Page 27 of Love is Trash in Hallow's Cove

My face heats, but I shake my head again. “I’m not constipated!”

Of course, the moment I choose to exclaim the state of my bowel is when Hayley emerges from the stock room. There’s a strong urge to flee, but I make myself stay put and give her a sheepish smile.

How is she so goddamn pretty? Today my gorgeous mate is wearing a simple pink dress that hugs her body,showing off the curve of her cute belly and the generous swell of her hips. It’s casual enough for working in the bodega, but so damn sexy I’m fighting against popping a boner while standing next to my old teacher.

“H-hey, Hayley!” I clear my throat and clasp my hands in front of my interested dick.

“Hi Jake,” she says, her cheeks burnishing slightly. Hopefully it’s from seeing me unexpectedly and not from second-hand embarrassment about me shouting about constipation.

“I know you think you can eat garbage, Jacob, but you’re not as young as you used to be. Older bodies require more care,” Ms. Muldoon says, clearly not getting the message that we’ve moved on from discussing my digestive needs.

“Okay, sure, thanks,” I say, nodding at the woman as I silently beg Bettie to ring up Ms. Muldoon’s beer and scratch-off tickets so we can stop talking about this.

Hayley raises a brow at me, and I shrug like I have no idea how I ended up in this conversation.

When Ms. Muldoon finally tucks her six-pack under her wing and leaves—but not before recommending prunes again—Hayley approaches with an amused smirk.

“Old girlfriend?” she asks, looking over my shoulder out the front window to the graying birdwoman currently using a talon to reveal the numbers on her scratch-off ticket.

I snort. “Old math teacher.”

“And the equation of your love didn’t add up?” Hayley grins at me, her playful banter making me momentarily forget why I’m here in the first place.

“No, considering she’s thirty years older than me.”

“Really?” Hayley’s eyes go wide in mock surprise. “I thought given the gray streak in your hair, you had to be in your late-forties.”

Bettie cackles, and I pretend to glare at both of them, crossing my arms over my chest with a huff.

“I’ll have you know I’m a very youthful thirty-eight!”

“So youthful,” Bettie murmurs, making Hayley giggle.

“I’ve had gray hair for most of my life! It’s not because I’m old, it’s because I’m a—” I freeze, realizing what I was about to say. I clear my throat, panic rising. “Fine, I’m old.”

Hayley squeezes my arm, looking up at me through her thick dark lashes as her eyes sparkle with amusement. “Good thing I like older guys.”

“Oh yeah?” I ask, raising a brow and moving a touch closer to her. “How old are you?”

“Thirty-five,” she replies, giggling again.

I want to capture that intoxicating sound with my lips.

“Gross, go make out somewhere else,” Bettie says, breaking the moment.

We both take a small step back, and Hayley smiles, a little more shy now that she’s paying attention to our unimpressed audience.

“So, if you aren’t here for prunes, what made you stop by?” she asks.

I shift in place, trying not to fidget too much and give away my nerves. “I wanted to invite you over tonight.”Bettie makes a grossed out sound and I roll my eyes at her. “If you’re busy, maybe tomorrow night?

My beautiful mate beams at me. “I’m free tonight. I’d love to come over.”

“Wonderful!” A moment passes as we grin at each other. “I have something I’d like to share with you,” I add, trying to sound casual even though I’m terrified.

Hayley’s brow furrows, her smile dimming. “What kind of thing?”

Shit, I’m already messing this up.

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