Bye-Bye Jerk, Hello Mr. Right by Rosie Steppe

Chapter 35

Hearing Macy call, I tossed my phone aside and yelled, "Coming!"

Kicking off my shoes, I slid into my slippers and opened the door. The first thing I saw was Hayden filling up a bunch of white buckets in the courtyard.

He hoisted the full buckets, his shoulder muscles showing even through his shirt. Talk about strength. "Why are you getting so much water? Is there a water outage or something?" I asked as I walked over. Macy glanced at my slippers and discreetly rolled her eyes. Hayden stayed quiet, so she answered for him, "Just in case."

Then she patted Hayden. "I'm making fish chowder tonight. You two go buy some fish-wild-caught if you can. Also, get some cilantro, garlic sprouts, potatoes, and clams."

It was obvious she just wanted to get us out of the house to talk.

I knew my slippers weren't the best choice, but going back to change felt awkward.

"Go change your shoes," Hayden said.

Now it would be even more embarrassing, so I forced a smile. "It's fine."

Hayden didn't argue. He just started walking, and Macy gestured for me to follow, calling after him, Hayden, wait for Keira."

shuffled out the door in my slippers. They might

few steps, Hayden stopped abruptly. "I heard

Macy phrase it like that?

I asked, taking a moment to

and defined, with deep-set eyes; his lips were

more striking than Jace's, except for his slightly

were told not to judge a book by its cover, but who didn't check out someone's face first when meeting them? You couldn't exactly strip them down to

Served eight years in the army, now I

seventeen or eighteen, called out, whistling

asked after the

friend's," he said, explaining that

widow?" I asked,

eyes darkened a

will in the future?" I asked, feeling my own scars and

was sensitive and fragile, though no one

"No," he answered succinctly.

almost ended in marriage. My parents are both gone, and I'm not looking to