Page 26 of Something Cryptid This Way Comes
Trevor okayed including a photo of the two of us right here. Alex sent me one he took of us at the investigation. We look happy, sitting on that tree stump together,with the glow of the campfire warming us. And knowing that night was what I’d call a turning point in our friendship, the realization that we both yearned for more, I really want to use it.
“The second time I saw Mabel was seven years later, right before I moved away from Maplewood, anxious about what the future would bring. Same place, same leafy figure. And seeing her, I got the feeling that, just like when I was ten and worried, things would work out.”
Some other things about that day, including my leaving Mabel a present, I’ve only shared with Trevor, and I’ll keep it that way.
“That’s enough about me. Now, I’m taking you back one hundred and twenty years to the first documented encounter with our mysterious forest creature…”
I keep talking and recording as shadows lengthen and shift and the sun moves across the sky. Story after story, encounter after encounter, with photos and videos from my interviews, I do my best to bring the words to life. As I work, I’m reminded of the books I’ve read that discuss the role and power of myth.
My encounter with Mabel opened up my world to so much, the search for cryptids, an interest in anthropology and archeology, and through it, I’ve gotten to meet a diverse range of people and visit amazing places. Doing this episode devoted to her feels like the most important one yet.
After saving the video, I stand and stretch. The desire to see Trevor propels me down the stairs. I shouldn’t bother him while he’s working, but I can at least get the dogs and give him a break. My lips tingle with the memory of our kiss and I touch my fingers to them. A shiver of want rolls through me. I want to kiss him, to feel him, so strong and familiar, in my arms again. I just want him, period.
We only planned on me staying for two weeks. So I should be heading home this weekend. But I’m not ready to go. I like being back in town and now that we’ve kissed and it’s openedup a whole new area, I really want to explore it and where that may lead.
Maybe I can cook him dinner and see if he won’t mind me staying longer. Show him some of my helpful qualities. The kitchen cabinets and the refrigerator are well stocked. I peer at the items and run through a mental list of things I could make.
I turn my head at the sound of the front door opening, followed by barks and nails clicking on the floor. Hades races into the kitchen and jumps on me. I crouch to pet him, and my excited dog bops Bandit in the face with his wagging tail. Unfazed, Bandit pushes in for his own pets.
Trevor walks into the room, wearing teal and navy plaid and dark jeans. His hair is mussed, but he’s smiling. “Hey.”
I stand, as Bandit trots toward Trevor and Hades heads for his water bowl. “How are things at the inn?”
“Busy. The last guest who came for Cryptid Night checked out today, I had two meetings with people looking to book our venue space, we had to inventory new toiletries, and I spent a while on social media liking and commenting posts last weekends’ guests tagged us in.” He opens the refrigerator and grabs a bottle of water, offering another one to me.
I take it, soaking up the feel of our fingers brushing. “Thanks again for keeping Hades with you.”
“He was fine. The dogs greeted the guests coming and going and were very popular.” Trevor twists open the cap and brings the bottle to his lips.
“I bet…” My mouth goes dry, my gaze glued to the column of his throat. The bob of his Adam’s apple is mesmerizing as he guzzles the contents of the bottle.
He wipes a droplet of water clinging to his lip with the back of his hand and sets the bottle on the counter. “How was recording?”
I rip my gaze from Trevor’s mouth and focuson answering his question. “I got through my whole script. Putting the rest of the episode together should take me another day, then I can upload it and it’ll be ready to air on Saturday.” I suck in a shaky breath, because Trevor Casal drinking water is porn-worthy. “I was thinking I could make dinner.”
“Sure. I’m done for the night, so I’ll help. What do you want?”
You.
I push thoughts of dropping to my knees and taking him in my mouth from my mind. Dinner, I’m making dinner. “You haven’t had mypasta alla Bram.”
He folds his arms over his chest, muscles straining the fabric, and his mouth quirks to one side. “And what is that?”
“Spaghetti.” I pull a box of it from the cabinet. The tan package is decorated with an illustrated Italian flag.
“Just spaghetti?” The other side of his mouth lifts until I’m treated to a full-on amused smile.
“With sauce.”
He leans his hip against the counter. “You make your own sauce?”
“Sure, if by making it, you mean opening a jar and pouring it into a bowl.”
Trevor laughs. “So… boxed spaghetti and pre-made tomato sauce. What’s with the fancy name then?”
“Well,allameans in the style of.” I puff my chest out and pat it. “I’m the one making it. So, it’s in the style of me.”
Still laughing, Trevor shakes his head and moves toward the coffee maker. “Okay. We’ll have that. Spaghetti in the style of Bram. And while we wait for you to cook it, I’ll have a coffee. In the style of Trevor.”
