Page 77 of The Sasquatch and the Hairdresser

I grin so hard my jaw hurts.

“Y-you what?” his sister shrieks through the phone.

Hal jerks the phone away from his ear and winces.

“Are you for real?” she says, her voice less ear-splitting this time.

Hal looks at me and grins, his eyes never leaving mine. “I have a boyfriend. His name is Skylar.”

There’s a pause and then she says, “Isn’t that the hairdresser human you told me about?”

“Yes,” Hal says with obvious pride.

My heart seriously can’t take this guy. He’s wearing down every last defense I’ve built up to protect myself. But I’m okay with him tearing them all down. My heart’ll be safe with him, I trust that now.

Hal holds the phone away from his ear again when his sister booms, “Halcyon. Maple. Atwood! Why didn’t you tell me about this sooner?”

“Maple?” I mouth at him. He didn’t tell me his middle name was the same as his mom’s.

He blushes.

So fucking cute.

Gingerly, he holds the phone back to his ear, but I can still hear every word. “Well, we’ve only just recently started dating. We were friends for quite a while, but now we’re working on building a deeper relationship. We even have a hellhound puppy we’re raising together.”

“Jeezus, Hal, what the hell has happened in the last few weeks?”

My lips twitch. What hasn’t happened lately? Magic going haywire, naked gnomes causing trouble due to magic mushrooms of the paranormal variety, demon portals opening out of nowhere, and a hellhound pup staking her claim on Hal.

Oh, and us becoming boyfriends.

“A lot. But good stuff, I swear,” Hal says, noticeably shying away from any more details. “I’m very happy right now, and as much as I appreciate your concern, I wish that you and Mom and Dad would respect my wishes. I know you don’t fully understand them, and I can’t make you, but I hope that you’ll at least trust that I know what I want—and that it’s all here in Mystic Hollow. In fact, I’d love it if all of you came out here for a visit sometime. Then you could see how wonderful this place is and how happy I am here.”

There’s a long silence on the other end of the line.

“You’re really not coming back.”

Even I can hear the note of sadness in her voice, and for a second I worry that maybe Hal will change his mind.

But if he does, I realize, I’ll go with him. Because wherever Hal is, that’s where home is for me.

“No, I’m not,” Hal says softly. “Maybe for a visit, if that’s something Skylar would enjoy too. But, Fern, I’m settled here and have been for years, and now I’m building a life with someone else too. That takes top priority for me, even over my family. You, of all sasquatches, should understand that. Isn’t it the same with you and your husband? You and Redwood are the most devoted couple in our entire extended family. Ever since you got together, neither of you have wanted to be apart from the other.”

“That’s true.” She sighs. “But interspecies relationships are complicated, and there are so many challenges you two will face.”

I fight back tears, squeeze Hal’s hand tight, and mouth I’ll always have your back.

“Relationships are complicated no matter who you love, but living in Mystic Hollow means we’ll have far fewer challenges than we might elsewhere. We’re not expecting it to be easy, but Skylar and I are ready to face any difficulties as a team.”

I nod my head in vigorous agreement. If it means being with Hal, I’m ready for whatever the universe wants to throw our way. He’s fucking worth it.

“We’ve got this,” he adds, his voice full of calm conviction.

And damn if it doesn’t make me feel good.

And fuck, I really want to hug him again.

“All right, little brother. I promise to stop pushing you to come back, but I hope you know that the forest is always open to you, and we would always welcome you. And your boyfriend.”