Chapter Eleven Finn
Shelby has been at the refuge every day this week.
I can feel it when she crosses the property line.
It’s like there’s a buzz in the air and a lightness in my heart.
Even without checking the trail cams, I know where Shelby is on the refuge.
She’s endeared herself to the volunteers at the Friends of the Refuge Visitor Center and has been appearing in videos that the Friends have been posting on their social media and Shelby has been sharing with her followers.
There’s been an increase in visitors, and it’s as much to have a Shelby sighting as it is to see a bald eagle.
To accommodate the folks who are only there for Shelby, she’s organized meet and greets at the visitor center which have increased donations tenfold.
For the visitors interested in touring the refuge, she’s agreed to ride along on the minibus tours that have been added to the schedule.
Normally they’re only on the weekends, but we’ve added weekday tours due to demand.
Honestly, it’s better to keep them contained than having them wandering around where they shouldn’t be.
I’ve seen Shelby in the distance, and we’ve waved but haven’t spoken to each other.
It’s been a week since we slept together, a week since I last held her.
It’s torture knowing she’s so close but we’re still separate.
Hopefully, she’s not waiting on me to reach out and knows I’m keeping my distance out of respect for her wishes—not because of any lack of interest.
Marsha and I are chilling on the back porch after an exciting dinner of frozen pizza for me and tuna-flavored kibble for her.
I’m on my laptop with my cat curled up on the chair Shelby sat in.
It’s nice to not be alone, but Marsha isn’t as chatty as she usually is.
She misses Shelby too. It’s amazing how much she became a part of our lives in such a short span of time.
She fit in like she always belonged here.
I get a notification that I’m tagged in a video and rush to play it. It’s Shelby. She’s in a simple T-shirt with her hair up in a ponytail. Her freckles are showing. She’s so freaking cute. She’s sitting on a couch in a living room that looks slightly dated.
“Hi, friends, and a very special hello to my favorite feline Marsha. And her dad. I miss you both and hope to see you soon. I’m here with my friend Daphne.
” A perky brunette leans in and says hi.
I recognize her from around town, and I think she’s been to the refuge, but we’ve never spoken.
It’s amazing how small the world is. It’s further proof fate wants me and Shelby together.
“What are we doing tonight, Daph?” Shelby asks. Marsha has crawled onto my lap and is watching the video with me, purring.
“Drinking wine!” Daphne calls out, causing Shelby to giggle.
“Yeah, but what are we making?”
“Questionable choices?”
Shelby closes her eyes and scrunches up her face as she cracks up laughing.
“Wow, listen to Daphne bringing the in vino veritas realness. Besides questionable choices, we’re making friendship bracelets!
” She holds up a brightly colored beaded bracelet.
“This is for Marsha.” Marsha gives an excited meow and bumps the bracelet on the screen.
I can see that her name is on it with hearts on either side.
It’s sweet. She holds up a second bracelet done in greens and browns.
My breath catches when I see it says “I Love Finn” with a heart bead in place of the word “love.”
“This is for Marsha’s dad.”
“Wait,” Daphne says. “He’s not going to wear a bracelet saying he loves himself.
I mean, self-love is important...” Daphne’s face flushes scarlet.
They both start giggling, and I’m chuckling too.
It takes a moment for Daphne to compose herself.
Judging from the way Shelby’s shoulders are shaking and how she’s covered her face with a pillow, it sounds like she’s a lost cause.
“Anyway,” Daphne says, “you should keep that bracelet for yourself since you love Finn.” Daphne mouths “She really does,” to the camera, and my heart twinges with happiness.
“What will I give him, then?” Shelby asks plaintively.
“Your love, your heart, your future,” I tick off on my fingers. I could keep going, but those are the biggest.
“I’m sure you’ll figure it out,” Daphne says dryly, causing them both to dissolve into giggles again.
It makes my heart happy to see Shelby with someone who seems like a true friend. I don’t know what her relationship with Ivy was like, but I can’t imagine it being like this. The few times I’ve seen Daphne around town, she’s seemed genuine and kind.
Shelby and Daphne sign off while still giggling. I think they’ll be feeling that wine in the morning. I hope it doesn’t bring a sting of regret.
“What do you think, Marsha? Should we make a present for Shelby since she made a present for you?”
“Mrw!” Marsha agrees enthusiastically. I know exactly what I want to give her. I should have given it to her when I had the chance.
I can’t believe I’m doing this. I’m shifted into my Bigfoot form and changed into jeans and a T-shirt.
I can’t be in uniform with what I have planned.
It’s not like me to choose to be in the spotlight, but for Shelby, I’ll be front and center.
Wherever Shelby is, that’s where I want to be.
I climb to the top of our tower and set up.
I start the camera and tag Shelby. I hope this works.
“Hi, Shelby,” I say, looking into the camera. “Marsha is excited about her bracelet. She thought we should make you a present in return. I’m at our spot and hope we can meet here sometime soon.” I lean against the tower, settling in for however long I have to wait.
I’m not waiting that long, though. Less than half an hour later, I see dust flying up from the dirt road leading to the tower and am afraid to hope to see a bright blue Mustang.
My heart starts pounding when it appears.
Technically, she’s breaking the fifteen-mile-per-hour speed limit, but I don’t care since it’s bringing her to me.
Like an echo from our first reunion, she stops at the base of the tower and looks up at me.
“Hello,” she calls up. “Are you okay?”
Her hair is in a ponytail, and she’s wearing leggings, a long shirt, and sneakers. She’s beautiful.
“I don’t know, Shelby. Am I? Are you?”
Her expression is giving nothing away, and I’m terrified I’ve ruined everything. But I’ll never know unless I take the risk.
“I don’t know, Finn, but I hope you will be. That we will be. Is it okay if I join you up there?”
It’s more than okay. I nod eagerly. It feels like time stands still while I wait for her to get up here. Ducks swim along, and a light breeze rustles the grasses. It’s a beautiful day. Hopefully it remains that way.
Shelby looks out over the pond when she reaches the top, her shoulders rising and falling with her sigh.
“Hi,” she says. My instinct is to embrace her and never let her go, but I’m afraid of pushing too hard, too fast.
“Hi,” I say.
Uh-oh, she’s crossing her arms. That’s not a good sign. Crossed arms can’t hug me.
Screw it, I have to touch her. I reach out to take her hand, and she lets me. Lacing our fingers together, I resist the urge to pull her into my arms.
“Shelby, I’m sorry for overreacting to your question...
after. I’m proud to be a Bigfoot shifter and be in my Bigfoot form with you today.
But my past experience has made me sensitive.
You were curious, and I was so afraid because of how Ivy hurt me that you were going to hurt me too.
I was thrown for a loop. You’re the first woman I’ve been with since the show, and your question brought back all the things Ivy wanted that I wouldn’t do, that I couldn’t do.
Then to find out you were friends scared me.
Shocked me too because it was the lies Ivy and the other ladies told me on the show that influenced my decision to let you go instead of her that night.
They insisted you didn’t care about me and just wanted exposure.
Finding out you were friends after that caused me to panic.
I’m sorry. I needed a moment for my brain to reengage, but you were gone before I could do that. ”
“Oh, Finn.” She moves against me, wraps her free arm around my waist, and rests her cheek against my chest. “I love you too. I’m sorry I upset you with my stupid question.
That’s all it was. You’re the only shifter I’ve ever been with, and I don’t know how stuff works.
You’re exactly who I want. As you are. I love you when you’re shifted.
You’re incredibly handsome like this.” She runs her hand up my chest to my hair-covered face.
I turn my head to press a kiss to her palm.
“I love you when you’re not shifted. I love you when you’re spoiling Marsha and singing to her. ”
I flush. “You heard that?”
“I did. And I was envious of a cat. I wish you were singing to me.”
“Shelby, if you’re there, I’ll sing you to sleep every night.”
Our lips meet in a kiss that soothes all the hurts of the past. Releasing her hand so I can pull her closer, I kiss her with all the love and passion in my heart and soul.
It’s my first time kissing in Bigfoot form, and I like it.
With Shelby. When we come up for air, Shelby grins and cocks her head.
“Is there something in your pocket or are you excited to see me?”
I throw my head back in laughter. She’s precious. It takes a moment, but I get myself back under control. Taking her hand again, I reach into my pocket.
“Well, Shelby, I am excited to see you, and I do have something in my pocket.” I pull out the pinecone covered in glitter and a few cat hairs, courtesy of Marsha because she insisted on “helping,” and she doubles over in laughter. When she composes herself, I hold it out to her, flat on my palm.
“Shelby, will you accept this pinecone and allow our relationship to continue to grow?” I’m amazed I get through that with a straight face. It’s so cheesy and ridiculous but, considering how we met, it’s perfect.
Tears spill down her cheeks as she takes the pinecone from my palm and presses it to her chest. “I will accept this pinecone, Finn. I want our relationship, our love, to grow.”
We embrace again and kiss until my radio goes off.
“Hey, Finn,” my coworker Harry says when I answer, “congrats on getting the girl and all that, but we really don’t care to see you making out on our trail camera all shift. If you want to take a personal day, we have everything covered.”
I can hear my coworkers laughing and joking in the background.
That’s when I realize I’m still live-streaming.
I grab my phone to stop the stream, but I catch sight of the flood of hearts and comments.
We can look at them later. Taking my coworkers up on their offer, I shift back to my human form and take Shelby back to my home.
Our home.