Page 75 of The Sasquatch and the Hairdresser

His answering smile is so bright it’s almost blinding.

“I’ll give you flowers forever.”

I inhale sharply. Fuck me if that didn’t sound like a proposal of lifelong commitment.

Even more shocking is the realization that I want to hold on to his words and never let them go.

The same way I want to hold on to him.

Oh my fucking god. I’m definitely in love with Hal, aren’t I?

But then I’m hit with a sucker punch of self-doubt.

Is my trauma messing with my head or is this for real? Hal and I’ve barely been dating a hot minute here. We’re supposed to be taking it slow.

Evidently, my heart didn’t get the memo on that one.

It definitely thinks this is real.

Do not fuck this up, Skylar.

I need to talk to Dr. P before I spew my feelings all over Hal.

I clear my throat. “Do you have something I can put these in? I’d love to keep them in my room.”

Hal ushers me inside and finds a pretty glass vase in the kitchen, then helps me artfully arrange the bouquet in it and adds water. By the end, it looks like something out of Better Homes and Gardens, I shit you not.

Hal’s incredibly talented at things I totally suck at. I help him with things he isn’t good at. We actually have a lot to offer each other when I think of it like that.

“They’ll last for at least two months,” he tells me.

My eyes widen. “That long?”

He shuffles his feet. “Well, you see, I got a little help from a friend. Talia runs the flower shop downtown, and she’s a nymph. Some of her elemental magic can help keep flowers and plants alive longer than usual. When I put together your garden bouquet, I took it to her for some special enhancement.”

My eyes sting a little. “You did that… for me?”

He gives me another one of those bashful smiles—those are seriously starting to slay me, by the way—and nods.

“Thank you.” My voice is so hoarse it comes out in barely a whisper. “This is the best gift I’ve gotten in years.”

He sighs in relief. “I’m so glad.” He glances at the grandfather clock. “We’ve got a dinner reservation in about twenty minutes if you want to get cleaned up first.”

Latching onto this opportunity to retreat for a few minutes and clear my mind, I leg it upstairs with my flowers and head into my room. Carefully, I put the vase on the bedside table—on a doily Hal made himself, because of course he did—and sit down to study the arrangement.

The flowers are bright and colorful and somehow scream Hal. Before I came to Mystic Hollow, my world was a lot more fucking dark and dreary. But this town, and Hal especially, have managed to blow all that shit away and bring things back in vibrant Technicolor. That song about walking on sunshine’s not far from the truth for me these days.

I fight back tears of happiness, gratitude, and maybe a little bit of sadness. Part of me wishes I’d found this place and Hal so much sooner. But I’m trying to trust in the timing of my life, something Dr. P’s been talking about lately. Maybe, for whatever reason, I had to walk the path I did in order to get here. All I know is that I’m not letting go of what I have now.

Aware of the time, I hurry into my bathroom to clean up and change into a fresh pair of clothes. For the first time in a long time, I regret the lack of any classy shit in my closet. I make a mental note to check out Kassiel’s shop. Maybe he’ll let me order something on layaway? With a sigh, I put on a less-worn pair of black cargo pants and a light gray long-sleeved shirt that isn’t too wrinkled. After making sure my hair looks good, I go back downstairs where Hal’s waiting for me. The eager look in his eyes amps up my own excitement for tonight’s date.

We lock up the house and head hand in hand toward Mizuno’s Sushi Palace, Mystic Hollow’s premier sushi and hibachi restaurant that’s run by a family of kappas.

“I’ve really been wanting to try this place. I love hibachi but haven’t had it in years.” I search Hal’s face. “Which would you prefer? I like sushi, too.”

“Let’s do hibachi. I enjoy both, so we can try their sushi another time.” Hal squeezes my hand. “After all, I plan on lots more dates with you.”

My heart does a motherfucking cheerleading routine in my chest. I don’t think he realizes it, but Hal’s got serious romance game. Must be all those books he’s read.