Robin Alexander - Pitifully Ugly

her a quick kiss, which she returned.

On the way home, I thought about that kiss. It was sweet, and

her lips were soft and willing, but there was no spark. I chastised

myself, thinking we’d only just met. It was silly to expect

fireworks, but I wanted them.

Robin Alexander

Chapter 9

Revelations…the truth is a bitch.

“Have a good time?” Hailey asked as I entered the

courtyard.

I jumped, surprised to find her sitting in the dark. The

chimenea had burned down to embers, and Fuzzy was nowhere

in sight.

“What are you doing out here in the dark alone?” I took a seat

next to her.

“I was waiting for you. I wanted to see how your date went.”

She wasn’t her perky self and didn’t look at me when she

spoke.

“It went fine. She’s a nice girl. We’re gonna go out again

Friday.”

Hailey stared off into the darkness. “That’s great,” she said,

but she didn’t sound like she meant it.

“What’s going on? Please don’t tell me it’s just work.”

Hailey blew out a breath as she crossed her arms. “It’s not

you. I’m angry at myself.”

“For what?”

“Have you ever been taken by someone you’ve only just met?”

She leaned her head against the bench and stared up at the sky.

“Yes, unfortunately, I have.”

Hailey turned and looked at me. “Was it the girl you met

tonight?”

“No, she’s sweet and attractive, and I actually enjoyed her

Pitifully Ugly

company.” I shook my head as I thought about Marci and the kiss.

“Even still, we just didn’t have that click I was hoping for.”

“Then why are you going out with her again?” Hailey asked

with a tone that put me on the defensive. If she was angry with

herself, she was sure directing it at me.

“Because I’ve only seen her once. Maybe I’ll feel that

connection, that spark when we get to know each other better.

Did the guy you’re interested in lead you on or something?”

Hailey didn’t reply. She swallowed hard and looked back up

at the night sky.

“I’m not an expert on conversing, but I think in order to do it,

we both have to talk.”

“I just think I’ve read too much into the conversations we’ve

been having. My interest is obviously one-sided.” Hailey stood.

“I’m sorry that I’ve dropped all of this on you. It’s probably the

last thing you wanted to hear after a pleasant evening.”

I stood and followed behind her as she walked toward the

door with her shoulders slumped. “Hey.” I tugged on her arm.

“I’m not full of dating advice, but I’m a pretty good listener.”

Hailey turned and looked at me. The pain in her eyes was

obvious even in the dim light. “I appreciate that, but right now, a

good night’s sleep is what I need.”

“Whomever this chowder head is, he’s missing out on a good

thing,” I said with a smile.

She shrugged. “I think I may be the one who’s missed out.”

We walked up the steps and into the building. “Good night,”

Hailey called over her shoulder as she bypassed the elevator and

took the stairs.

I awoke early the next morning to the patter of rain against

my window. It was one of those days that made me thankful that

I worked from home. After I made myself a cup of coffee, I stood

in front of my huge living room window and watched as a sea of

umbrellas moved up and down the sidewalks. One moved around

the courtyard behind a fluffy yellow dog in search of the perfect

spot to do her business.

I thought back on my conversation with Kalen, mainly the

Robin Alexander

part when she asked me if I had a crush on Hailey. I did. There

was no sense in denying it to myself. When Hailey asked me if

I’d ever been taken by someone I just met, I understood too well

what that felt like. It bothered me to think that she felt the same

way about someone else.

And then I thought about Marci. She was everything I was

looking for, but she wasn’t the one I wanted. Was I leading her on

by going out on a second date? My inner thoughts were interrupted

by the ringing of my phone. I answered as I watched Hailey and

Fuzzy wander the courtyard.

“I’m not going in to work today.” Kalen sounded miserable.

“Still queasy?” I asked.

“Downright nauseated.”

“Want me to take you to the doctor?” I wrinkled my nose.

Just walking into one of those places made me feel like flypaper

for germs.

“No, it’s probably just a virus that will pass in a few days. Are

you feeling okay? You sound kind of down or distracted.”

“I’m fine. Matter of fact, I went out on a date last night.”

“No shit?” Kalen said, sounding perkier. “With who?”

“Her name is Marci, and it went okay.”

“Where did you meet her?”

I should’ve known that question was coming, but I was too

busy bragging that I hadn’t considered having to explain the

Rainbow Room. “We…umm…met online.”

“Oh, my God, you did it anyway. Didn’t you listen when

I warned you about those things? What if she’s some sort of

psychopath or something? Those are the only kind of people that

join those things.”

“Thanks,” I said with a frown.

“Well, I didn’t mean you.”

“If I’m decent, doesn’t it stand to reason that there might just

be someone like me out there, too? And while we’re talking about

psychopaths, remember Jackie, Candace’s crazy cousin that you

set me up with?”

“Touché, touché, damn it.” Kalen took a deep breath and let it

out slowly. “You met her in a public place, I presume.”

0

Pitifully Ugly

“No, I invited her over. She’s loading up my computer and

DVD player right now,” I said as I watched Hailey and Fuzzy

climb the steps to the back door.

“You’re really a pistol this early in the morning,” Kalen said

just as sarcastically. “Truce. Now tell me about this woman.”

I plopped down on the sofa. “She’s cute, sweet, and seems

like a really nice person.”

“But?”

“I dunno, maybe I’m judging her too quickly, but there’s no

spark. I might as well have been out with you.”

“Did you find her attractive?”

“I said she was cute.”

“I think Tom Cruise is cute, but I’m not attracted to him.”

“I thought all straight women melted over him.”

“Not this one. He’s a bit too wacky for my tastes. So no

butterflies, nothing?”

“No flutter in the least, but she’s a sweetie, and I agreed

to go out with her again on Friday. Do you think I’m judging

prematurely?”

“Let me ask you this. If you passed her on the street without

having met her, would you want to follow after her and ask her

out?”“We both know I wouldn’t do that even if I thought she was

hot,” I said, avoiding the answer.

“Then your answer is no,” Kalen said succinctly. “I don’t

know, sweetie. It’s a tough call if you’re not physically attracted

to her. Maybe you should go out with her Friday, and if she’s not

ringing your bells, then you need to let her down gently.”

“Dating really blows,” I said dejectedly. “It’d be nice to meet

someone like Hailey.”

“I’ve been waiting to hear you say that,” Kalen said with a

sound of triumph in her voice. “You’re smitten with her. I could

tell by the way you looked the other day. I told you that then.”