Page 28 of Trick-or-Treated

Bryan used to ask me to cover his lunch. This is a refreshing change.

“Christ.”

This time I do make the sign of the cross.

I focus on work, making sure the display cases are all updated for today. I hate having stale food in the display case, so anything I won’t sell the next day goes to Garland Falls’ End Hunger campaign.

The bell above the door rings and I look up to see Hazel walking in.

“Hello, friend,” I say easily, and Hazel puts her big purse down on the counter.

“So,” she starts. “I heard you were flirting with Cole Hayes.”

I balk. “You heard wrong.”

She raises a perfectly groomed eyebrow.

“Did I? Because Joss said⁠—”

“Joss is nuts!”

“Ivy backed her up.”

I wilt. “I really wasn’t flirting.”

“Sounds to me like he was.”

“He’s just… like that. You know charismatic guys, they flirt with everyone.”

“Maybe so, but Ivy said he was flirting with intent.”

I groan. “And how does Ivy know that? She’s never even had a boyfriend.”

Hazel frowns.

I backtrack, realizing it sounded harsh.

“I don’t mean it like that. I love Ivy dearly, but she’s not really the most experienced of us when it comes to men. And whether or not they’re flirting.”

“Yeah, well, Joss said so, too, and she’s probably got more experience than any of us.”

I can’t argue with that so I just don’t say anything at all.

“So… what’s the deal? Do you have a thing for Cole Hayes? Because if you did, none of us would judge. He does, in fact, look like that.”

I snort out a laugh. “I wouldn’t say I have a thing for him. He’s nice. Says he’ll come into the shop sometime.”

“Have you been looking out for him all day?” she asks with a smirk on her face.

“No,” I shoot back defensively. “I actually hired a groundskeeper for the sunflowers and the generator.”

“You hired Marcus Sterling?” She whistles. “You really do have a type, don’t you?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. He was the only one listed in Garland Falls.”

“And it has nothing to do with the fact that he’s bigger than a house?”

“I didn’t know that until he showed up,” I mutter. “And what do you mean, I have a type? Cole and Marcus couldn’t be more different.”