We both look down at her sprawled on her back, half in my lap and half in his, her feet in the air and belly on full display while she snoozes away.

How did a schmuck like me get so lucky to have them in my life? Maybe I earned it after all I’ve been through. I’m making a promise to myself to never take either of them for granted.

Elvira squirms awake between us and starts to give me kisses. I laugh and try to dodge, not very successfully, her three eager puppy tongues.

“I love it when you laugh,” Hal says softly.

That surprises me into a realization. “You know, before I came here, I can’t remember the last time I laughed out loud. The last year was dark, a fucking awful blur. But ever since I moved to Mystic Hollow, it’s like I’ve reclaimed a part of myself I thought I’d lost.”