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CHAPTER24

LEXI

Ipull the giant bag of Halloween candy across the scanner, and a boatload of the individually wrapped pieces fall out, scattering everywhere.

Eyes narrowed, I look up to the woman standing beside her cart. “Sorry, little Evan insisted on a snack. You know how it is.” She chuckles.

My attention turns to the little snot sitting in the front of the cart. His face and hands are covered in brown milk chocolate. I watch as he runs his grimy fingers up and down the metal bar of the cart in front of him, leaving spit and half-digested candy in his wake. He looks at me with a little asshole smile and brings his hands to his mouth and starts licking them.

Oh, sweet baby Jesus.My stomach turns, and I have to work to keep my face customer appropriate.

I swallow my disgust and start picking up the candies that’ve flown all over the belt and put them back into the opened bag. Half of them are covered in a wet residue, and I have to will myself not to puke. I press my lips together and breathe through my nose.

It’s not the kid’s slimy mouth juices. No, the moisture is from… ahh, hell, there’s no talking myself out of this one.

Just don’t puke.

Just don’t puke.

I chant a little song in my head until all the candy is picked up, and I place the bag, ripped side up, in the cart.

The woman pays for the candy. “Happy Halloween,” she says with a smile that seems genuine, though how can one be so cheery when she’s in possession of such a gross child. Though, the verdict is still out on whether he’s indeed human. I mean, I’m putting my vote of demon.

“I’ll be with you in one second,” I say to my next customer as I pull a string of anti-bacterial wipes from the container at my station and wipe the kid’s mouth slime from my fingers.

I quickly spray the black belt, hoping to clean off the candy residue. Lord knows I’d be pissed if I was next in line and had to deal with that gook all over my items.

One thing Boss and I haven’t discussed is children. I wonder what his take on them is. To be perfectly honest, I’m not a fan, and I don’t know if I ever will be. Granted, at twenty-four, I have time to change my mind. Maybe a child with Boss wouldn’t be horrible. But as it stands right now, I’m going to pass.

“Hi.” I lift my gaze to my next customer and find myself staring at a very tall and muscular person dressed head to toe in a plush tiger costume.Oh, Lord have mercy.“Someone’s a fan of Halloween.” I force a smile and scan the birthday cake he’s purchasing.

“It’s going to be $19.99,” I say, looking expectantly toward the tiger. The plush paw reaches toward my hand, and I uncurl my fingers, expecting a credit card to be placed in my palm but instead get a metal key. I smile tersely, clicking my tongue. “Sorry, we don’t accept keys as a form of payment here.” Tilting my head, I hold the key out toward him.

Why does this holiday bring out all the crazy people?

The orange paw with black stripes touches the top of the cake, and upon further inspection, I notice a question written with frosting letters beneath the large,Happy Birthday.

“Will you move in with me?” I read aloud, snapping my head up toward the tiger. My mouth falls open, “Boss?”

The tiger pulls off his plush head, and Boss and his beautiful face smile back.

“Oh my gosh.” I laugh. “You freak.” I cover my face, shaking my head.

“So, birthday girl, what’s it going to be?” He quirks a brow. The husky timbre of his voice and his handsome face coming out of the ridiculous costume have made my entire day.

“Are you serious?” I squeal.

“As a tiger hunting for his next meal.”

I can’t help but laugh at his silly analogy.

“Look,” he starts, his voice serious now, “the past two weeks have been awful. I don’t want to do the long-distance thing. Plus, I realized that it makes no sense for you to get your own place when we both know you’ll be at mine all the time anyway. I have no doubts about me and you, and I don’t want to waste another day without you.”

With an excited shriek, I run around the counter separating us and jump into his furry arms. I capture his mouth with my own. “You look absolutely absurd as a tiger, but yes, I will move in with you!”

I pull away and eye his costume once more. “Is there a meaning behind this tiger suit that I’m missing?”

“No.” He laughs. “It was literally the only costume left that covered me from head to toe and fit. It was slim pickings at the Halloween store.”

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