Page 21 of The Sasquatch and the Hairdresser

It had been a terrifying couple of weeks while I was healing from the assault. The whole time, I still was scared that Damien would manage to find me and finish what he’d started.

Never again.

Hal reaches out a large hand, the back of it covered in soft hair, and his palm is warm against my skin as he squeezes my forearm. “You were so brave, Skylar. I’m proud of you for getting away from that monster and coming here, where you’ll always be safe.”

His words of praise level me. How can this man I barely know affect me so much with a few kind words?

Before I can fight it, I get choked up and my vision goes blurry. Blinking back tears, I mentally curse myself for still not being past all this crap. But he’s right, Damien is a monster—I have the mental and physical scars to prove it. How ironic that so many humans would call someone like Hal a monster just because he looks different. Fuck that. Appearances don’t mean shit. Hal’s one of the sweetest guys I’ve ever met—and that’s way more appealing and attractive than Damien’s superficial good looks ever were.

I clear my throat before saying roughly, “Thanks for saying that. To be honest, I was just focused on staying alive at first. Survival instincts, you know? The anger came later.” I chuckle wetly. “Believe me, I drew a lot of strength from that rage when I told my story to the cops.”

Hal begins petting my arm. It’s a bit… weird but also kind of soothing. “I can’t imagine how hard it all must have been. Thank the Goddess you survived and came to Mystic Hollow.”

“Yeah, I’m starting to think coming here was the best decision I’ve ever made in my whole damn life. Folks here are real decent and treat me better than most humans have.”

Hal smiles brightly at me. “It goes both ways, Skylar. You’ve shown people in Mystic Hollow that you’re someone they can trust and that you accept them. That counts for a lot more than you might think. Some of our residents have had bad experiences with humans in the past.” His expression turns sorrowful. “Unfortunately, there’s still a lot of bigotry and misunderstanding about Otherkind among humanity. We are a minority in this world, and our differences make us scary to many humans, but the few who have come to stay in Mystic Hollow—including you—have been approved by the town’s protective magic. When your salon opens, you’re going to make even more friends and become a key business in town. I guarantee it.”

“I sure as hell hope so. I’ve got to start earning money to pay off my loan.”

“You will. And in the meantime, Astraea has paid for your stay here for another few months. Just until you get on your feet again.”

Part of me is ashamed that I need that kind of help. But I’m working on getting past that shit and have made a commitment to help those who need it in the future. The support I’ve gotten from so many folks here in Mystic Hollow is something I won’t ever take for granted.

Maybe this is a sign to become Hal’s dedicated partner in his own private Meals on Wheels service on our street.

We finish our meal and I offer to help Hal clean up.

“Enough with my sad sack shit. How about you wash and I dry?”

Hal beams. “You’re on!”

We package up the leftovers and put them in the fridge, and Hal volunteers to make me a meatloaf sandwich to take to work tomorrow.

I’m no idiot. “Hell yeah. I’m already looking forward to the day-after sandwich version of your meatloaf. I understand Baxter’s obsession more and more. Me, I’m not much of a cook, never really had a chance to learn.”

There’s no way I’m getting into the shitty home situation I had before I ran away at sixteen or the life I led after that. We’ve had enough damn trauma-talk for one evening.

Hal smiles and offers shyly, “I’d be happy to teach you if you’d like.”

That awkward, fluttery feeling is back in my chest. How can anyone be this sweet? Like, for real.

Hal’s just… special, in the very best sense of the word. I’ve never met anyone like him. He’s so damn earnest and… genuine. It draws me in but scares the crap out of me at the same time.

I push aside my stupid worries. “That’d be cool. If anyone can teach me to make an edible meal, it’s gotta be you.”

Hal flushes with obvious pleasure. “Wonderful. I’ll look forward to it, but we’ll wait until things settle down with the salon. You’re going to be super busy for the next little while.”

Ain’t that the truth.

When the dishes are finished and the kitchen’s up to Hal’s orderly standards once again, he and I stand in the middle of the room and look at each other awkwardly for what feels like way too long.

Ugh.

I’m about to execute a hasty retreat to my room when Hal straightens to his full height and asks me in a trembling voice, “W-would you like to watch The Young and the Monstrous with me?”

That stops me in my tracks. “The… what?”

He shifts uncertainly on his feet. “It’s a soap opera, but it’s a good one,” he hastens to assure me. “Most of the main characters are played by Otherkind actors. There are, of course, a few humans in the mix too, but it mainly centers around the Otherkind characters. I think you might enjoy it, and it could help you learn more about some species here in town.”