Page 63 of Something Cryptid This Way Comes
“Agnes, of course, had people halfway in love with her.”
“I tried to stop her from barging in.” His brown eyes pleading that I believe him, he bites his lip. “I didn’t know what would happen or what she’d say, or if you’d even want to see her. Instead of waiting in the entryway, she followed me.”
In four strides, I’m at his side. I rub my hands from his shoulders to his wrists and back again, squeezing and soothing his worry. “Hey, it’s okay. I think her explanation helped. There were a lot of comments about her doing it for love.”
With the gentlest of caresses, Trevor smooths my hair away from my face. “Will you be okay?”
I lean into his touch. “Me, myself? I think so. You?”
He nods. “Eventually. What about your relationship with Agnes?”
“I know she meant well, but damn, what a clusterfuck. The trust is gone. Repairing the relationship will take time. Right now, it’s too fresh and raw. I need space from her.”
“That’s how I feel. With her and everyone else involved. It’ll take time.” His words are slow and raw with weary sadness sheathed in hurt. The lines of stress around his eyes emphasize the shadows lurking beneath them.
Anger at everyone who hurt Trevor flares, and I tell myself to cool down. I glide my thumbs along the soft flannel in a V from his shirt collar to his heart. “I still think more rational heads should’ve prevented the hoax from happening, but I believe the people who started it and went along with it weren’t thinking about anything beyond getting youand me together.”
He grasps my hands, the intensity in his gaze as powerful as the pull he always has on me. “Do you still want to be together?”
“Yes.” The answer is immediate. “Do you?”
Trevor pulls me into his arms, then sags against me. “More than ever. I was worried that the shadow of everything would be too big and getting past it would be too difficult for you.”
“The only thing I was sure about all day today was that you and I could count on each other.” I cling to him. Right here, in Trevor’s arms, is where I’m meant to be. “I know I went off on my own. Part of me wanted you with me, but everything was so chaotic inside my head.”
“It’s okay, I understand.”
“And once I saw Mabel, I really wished you were there, so we could’ve shared the experience.” I draw back enough to see his face and slowly brush my knuckles along his cheek. “We’ll have to go back to that spot in the woods.”
His eyes flutter closed while he tilts his head to savor the caress, then his strong hands knead my back. “Does that mean you’re staying? I wasn’t sure if you’d still want to.”
“I’ll be honest. If they pulled that hoax and you weren’t here, I would’ve left this morning and not looked back. But I want to be where you are. If you want to leave, we’ll leave. Go to Philly or somewhere else. If you want to stay, we’ll stay.”
His entire body stills before his hands fist my shirt, pulling it taut. Trevor dips his head, studying my face, and hope shines in his eyes. “You think you could be happy here?”
“As long as I have you, I’d be happy anywhere.” It’s the truth. “But yeah, I do. We have friends here. I can see us building a life here.”
“So can I.” He pulls me against his body, wrapping me up tight, and places a row of kisses along my cheek and lips. “In between our trips to investigate other cryptids.”
I grin. “You’ll come with me for each one?”
“You, me, and the dogs. I can’t wait for all of our adventures.” His beard tickles my lips as he plants another kiss.
“Then we’ll stay.”
We look in the mirrors, at our reflection repeating an infinite number of times.
“For as many images of us there are, that’s how much I love you.” I thread my fingers through his hair, playing with the short, silky strands, gazing at him as warmth and happiness beams out of me like the sun’s rays. “I wanted to tell you since that night we went camping. I don’t know when what I felt for you turned to love, but what I do know is it’s the best part of me.”
He stares at me in wonder, and I watch as the full realization that I love him sinks in, and hopefully fills any places in need of tenderness. Then his body trembles against mine. “I’ve been in love with you since we were fifteen. That’s a long time to love someone. I have twenty-seven years’ worth ofI love yousaved up, so get ready to hear it a lot.”
For a moment, I’m too overwhelmed to speak. To have Trevor love me, for as long as he has, I’m staggered by the knowledge, and incredibly lucky. “How about every night and every day for the rest of our lives?”
“Here’s the first one to start us off.” He lays his hand over my heart. “I love you.”
I revel in the promise and the passion in his words. It’s like being wrapped in one of his flannel shirts. I’m bursting to say it back. “My turn. I love you, Trevor.”
Happiness beams from him. “It’s always been you.”
