Page 12 of Bigfoot's Wife

I bite my lip, considering.

"Yeah, maybe." I nod slowly, a smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. Maybe, if Olwydd asks again, I’ll say yes.Ifhe asks again. But right now, I’m off to work before I’m late.

I swallow the last of my coffee, stand, and wave them all goodbye.

As I stroll through the winding caverns, making my way to school, Olwydd is at the forefront of my mind. Honestly, when isn’t Olwydd at the forefront of my mind?

He’s popped into my thoughts unbidden since the square dance when he introduced himself, made a point of flexing his biceps, and then trailed me around all night asking me to dance and bringing me food and drinks.

I probably do need to stop pushing him away so hard. Probably. It's not like I'm committing to anything serious. Just... exploring the possibilities.

After all, like Deborah said, what would it hurt?

CHAPTER 6

OLWYDD

Elis leans back in his seat, his chin raised, as we head out on our morning commute. "Don’t worry, Uncle Olwydd. No one can resist our charm."

While I steer my transport through the winding caverns of Grotto, I glance at Elis from the corner of my eye wondering what he’s up to.

“That’s right.” Osian nods his head in agreement. “We’re the ultimate special ops team and we’ve got your back.Operation Win Your Mateis underway.”

Operation Win Your Mate?!

"Listen, boys," I announce, gripping the steering wheel tightly. "I appreciate the sentiment, but I got this. Really. I don’t need any help. When we get to school, I'll do my thing?—"

"You mean act all weird and awkward?” Jac pipes up from the back seat.

I shoot him a look in the rearview mirror. "I do not act weird and awkward.”

All three boys snort in unison. Traitors.

“Oh, Miss Bambi, look at my enormous biceps,” Osian mocks in a sing-songy, high pitched voice.

“Lemme drool all down my fur,” Elis joins in.

My cheeks heat. “I do not sound like that.” I glower at them. “And I don’t drool either.” I’m met with raised brows and skeptical expressions. “I don’t!”

We drive in silence for a few minutes as I stew.

"Okay, fine, maybe you guys have a point," I concede, scratching my chin. "This is what we’ll do. I'll ask her out again. If she hesitates, that's your cue to jump in and beg her to join us for dinner. Got it?"

"Got it!" they chorus. Elis and Osian high-five each other. “Operation Win Your Mateis officially a go!”

As we pull up to the school caverns, I spot Bambi standing near the entrance, looking like a vision in a flowy skirt and blouse. I pointedly ignore the snort-laughs coming from the peanut gallery when my soulstone starts humming.

"Showtime," I mutter, plastering on my most charming smile as I saunter over to her. "Good morning, beautiful. Ready to shape some young Squatch minds?"

Bambi rolls her eyes, but I catch the hint of a smile. "Morning, Olwydd."

I wink, leaning casually against the cave wall. Or at least, I try to. My elbow slips, and I nearly face-plant into the limestone.Smooth, jackass. Real smooth.

Bambi stifles a laugh as I recover, trying to play it cool. "So, about that dinner..."

She sighs, but as sigh analysis goes, it’s more of ayou’re-cute-and-only-mildly-annoyingsigh than ago-away-before-I-screamsigh. Progress!

"Olwydd, I?—"

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