Page 10 of Love is Trash in Hallow's Cove

“Don’t joke about stuff like that,” I huff, shaking my head at her. I head toward the exit, too agitated to stay and listen to teen gossip about Hayley’s love life. I yank thedoor open and turn back over my shoulder. “And if you want that trash, don’t tell her I talked to you!”

“Don’t you want your change?” Freddie calls out to me.

“No! Keep it.” I shout back and storm out of the bodega, shoving my half-eaten bag of chips into my pocket and spilling a few on the sidewalk in the process.

For once, Beans is too agitated to urge me to pick them up and not waste food. No, he’s currently scrabbling around in my mind, making me even more agitated.

What do I do?

Some monsters are totally cool with polyamory and share their mates with multiple partners. Until this moment, I assumed that I’d be cool with that, too. I’ve never tried being with more than one partner, but to be fair, I haven’t really tried many committed relationships at all. Most people don’t stick around once they realize my quirks aren’t a joke.

When I think about Hayley with other people, though, I want to scream. She’smine. She’s my mate, not anyone else’s. She’s the most precious treasure I’ve ever stumbled upon, and I’m too greedy to share her.

Logical Jacob knows that this practical stranger is absolutely not mine, and will definitely never be mine if I don’t find a way to stop freaking out. But that’s far easier said than done.

I need to burn off all of this energy and cool off. If I do something reckless now, I know I’ll fuck things up. So instead of heading back into my shop, I decide to go for a power walk around town. Maybe grab some of those muffins that Beanswanted so badly.

That feels like a great solution, because by the time I get to the cafe, my frantic energy has waned and Beans is now at least alternating between yelling at me to find Hayley and salivating over getting to eat muffins.

I make it a foot in the door before that calm evaporates. Even with the coffee aroma infusing the air, I catch Hayley’s scent now that I’m attuned to it. I step inside, anxiously scanning the space for her, and when I see her sitting alone at a table, my heart leaps.

Was Bettie wrong about her being on a date? I can’t believe I let her gossip get to me. Of course my mate wouldn’t be dating around. Everything is fine. I just need to take a breath and figure out what to say to her now that I’ve found her.

I force myself to get in line rather than making a frenzied beeline toward my mate. Her soft scent tortures me even at a distance, and I’m glad for the chips crammed in my pocket because they’re hiding my boner as I order two muffins.

One for me and one for Hayley. A peace offering. A reason to go over and talk to her.

My palms sweat as I carry the two plates toward her table in the corner. She looks up and smiles in my direction, and a warm, fuzzy sense of rightness washes over me.

God, is there anything better than her smile?

A lanky demon steps past me, a drink in each hand, and sets one down in front of her with a cocky smile. “A honey oat milk latte for a lovely lady,” they say, winking at her.

Hayley flushes but accepts the drink, and the demon sits down across from her.

I startle at the sound of something shattering, and realize the sound came from me dropping the plates in my hands. Ceramic shards and muffin bits scatter around my feet and I let out a pained yelp that has nothing to do with the lost muffins.

Hayley’s beautiful face twists in confusion as she looks toward the commotion, and I see her plush lips form my name in a question, but I can’t hear her voice over the panic ringing in my ears. I turn and bolt, almost knocking over a petite redheaded human as I run out of the cafe.

Fuck.Fuck.That was a disaster. Shewason a date, and I made myself look even crazier than I normally do.

By the time I’ve run all the way back to my shop, reality sets in. I’ve found my mate, but she’s not interested in anything but casual fun, like Bettie said. And even if she were, I’ve ruined any chance of her wanting me in return by acting like a total psycho.

What was I thinking? I’m not mate material. I’m too odd for a beautiful, charming woman like Hayley. Of course she’s on a date with a hot demon, who I’m pretty sure is really rich, instead of a weird thrift shop owner and absolute dumpster fire of a person.

As soon as those self-deprecating thoughts rise, indignance follows in their wake.

I’ve never been ashamed of who I am. I like what I like and if that makes me weird, who the fuck cares? I’m happy with myself and I’m not going to beat myself up because a biological quirk picked the wrong mate for me.

This has to stop now before it gets worse. I never thought I’d find a mate and was perfectly fine with that. Just because I found one now, doesn’t mean I need to do anything about it. We’re not a good fit, and that’s okay. Hayley will leave once her aunts return, so all I need to do is avoid her until then.

Luckily, I have a lot of experience sneaking around unnoticed. Everything will be fine.

Beans screams at me, in direct opposition to my measured thoughts.

“Sorry, buddy,” I mutter. “It’s for the best.”

Chapterfive

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