Page 39 of Something Cryptid This Way Comes
His eyes light up. “Really?”
“When I saw it, I immediately thought of you.”
“Now I’m curious.” He takes hold of Bandit’s leash, handling both dogs, and grasps my hand. “Do you want to go anywhere else?”
“No. I’m ready to go home.”
“Good. Let’s go.”
The walk home takes longer than usual with the crowd in the park and stopping for everyone who wants to pet or talk tothe dogs. They, being the hams they are, love every minute of attention.
As soon as we’re inside my house, Bram removes the dogs’ leashes and costumes, and they run off to claim their nap spots.
“Can I open my present now?” He rubs his hands together like he’s been waiting for days and not twenty minutes.
“Go ahead.”
Instead of tearing into the bag, he carefully opens it and peers inside. His brows draw together. “You got me a plant made of yarn?”
I chuckle. “No. You’ll see. Take it out.”
He reaches inside then draws his arm back. Slowly, the mini cryptid is revealed. A surprised huff-laugh puffs from his chest. “Mabel?”
“Yeah. She's the one who started you on your cryptid adventures, so now, she can accompany you on every one.”
He clutches Mabel to his chest, stroking the top of her leafy head with a finger, then carefully sets her on the center of the table. “This is… I can’t find the right words, but thank you. I love it.”
“She’s cute.” We stand next to each other, admiring her.
“She is. But the meaning behind it is what I’ll remember every time I see her.” He tugs off his headband and lays it beside Mabel.
There’s a sheen in his eyes as he closes the distance between us. He slowly removes my headband. It lands on the counter with a clatter. I don’t check where because I’m too focused on the slow slide of his hand in my hair. His other hand clasps my side and he pulls me against him.
Up close, I can see my reflection in his gaze.
When his lips land on mine, we open for each other, taking the kiss deeper. Every swipe of histongue is a caress, every stroke of his hand through my hair, a promise, and I lose myself in the sensations. I’m spellbound by his touch and transfixed by his presence.
We come up for air, and I keep him in my embrace, holding him as tenderly as he’s holding me. The soft smile and the way his eyes shine is reserved for me alone. I’m sure I’m sharing the same expression because my heart’s beaming with the happiness that comes from being with him.
Things feel different now. Like I’m falling deeper and faster with no way to slow my momentum. It’s as scary as it is thrilling. All I can do is hold on to Bram and hope that we won’t crash and burn.
CHAPTER 12
BRAM
Rows upon rows of twinkling lights create an archway over the wide aisles of the festival grounds. With the dozens of people in line behind us at the food trucks, and more strolling about the grounds, it seems like the entire town is here. The pumpkin carving contest entries line the lawn along the aisles, grouped by category. Kids, adult amateur, and professional.
With an apple cider donut in one hand and a coffee in the other, I turn to Trevor, Dmitri, and Ever. “There are so many entries. Where do you want to start?”
Trevor sips his coffee. Steam curls from the cup along with the scent of cinnamon. “Jo said she’s somewhere in the middle of the amateurs, and they’re in the center. The kids are on the west side and the pros are on the east.”
Dmitri pops a piece of candied maple bacon in his mouth. “Some of the kids I teach have entries. Let’s start there.”
The festival grounds cover forty acres, three-quarters of a mile long. Shaped like an oval, it’s interspersed with paths leading to different sections. We head west to check out the kids’ pumpkins.
The chill in the night air feels more like winter is comingthan when I arrived at the beginning of the month. Hat, gloves, flannel, hoodie, and my leather jacket, I’m a man of layers tonight. Trevor rocks his lumberjack look in a red flannel shirt atop a Henley and jeans. His puffer vest is open, and the phone peeking out of its inside pocket beeps with a text alert.
His hands are as full as mine. I adjust my hold on my donut so I can grab his maple cinnamon cruller and free him up.
