Chapter 17 #3
Fuckin’ A. Hal’s turning me into a weepy romantic, making me dream of things I never thought of hoping for until now.
It takes me a minute to force my vocal cords to work. “Thank you.”
The words are inadequate for what I’m feeling, but they’re all I’ve got.
As we leave, Hal takes my hand in his again, and I swear my whole arm tingles from his touch.
Arm in arm, we stroll down Main Street. Right now, it’s decked out in Harvest Festival signage, and the old-fashioned streetlamps cast a soft glow over everything.
Only a few businesses are still open at this time of night, but even the dark storefronts are familiar and reassuring.
It all seemed a bit foreign and Hallmark-unreal when I first arrived in town.
But now, I don’t feel like the outsider looking in.
Instead, I am filled with a strong sense that I belong, that this is my home too.
“Come on,” Hal says, stopping outside the local bookstore. “Let’s go take a peek inside.”
I grin. Of course my book-loving boyfriend can’t resist a stop here—and you better believe I’ll indulge him in whatever makes him happy.
When we enter the cozy shop jam-packed with books, we’re greeted warmly by the sphinx who runs the place.
“Good evening, Hal. So great to see you outside of your weekly visit! Some great new titles came in today and made me think of you. They’re on the romance new release table.” He smiles at me. “Hello, I’m Baahir.”
“Skylar. Nice to meet you.”
“Hal’s a regular here, Skylar, so I’m sure he can point you to whatever you may enjoy, but please, poke around to your heart’s content, and let me know if you can’t find something in particular.
And if you need some refreshment, the café upstairs is open as late as I am.
It’s run by my husband, Avi. He just told me he still has a bit of today’s freshly made baklava, if that can tempt you. ”
“Thanks. We just had dinner at Mizuno’s, but we’ll have a date at the café one day soon. We’ve got to come back for some of that baklava soon. Avi’s is the best I’ve ever had,” Hal says.
I lick my lips. “Sounds good to me.”
And the perfect excuse for another date with Hal.
He smiles and tugs on my hand, leading me through the maze-like shop. After a quick perusal of the romance new release table—during which I make a quiet note of where his eyes linger for future gift-buying options—he comes to a stop in front of a shelf with relationship advice books.
“This place has a lot of great books, especially ones related to Otherkind,” he explains, then says, “Aha!” and plucks one off the shelf to hand to me.
I turn the book over in my hands, taking in the illustrated picture of what looks to be a human man and a sylph, and read the title out loud. “An Otherkind of Love: A Guide to Interspecies Relationships.”
He gives me another one of those bashful looks that slay me.
“I thought we could get this and read it together. Ryder recommended it to me a while ago, it’s one he uses for research a lot.
Like my sister said, there will probably be some challenges in understanding one another.
But if we’re proactive about communicating and learning about each other, we can overcome anything. ”
I scan the book’s back blurb. “My therapist will probably give you a gold star for this.”
Before I can protest, he takes the book from my hands and makes a beeline for the register. For such a big guy, he can move seriously fast.
“Hey!” I yell, hurrying after him. “You better not be buying that. Let me pay this time.”
“I will hear no objections, sweetheart,” he calls over his shoulder. “It’s my gift to us both.”
His card’s already been swiped by the time I catch up.
“You already bought me dinner,” I protest.
“You haven’t even opened for business yet, and I know how tight money can be when you’re starting out,” he admonishes, then gives me a pleading look. “Please let me treat you.”
I look away with a scowl. “Those fucking puppy-dog eyes of yours are deadly,” I grumble.
Between him and Elvira, I’m kinda screwed. I’m going to end up letting them have whatever they want every fucking time, that’s just how much they mean to me.
My little family.
Hal gives me an earnest look. “Don’t worry, my love. I’m sure you can think of a way to pay me back sometime if you absolutely feel you must, but I don’t ever expect anything in return. That’s not what gift-giving is about.”
Seriously, how could I not love this guy?
He hands me the book in its brown paper bag. “I’m really looking forward to reading it together.”
I swallow the lump in my throat and take the bag. After staring at it for a minute, I have a total fucking eureka moment.
Lifting my head, I flash him a shit-eating grin. “I’ve already figured out how I’m going to pay you back.”
Hal gulps. “How?”
“Next time, I get to plan the date. It’s time to make you my first client.” I lean closer and whisper, “I’m gonna give you the best damn haircut of your life—Halcyon Maple Atwood.”
He shivers again.
Not gonna lie, I’m smug as fuck.