Robin Alexander - Pitifully Ugly

Robin Alexander

whatever might be happening with Hailey if I went through with

the date on Friday night? In my heart, I knew that I would be

letting Marci down by the end of the evening. The connection I

wanted to feel with her wasn’t there. Instead, it was with a woman

who had not been honest with me.

I went from being desperate for a date with anyone to this

conundrum in a flash. Timing sucked, women sucked, and I just

plain sucked at dealing with it.

I blinked as the power came back on. The handset on my

coffee table was dead. I hoped that the one in the bedroom still

had a charge as I went for it and dialed Kalen’s number. “Hello?”

Kalen’s voice was soft and low, and I knew I had woken her.

“I’m sorry I woke you, sis. I meant to call you earlier to see

how you were feeling, but the power’s been out.”

Kalen groaned. “Shit, it’s almost two.”

“Sounds like you needed the sleep. Mom always says that you

heal faster when you rest.”

“What’s wrong? I hear something in your voice.”

“I’ve got a problem.” I returned to the sofa and sat down.

Everything about meeting Newbie online and finding out that she

was Hailey came out in a rush. Kalen stopped me a couple of

times and made me repeat a few things. Especially when I told

her about the conversation I had with Hailey the night before.

“Oh, honey, it’s you she’s interested in,” Kalen said when I

had finished. “This has disaster written all over it.”

“Because of Marci?”

“No, let’s take her out of the equation for a minute. Hailey

cheated on her husband. That shows she can’t be trusted. She’s

been with one woman, and now she thinks she’s gay. And she’s

been in that online dating thing where the psychopaths hang

out—minus you and maybe Marci. Don’t walk away from this

woman, run. Hell, move out of the building.”

Perhaps seeking Kalen’s advice wasn’t the smartest thing

to do. Objectivity wasn’t her strong suit unless it was regarding

someone she fixed me up with. “She’s extremely remorseful about

what she did to her husband.”

Pitifully Ugly

“Not everyone brags about their infidelity, especially if

they’re trying to impress someone else.”

“She could’ve left that out…” like she did everything else.

“Shannon, go out with Marci and see where it leads. If you

don’t feel a spark, then be upfront and tell her so. Leave Hailey

alone. I’m telling you, she’s trouble.”

“Okay, okay,” I said, ready to be finished with the conversation.

“I need to go now and do some work. I’ve been out of the loop all

morning.”

“If I didn’t feel so shitty, I’d be on my way over there,” Kalen

said. “Bye, sis,” I said quickly before I disconnected.

I debated sending Marci a text message and telling her the

date was off, but I couldn’t make myself take the cowardly way

out. I’d put that call off for another day, though. I knew that I

wouldn’t be able to work with Hailey being so close. Now that I

was somewhat calm, I wanted to hear what she had to say, so I

took a trip downstairs.

Hailey opened the door on the second knock and held it open

wide. I walked in and scratched Fuzzy on the head before taking

a good look at her. She looked more composed than she did in the

garage earlier, but she seemed nervous as she offered me a seat. I

sat on the sofa while she took a chair across from me. Fuzzy went

to her immediately and laid her head on Hailey’s leg.

“If you were in my shoes, would you be upset right now?” I

asked.

“Yes.”

I nodded and looked away. That’s all I had in my arsenal. I

was full of things to say as I rode down on the elevator, but once

I was in Hailey’s presence, I went blank.

“I should’ve told you who I was the minute I figured out who

you were,” Hailey said. “I’m sorry that I didn’t.”

I forced myself to look at her. “The other night after I went

out with Marci, were you talking about me when you said you

were taken by someone?”

Hailey looked away then; I could see a slight flush begin to

sweep over her cheeks. Her lips twitched. “It’s a moot point, isn’t

Robin Alexander

it, really?” Something in her tone seemed like she wanted me to

argue the point.

“Why?”

“Look.” She rubbed her hands together. “I would really like

us to be friends.” Her lips twitched again. “I know we’ve gotten

off to a bad start. The reasons I wasn’t upfront pale in comparison

to what I’ve done, but I really want—need—your forgiveness.”

“Friends, like playing tennis and chatting in the courtyard?”

I asked as my chest filled with pain.

“That’s all I can offer right now.” Hailey’s eyes grew watery,

and as bad as I wanted to press her for more, I let her off the

hook.

“I forgive you,” I said as I stood. “Sure, we can be friends.”

Hailey stood and followed me to the door. Fuzzy stayed close

at her side. “Thank you,” she said as she pulled me into a hug. She

held me in her arms for a minute before squeezing me gently. “I

hope you have a good time on Friday.”

That hurt. I pulled away from her grasp and walked out the

door without looking back.

Pitifully Ugly

Chapter 11

Honesty sucks.

As I waited for Marci on Friday, I prayed that we wouldn’t

run into Hailey. I’d waited at the courtyard gate, nervously

looking back at the door, hoping for the first time that Hailey

didn’t appear. I looked up at her window. The room was dark, but

I had a feeling I was being watched.

I’d picked up the phone a dozen times to cancel the date but

changed my mind. Maybe Kalen was right. I spent too much time

crushing on Hailey that I couldn’t allow myself to be interested in

anyone else. But there was a part of me that wished Hailey would

burst through the door and beg me not to go.

Marci had made reservations for Ralph’s On The Park. Kalen

had been there and told me about it. I’d always wanted to go, but

I couldn’t get excited about it now. I knew the minute I got into

Marci’s car and looked into her eyes how the evening would end,

and I felt like a first-class cad.

“This must be the hotspot of New Orleans,” I said, looking

around at the crowd.

Marci nodded enthusiastically. “I’ve been here a couple of

times, and the food is fantastic. Why don’t you order the tuna two

ways and I’ll order the disgruntled shrimp? We can share.”

I’d hardly opened my menu, and she was already picking out

dinner for us. It grated my nerves. If Kalen, or I dare say even

Hailey, had suggested it, I wouldn’t have batted an eye, nor would

Robin Alexander

I have hesitated to say that I hated tuna regardless of how it’s

served. But there I sat nodding like an idiot because I felt guilty

for being there in the first place.

I listened as Marci ordered a bottle of white wine when the

waiter asked us what we’d have to drink. The wine she chose was

the perfect complement to seafood, but I didn’t care for it. Of

course, it’s considered by some to be unsophisticated to drink an

inappropriate wine with dinner, but I never cared for convention

and always chose red over white regardless of the meal. I’m sure

there are women out there who like for someone to take charge