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."

out the door in my slippers. They

stopped abruptly. "I

Macy phrase it like

don't want to date?" I asked, taking a moment to

defined, with deep-set eyes; his lips were just right, not too thin

was more striking than Jace's,

face

years in the army, now I He started to introduce himself but

seventeen or eighteen, called out, whistling and checking

asked

a friend's," he said, explaining that he worked with a buddy driving the

with a widow?" I

darkened a

you will in the future?" I asked, feeling my

sensitive and fragile,

"No," he answered succinctly.

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