Page 35

CryptidKeeper: Is that the guy who’s been in your vacation photos for years? Nice! Always wondered if there was something going on between you two.

“Yes, CryptidKeeper, he’s the same guy.” I try to ignore Agnes’s smile.

LoveOfLore: The story of Bram and Trevor meeting as kids in the Mabel episode was cute. Loved the investigation footage of you together too. We need more Trevor content!

Those make me feel better. Then I spy a comment from my brother.

CharlieMacleod: About time. Congrats to you and Trev.

Agnes sits back and smiles bigger. “See? People understand doing things for love.”

I fail to hold back my grumble. “I hope so. But still, it doesn’t make what you did okay.”

She nods. “I realize my actions hurt our relationship and I’m very sorry. I hope we’ll be able to repair it. You and Charlie mean the world to me.”

Restoring that trust will take time. “I appreciate you saying that, and that you came here and took responsibility.”

She turns her attention to the camera. “It was lovely meeting you all. Perhaps I’ll see you in another video.”

Relieved that most people met this with understanding, I sit tall and get ready to sign off.

“That’s about it, everyone. My next video will be a more coherent and detailed explanation about what happened.

We’ll go through the whole story and also talk about debunking methods and investigation tips.

Thanks for being here today and for visiting The Cryptid Corner. ”

I tap the button to end the live feed and the screen goes black.

Agnes stands and returns the chair to the side of the table. “I’ll get out of your way, dear. Please let me know if I can do anything else, or if you want me to record an explanation again for your next video. The girls would do it too. I want to make amends.”

“I’ll let you know.”

She gives Hades a pat. “Please tell Trevor goodbye for me.”

I walk her to the door, then sprint back to the kitchen.

The video of the live stream is at the top of my feed for anyone to watch the replay.

I type a post directing people to the video and promise to post the follow-up video with the detailed explanation and story soon, then crosspost to my other social media profiles.

Tension swirls through me like the mist in the haunted house rooms. I close my laptop and push away from the table, huffing a sigh. It’s been an emotional roller coaster of a day. All I want to do is hold Trevor.

Hades pads into the kitchen and noses my thigh. I rub his head. “You were so brave today. And who knows, you might be the first dog to have a Mabel sighting.”

He barks. I take Mabel’s stone and set it on the windowsill beside her crocheted likeness.

On another long expulsion of breath, I glance around the kitchen.

The coffee cups we used this morning are back in the cabinet.

Trevor took such care in preparing me for the shock, just like he takes care in everything else.

I need to see him.

“Want to see Bandit?” I pat my thigh and my dog jumps up on me, then runs to the front door.

After grabbing my phone and keys, I jog across the lawn to the carriage house, with Hades leading the way. We follow the sound of an electric drill down the hallway of the first floor.

In the room with all the mirrors, Trevor sets the drill down and turns to the doorway. He does a double take and his cloudy expression brightens. “Hey. How was the video? ”

I step inside and smile at Hades and Bandit reuniting. Daylight changes the room’s perspective and uncovers some of the tricks behind the illusions. “I did all I can. The people watching seem to trust that I’m telling the truth.”

He blows out a breath and his shoulders relax. “That’s really good.”

“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 you and 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 of I love you saved 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.”

“For me too.”

We draw each other closer and kiss until the dogs dance around us demanding attention.

When we break apart, Trevor grabs my hand and pulls me to sit on the floor beside him. We welcome the dogs in our laps.

He laughs as Bandit steps on him, turning in a circle, before settling down. “Five-minute break for family time. Then we have a haunted house to dismantle.”

Twisting to avoid Hades’s tail in my face, I lean in and kiss my best friend who’s turned into my forever. “And a lifetime of happiness to build.”