Page 55 of Buckle Up, Buttercup

I tuck both hands into my back pockets. “Let’s see. There’s the Fall Ball in autumn. Mead Cute is coming up and that’s kinda fall themed too. Yule Love It happens in the winter and then of course there’s a new year bash and a Sweetheart Ball right after. And that’s just the next couple of months!”

She looks up at me. “Do you do human Halloween? I always loved watching humans on that holiday even though I obviously didn’t participate.”

“We do,” I say with a laugh. “Even though it confuses most monsters because, well, we’re already monsters.”

Her smile goes soft as I hold the door open so we can exit into the alleyway between our building and the next one. “So which festival is this one?”

“Mead Cute,” I say with a smile, waving her toward Main. “It’s a good time for the younger monsters too. Maybe you can meet some kiddos your age.”

“I’d like that,” she says, wrapping her tail around her waist.

Jasper and Hadrian trail behind us until we get to Main. At the corner of the building, Lemon and Oz stand with matching coffees in hand.

“Morning, bestie,” Lemon chirps, handing me one of the coffees. She glances at Petra. “Who’s this cutie?”

Petra smiles between Oz and Lemon. “Hi! I’m Petra. I’m Hadrian’s sister. I just got here.”

Lemon’s mouth drops open as she looks between all of us over to Hadrian and back. “Sister? I…was not aware.”

“Nobody was,” Petra says. “I surprised everyone, so, surprise!”

Lemon and Oz go silent, but Oz speaks first. Reaching out, he claps Petra on the shoulder with his tail.

“Girl, you are gonna love the Gulch! There are tons of gargoyles here. Not to mention your brother is, like, our star skyball player. And we’re gonna be decorating town all morning, plus Bluebell plied us with lunch, so it’s honestly gonna be the very best day.” The pit hell lurks around his feet, sticking her face between his thighs as she looks up at Petra. “This is Ginger,” Oz explains.

Petra smiles at him and lifts her tail spade up level with his chest.

I chuckle when he slaps it with his. It’s such a childlike thing to do. Next thing I know, she’s going to slip that spade under someone’s shirt to feel their heartbeat…another thing gargoyle children seem to adore.

That heartbeat obsession makes me think of Hadrian and…last night. I desperately need to catch up with my besties.

“Well,” Lemon says, “y’all ready to do this? We all know Bluebell’s got an entire to-do list in her back pocket.”

I smirk as I glance down at Lemon’s feet. Today she’s wearing her iridescent turquoise boots…hardly the most practical of things. But then again, Lemon never did care about practicality.

“Let’s do it.” Hadrian pushes me gently forward with a hand in the center of my back.

Next to us, the building clatters all of her siding expectantly. A piece flips outward and whacks Oz in the side, poking him several times as it nudges him into Main Street.

I bark out a laugh, smiling at Petra. “Also, the town herself has some mighty strong opinions. You won’t believe some of the things you’ll see around here. She might toss drunkards into the street or slap Oz on the butt or any number of spicy behaviors.”

Petra eyes the building nervously, but follows us.

Lemon points to her truck, its bed open and full of decorations from the storage shed out at Furyon’s place. “This is gonna be fun!” she shouts.

Three hours later, at least one of us is having fun as Petra sits on Hadrian’s shoulders, tacking the last of our twinkle lights into a hook on the side of the Welcome Inn. As I look around, a smile pulls to my face. Main Street looks absolutely gorgeous, and when dusk falls, it’ll look even better. Sparkly glitter lights crisscross over the street, highlighting the train tracks that run up the middle.

“You know what, Hadrian?” I turn to him with a bright smile. “We should take Petra on Mabel. What a great way to see all of Pine Gulch.”

He grins up at the young gargoyle, who’s staring back at him like she’s already in love.

Shit, girl, I think that makes two of us.

Realization courses through me. Is it possible to fall in love with someone in such a short amount of time?

Except it’s not short, because I’ve been falling in love with Hadrian Alkazar for the better part of two decades, which is like a quarter of a human life.

“Today’s not good for that, but I’m off tomorrow.” He pats her on the knee. “You want to ride a train tomorrow? You can see all four corners of the haven plus the mountains and maybe the mustang herd if we’re lucky.”