Page 69 of The Sasquatch and the Hairdresser

My heart pounds double-time. “Is it that obvious? That I’m in love with him already?”

Ryder slurps his latte and then pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “I’ll be totally blunt, which is my way, as you know. Hal, you wear your heart on your sleeve. Or in this case, in your eyes. You’ve got cartoon hearts in yours whenever you talk about him.”

I worry my bottom lip. “Do you think he knows? It’s probably too soon to tell him, right? We’ve only just started dating.”

“Well, you’ve been living together in the B&B for nearly a month, and maybe your relationship has just evolved in that time. Love was a natural destination, especially for a romantic like you, Hal.”

My cheeks warm. “I really wanted to tell him last night, but then a demon portal sort of ruined the mood.”

Ryder barks out a laugh. “Wish I could have seen that. Do you think Akram would sneak me in so I could take a look? I’ve never seen a portal before. Surely I can claim research rights to get a peek.” He jots down another note to himself.

“Ahem. So what do you think about me telling Skylar that I’m in love with him and want to be with him forever?” I say, trying to bring Ryder’s wandering mind back to the issue at hand.

“Like I said before, I don’t think you need to rush things.” He pauses. “That is, unless you can’t hold it back. That’s what happened with me and Vash. I just blurted everything out the moment I couldn’t hold it back anymore. Totally spilled my guts and then some.”

I chuckle. Ryder blurts out everything he’s thinking like he’s going pro with the skill.

“But people don’t always have to say how they feel right away. Instead, maybe focus on showing it. That can mean a lot more.”

“How?” I ask.

Ryder pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose again and grins. “This is where my extensive expertise as a romance novelist comes in handy. Try melting Skylar’s heart with little acts of care and affection. Knowing you, you’re probably already doing it without even realizing. You’re a total natural.” He winces. “I have to work on this a lot more consciously. I get too hyperfocused on my writing, making me not fully present in the moment.” He taps a finger on his temple. “I live in here a lot more than the average person, and Vash has to force me out of my mind palace from time to time. He also has to tell me what he needs from me, emotionally or otherwise. I’m not the best at intuiting or reading those things, although I like to think I’m getting better.” He smiles at me. “You’re a different story, Hal. You’re so attentive to the needs of others that I’m sure you’re already doing a lot of things to help Skylar feel safe and supported with you as a partner.” He pauses, his expression turning thoughtful. “I think the only thing you’ll need to work on is making sure you aren’t giving too much of yourself. You’re an incredibly generous guy, Hal, more than anyone I’ve ever met, and everyone in town loves you for it. But when it comes to romantic love, sometimes you need to learn to be a little bit more selfish. Take the time to enjoy being a couple, to keep building the mutual trust that makes a relationship work. Your partner’s needs must come before everyone else’s, but you also need to let him put you first too.”

“In other words, I need to get over myself and continue being the caring and supportive boyfriend I am?”

Penguin mate power for the win.

“Bingo,” Ryder says with a wink.

I straighten in my chair. “Hmm. I think I need to step it up a notch.”

Ryder arches an eyebrow. “Oh, do tell.”

I gulp. “He’s the one who asked me out and who planned our first date. I think I need to take the initiative for a change. Like a proper gentleman courting his love.”

I’m even revising and expanding on the love letter I wrote for Skylar a while ago, but I don’t mention that. For some reason, I want to keep that private, especially since I haven’t given it to Skylar yet.

“Now you’re talking,” Ryder says, giving me two eager thumbs up. “You need to woo the fuck out of him.”

“Uh… sure. In my own special way,” I agree, and offer up a few of my ideas.

He shakes his head with an amused smile. “It’s all so adorably old-fashioned but very you, my friend. You’re giving me lots of inspiration for the sasquatch romance I’m writing.”

Warmth pulses inside my chest. I’ve wanted Ryder to write a sasquatch romance for ages, hoping I could live vicariously through the characters, but now I almost think I don’t need it anymore. I’ll read it, of course, as I do with all of his books, but I have the real thing now, and it’s even better.

And I’m sure it will give some other lonely sasquatches out there hope that they’ll find true love someday too.

“There’s something else I could use your advice on,” I say hesitantly.

Ryder looks up from his notebook, where he’s once again been scrawling ideas. “Don’t hold back. Nothing can shock me.”

Truer words have never been spoken. In fact, I have to wonder what exactly would shock him…

“Ahem. Yes, well, you see…” I muster up my gumption and blurt out, “I want to kiss him. But I have no idea how to take the lead on that.”

Ryder’s eyes sparkle. “Go, Hal! It’s time to get your kissing game on.”

I’m not entirely sure what that means, but I say, “I’ve kissed his hand before. But that’s it.”