Page 37 of Love is Trash in Hallow's Cove

Jake’s purr rumbles back to life. “You do. I’ve never been happier.”

“Same,” I whisper. It’s more than a little terrifying to be so certain so fast, but I’m going to embrace it. After all, that’s the whole reason I came to Hallow’s Cove. Yeah, I wanted a monster mate, but at the core of things, what I really wanted was to be happy. And here, with this sweet, strange raccoon shifter, for maybe the first time in my life, I can confidently say I am.

I kiss Jake, pressing all my joy and hopes for our future into his lips. He meets me eagerly in return and when our lips part, I feel him smile against my mouth.

“There is one thing that would make me even happier…” he says, humor and heat blended together in his tone.

I laugh and spread my thighs. “Alright, if you insist. I won’t keep you from your new favorite thing.”

Jake eagerly moves to kneel between my legs, knocking over a bag of chips in the process as his tail smacks into it in his hurry. As he shoves my skirt up, he gives me a blissful smile. “I’m so lucky to have you,” he says, eyes locking with mine before he swipes his tongue against my pussy. He smiles again, squeezing my thighs. “And not just because of this, even though,fuck, it’s perfect. Everything about you is my new favorite thing.”

Chapter fifteen

Epilogue

Jake

Oneyearlater

“Sorry, sorry, I know I’m late—shit, ouch!” I almost drop the overstuffed bags in my hands as I slam my thigh into the edge of a couch that wasn’t there by the back door when I left earlier this morning. “Baby, why is this couch over here in front of the door?” I shout.

“Sorry!” Hayley calls back from somewhere inside the shop. A few seconds later, she appears in the back room, her slightly faded pastel hair piled on top of her head in a messy bun.

My stomach does a little flip like it always does when I see her after being away for more than five minutes, and I give her a quick once over. She’s in a ratty pair of sweatsthat show off a sliver of her midriff. They’re old and worn out enough that I bet she wouldn’t be too mad at me if I tear them off.

“Sorry, I was rearranging some of the clothing racks to accommodate the new items we got in and forgot to move it back.”

“No worries,” I say, setting the giant bags down on the couch and moving over to pull my mate into my arms.

She giggles as I press my lips to her bare throat and suck in a deep inhale to fill my lungs with her perfect scent. “Someone’s happy to see me.”

“Mmm, you know I’m always happy to see you.” I resist the urge to press her closer and show her just how happy I am. In the year we’ve been together, I’ve learned to control my urges. Somewhat. I can’t help it that I have the sexiest mate in the world.

Hayley smiles as we part, placing a quick kiss on my lips. “How did things go over at Gwen’s place? Is she holding up alright?”

Hayley’s questions pull me out of my horny thoughts. “She’s about as good as can be expected. Preston was always an asshole, but dying on her and leaving a mess behind really takes the cake.”

“Jake!” She smacks my shoulder lightly. “Please tell me you didn’t say that to her. He was her husband.”

“I didn’t. At least I didn’t say any more than what I’d said to her in the past.” Hayley looks mildly horrified, but I shrug. “What? The guy was a total piece of shit. He was awful for Gwen. Now that he’s gone, maybe she’ll finally have a chance to be happy.”

Hayley nods, relaxing a little. “I hope so. Did you ask her what she’d like me to bring over tomorrow for dinner?”

“Yeah.” I smile, love for my mate swelling in my chest. Hayley has gotten to know Gwen since she moved in, and while they’re not close friends yet, Hayley still wants to be there for her. That’s one of the things I’ve learned about my mate—she’s incredibly generous. She’s also very stubborn about her generosity. “Gwen said she doesn’t want you to worry about it, but I told her you’d show up anyway, so she needed to pick something. She went with pasta.”

Hayley chuckles and nods. “Thank you, honey. You’re an amazing friend. And an even more amazing mate,” she adds, squeezing my hip.

“I do what I can,” I say, flushing a little at her praise. It still takes me by surprise sometimes how earnest Hayley is with her appreciation and love for me. “I know we need to get ready for your plans, but show me the new display real quick?”

My mate’s eyes light up at my interest in what she’s done. Just like I’m a little taken aback by her liking my quirky ass, she always seems surprised when I want to know what she’s working on. But Hayley is so creative, I can’t help but take an interest.

She takes my hand and leads me out into the shop, flicking on the overhead lights. What was once more than a bit chaotic is much more charming now that Hayley’s taken over how we display things in the shop. My system of sorting is still in place, but everything is bright and not as cramped, with signs to helpmake my unconventional organizational system more comprehensible to customers.

That’s the thing about Hayley. She’s weird like me, but she’s able to make that quirkiness seem charming. And somehow that magical quality has rubbed off onto me by association because people give me a lot fewer confused looks when I say something strange.

With Hayley by my side, I’m better all around. She softens out my roughest edges and gives me someone to dote on and cherish.

Against all odds, according to my mate, I make her better, too. Which sounds impossible because she was perfect to begin with, but it is true that she’s embraced her more eclectic interests since moving in. She’d always wanted to get into blacksmithing, so we found someone for her to take lessons with. I took her on a ghost hunting tour for her birthday when she said she’d always wanted to try one.

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