“Duh.” She makes a face. “It’s not every day my brother gets mistaken for a sasquatch and becomes an online phenomenon.” She’s fighting laughter.
“Ruth.” I drag a hand down my face. “Don’t encourage her.”
“Why not?” A familiar, taunting smile flickers over her mouth. “Seems like she’s a good person. A school teacher with a wholesome side hustle? I can support that.”
“Have you been stalking her?” This is so, so bad.
“Only a little. I follow herSquatch Watcheraccount, which is freaking genius, by the way. So funny. Have you listened to her podcast yet?”
Yes. Am I going to tell my sister that? Not a chance. “No.”
“Are you sure about that?”
I growl. Ruth sees through me too easily, which is incredibly irritating when I’ve done something I’m not proud of. “Yes, okay. Yes. I listened to it.” And it made me sad.
Here’s the thing: Stevie isn’t just a beautiful forest mascot with huge brown eyes; she’s also clever. Witty. After Ruth told me about the podcast, I went home and listened to the first episode in my cabin. It’s only thirty minutes long, so I played it twice. It’s all about her experience seeing Bigfoot (me) and how her friends are going to set her up with as many men as possible before Stevie can find Bigfoot (me) in the woods again.
Not only did Stevie make me laugh, but she made me want to stand between her and anything that might want to harm her. And there are so many things that could hurt her. My jaw tightens just thinking about it.
The podcast made me sad because I like Stevie, and she is maybe—slightly—unhinged. I’m afraid she’s going to get hurt. So, I made a phone call and left it at that.
Did I go out last night because I hoped that I’d run into her on her date?
No. Yes.
I don’t know.
I do know that I hated the conversation between Stevie and her date. Chuck? Ugh. I heard way too much from him. But I loved hearing Stevie in action. It was like listening to her podcast in real time. So funny, so crazy, and her date was so, so undeserving of any of it.
Being a believer looks sexy on you, her sweet voice rings in my head.
“Adam?” Ruth squints at the screen. “Did I lose you?”
“I’m here,” I say as I reach the next trail camera.
“What did you think of the podcast?”
I pop open the camera casing, distracted. “I thought it was smart. Stevie is witty, and I appreciated the whole thing—except for the part where she is certifiably insane.”
Ruth gasps. “Youlikeher.”
“Did I say that?”
“Not with words, brother.”
I grunt. “Did you miss the part where I said she’s a nutjob?”
I’m not watching the screen while I work, but there’s a giant shrug in my sister’s voice when she says, “Who cares? She’s fun. I wouldn’t mind having a sister-in-law with quirky hobbies.”
Strangely, I can see Ruth and Stevie getting along. Laughing at Thanksgiving dinner. Ganging up on me in a game of Monopoly. Family dinners. Vacations. The kids and me visiting their mom in the asylum. The fantasy life dissipates before my eyes like the morning fog.
Now I’m bummed out again. Why does such an interesting woman have to be nuts?
“I gotta go.” I frown at the next trail camera. “Working one handed is slowing me down.”
“Yeah, yeah.” She sighs.
I feel like a jerk. “You know I love you. I’ll call you later, okay?”
