Page 18 of Love is Trash in Hallow's Cove

My brow scrunches. “But I’m not! I told you, I’m a terrible cook.”

Gwen pats my arm. “Breathe, Jake. I’ll help you make the tacos.”

“You will?” I ask, shocked by her offer. Gwen and I are friends, but I didn’t realize it was at the “cook tacos so their first date goes well” level.

“Yeah. It’s not every day you find your mate.” She gives me a slightly wistful smile that I don’t quite understand. “You’re a good guy, Jake. You deserve to be happy.”

“Thank you,” I say, tugging her into a quick hug so she doesn’t see the tears welling in my eyes at her kind words. With her help, I might just have a shot at things going well with Hayley tonight.

Chapter eight

Hayley

Sunsettakesforevertoarrive. I spend most of the day in the stock room reorganizing, but it doesn’t do much to calm my nerves about tonight.

I have what I think is a date with my hot, weird neighbor. I really should’ve clarified if it was a romantic or platonic thing, because not knowing is only making me more nervous.

I do my hair and makeup, but not too much, so I don’t look like I’m trying too hard. Then spend an hour rummaging through my clothes to put together an outfit that will be appropriate for both a first date or a totally non-date hangout with a new friend. I settle eventually on a cute pair of jeans that make my ass look great and a cropped sweater that has a little heart cutout to give a hint of cleavage.

I know it’s ridiculous, but wish I still had my lucky panties. They might not have been doing much for me,and sure they were torn, but I think they’d help me be less agitated. Instead, I’m wearing one of my least favorite thongs so that there’s no visible panty line. Even though it’s going to be dark and we’ll be sitting most of the time. Just in case he looks at my ass.

God, I need to relax. If I act uptight and put too much pressure on this, I know I’ll blow it. And despite the very strange way he behaved when we first met, there’s something about Jake that I’m really into. Not just his looks, which made him appear in my sexy fantasy, but his… energy. Yeah, he’s odd, but he’s also really cute. There’s something inside me which tells me he’s special.

I know I should probably ignore that something, since it’s most likely only my romantic side wishing for what happened to Aunt Betsy. Something that says unequivocally “this is the person for you”. Without that fated mates certainty that I was hoping to find with a monster when I came to Hallow’s Cove, I’m terrified because I’ll have to rely on my own judgment which has a terrible track record.

With that bleak thought rattling around in my mind, I head back downstairs as the sun dips below the horizon. I inhale shakily, squeezing my eyes shut for a moment to steel myself for whatever happens tonight, then open the side door out into the alley.

“Holy shit,” I curse. It isn’t under my breath. It’s a loud exclamation that draws the attention of the man currently arranging throw pillows on a couch near the entrance of the alley from the street. The man who looks like a goddamn snack with his tight jeans and vintageleather jacket, lit by strands of fairy lights that criss-cross above his head between our buildings.

Oh shit, this is absolutely a date.

Jake looks up, eyes wide, when he sees me gawking at him. “H-Hayley! Hey.” He looks back at the couch with a slight grimace, then runs a hand through his hair. “Sorry, I’m not done setting up. It took a little longer than I anticipated to put the lights up.”

“This is…” I’m having a hard time putting into words how what he’s set up makes me feel. It’smagical. No one has ever put this much effort into a date for me. Maybe that’s sad, but it’s true. And now I’m wishing I’d used waterproof mascara because there’s a strong urge to cry at the wave of emotion that crashes over me.

Jake’s face falls as he misreads my reaction. “It’s too much. Shit, you didn’t think this was a date. Of course you didn’t.” He shakes his head and scrubs a hand across his face. “Who would ask someone out via a raccoon stakeout?”

“I thought it was a date!” I blurt. Jake looks back up at me and I smile. “I was going to say that this is amazing. I didn’t expect you to put so much effort in, but I love it.”

His face lights up with a hopeful smile that makes my stomach flutter. “Yeah? You sure it’s okay?”

“I mean… it’s not the most practical setup for a stakeout, since the string lights and the couch might scare the raccoon off.”

Jake laughs. “How do you know it doesn’t like mood lighting and a cozy atmosphere?”

“True.” My laugh is more of a breathy giggle that makes me cringe slightly at how ditzy it makes me sound. I clear my throat. I’m still standing next to the door, so I step closer to Jake and the couch.

As I get closer, I catch him inhaling deeply and pray that my deodorant and my shower made my scent alright for a shifter with a sensitive nose. His eyes flash gold momentarily, and my pulse spikes, but then that heated look is gone, and he’s patting the couch for me to sit.

I lower myself onto the couch, flushing as I realize it’s more of a loveseat and we’re close enough that our legs touch when he sits down next to me. There’s a long moment of silence.

Jake turns and looks at me, his tongue darting out to wet his lips before he speaks. “Are you hungry? I have the tacos if you’re ready to eat. Or we can, uh, talk first if you want. Though they might get cold and it’s probably not safe to let the food sit out for too long. You know what, I’ll go get them.” He stands and walks off before I have a chance to answer his initial question and I watch him with a bemused smile.

He’s nervous. Like,reallynervous, not just regular first date jitters. He wants to impress me. The knot of tension in my stomach eases at the realization that he’s as invested in this date as I am. When was the last time a date put in an effort to make me happy?

I’m not sure anyone ever has. Sure, they dressed up and flattered me so they could get me into bed, but they didn’t transform a fucking alley into a romantic tableau.

I know I’m getting ahead of myself, but damn, that feeling inside me that Jake is special is screaming at me now. And when he returns with a goddamn platter of tacos which are clearly homemade and not from a fast-food joint like I expected when I made the request, I know I’m a goner.

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