Robin Alexander - Pitifully Ugly

She decided on the lasagna, and I the spaghetti and meatballs.

We split the portions so we could have both. “So how’d the work

thing go last night?” I asked and wanted to add, and why did you

attend with your ex-husband?

Hailey peered over her wineglass at me. “It was a company

banquet. That’s why Mark was in town. We work for the same

company.”

I raised a brow at the revelation.

Hailey met my gaze head-on. “That’s why I asked for the

transfer. We worked too closely together.”

I was privately pleased with that particular revelation.

Pitifully Ugly

“Did you have a good time?”

Hailey took a sip of her wine and shook her head. “I never

enjoy those things. I see everyone at work enough, and I’m not

fond of the forced socialization. We get a carefully worded memo

every year that basically says be there or else.”

“I’m so thankful that I don’t have to work in a corporation. I

think I’d feel just like you do.”

“How did your date go on Friday?” Hailey asked reluctantly.

“She’s a veterinarian. She specializes in cats, or I’d give you

her number for Fuzzy.”

Hailey pursed her lips. “I have a vet that I’m happy with, but

thanks.” I watched as she twirled pasta onto her fork, then laid it

down. “Did you find the spark you were looking for?” she asked

after taking a healthy swallow of her wine.

“I found a spark.” It wasn’t with Marci, though, but I didn’t

tell her that. Guilt washed over me as she coughed into her napkin

and didn’t meet my gaze.

“Marvin told me you found him,” I said, changing the subject.

Her discomfort was too difficult to watch, and I wasn’t sure how

I was going to go about easing it. “Your hair looks great, by the

way.”“Thank you,” she said with a weak smile. “He took a couple

of inches off and shaped it a bit. I didn’t realize that you were his

boss, though.”

“My sister, Kalen, is more of his boss. She runs the

businesses.”

“Yes, four of them that you own together.” Hailey wiped her

mouth and set her napkin on the table. “You said you were an

accountant.”

I saw where this was going and how easy it was to omit

information that you weren’t ready to share. “I do all the accounting

for our salons, and yes, I’m also a business owner. I didn’t tell you

that upfront because I didn’t want to sound like I was boasting.

It’s pretentious, and I hate it when people do that.”

Hailey nodded. “You’re right, it would’ve sounded boastful,

and I understand why you didn’t tell me. So…when are you going

to see Marci again?”

Robin Alexander

I sighed, weary of playing games. “I’m not. We don’t have

any plans to date.”

Hailey’s brows knitted together. “I thought you said there was

a spark.”

“Not with Marci.” I pushed my plate away and stared at the

wine in my glass. “Mark seems like a really sweet guy.”

Hailey shook her head at the change of topic. “He is. I hope he

meets someone that will cherish him. Mark deserves to be with

someone that will make him happy.”

“So do you,” I said, glancing away. There was warmth in

her voice when she spoke of him that disconcerted me. “Are you

certain that you’re gay?”

Hailey looked taken aback by the question and a tad peeved.

“Positively. You’re not the only one that can appreciate the

warmth and softness of a woman’s skin or the sweetness of her

lips.” She blinked for a moment, we both did, then the look of

annoyance returned to her face. “Are you ready to go? I’m feeling

a bit tired.”

I nearly had to run after her as we left the restaurant. “Did I

piss you off with that question?” I asked after we’d walked two

blocks in silence.

“Yes, you did, Shannon.”

“Why?”

She stalked on without answering.

I caught her by the arm as she unlocked the gate. “Tell me,”

I pleaded.

“I’ve had to answer that question for family and Mark so

many times that I’m so…damn weary.” Her eyes began to water.

“I would’ve never cheated if I’d been straight.” Hailey threw her

arms up, pulling away. “Inside I knew who…what I was, but it

wasn’t until I was married to Mark for a few years that I accepted

it. I thought…” Hailey took a shuddering breath. “If I could just

be with a woman, I could get it out of my system and go on being

what everyone else expected of me. But I was wrong. That first

encounter left me with a hunger that I couldn’t deny no matter

how hard I tried.”

Hailey turned on one heel as a sob escaped her, and she

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Pitifully Ugly

headed for the door. This time, I couldn’t let her just walk away. I

grabbed her by the arm and spun her around to face me. Cupping

her face in my hands, I stared long into her eyes before my lips

met hers. I felt a tingle to my toes and almost dizzy when her

body pressed into mine. I pulled away to catch my breath and

rested my forehead against hers. “Just this once, could you try to

do something that makes you happy?”

One hand was pushing me away, and the other clutched my

jacket and pulled me close. “You are the greatest temptation I’ve

ever known in my life,” she whispered. “I’m terrified to let you

in.” “Let’s go upstairs and just talk. I won’t try to kiss you again,

but please, Hailey, talk this out with me.” She let me take her by

the hand and lead her to the elevator. I didn’t let her go as we rode

to the second floor. I was following her into her apartment when

my cell phone rang.

Seeing Kalen’s name on the ID worried me when I realized

how late it was. “Hey, what’s up?” I said as Hailey turned to look

at me.

“Mom just called. Dad is having chest pains, and they’re

going by ambulance to the hospital. I’ve booked us on the first

flight out, but that’s not until five. Can you pick me up at two

thirty?”

After Kalen assured me that she would call the minute she

heard anything, I closed my phone and sank down on Hailey’s

sofa. She sat next to me and draped an arm around my shoulders.

“What’s wrong?”

“My dad is on the way to the hospital with chest pains. I have

to catch a flight first thing in the morning,” I said in a daze.

Hailey put a finger under my chin and turned me to look

at her. “I promise that we’ll talk, but right now, you have more

important things on your mind.”

I nodded, feeling numb.

“Stay with me tonight. I promise I won’t let you oversleep.”

Hailey pulled me into her arms and pressed my head onto her

shoulder. It felt so good, so comforting.

“I have to pack.”

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Robin Alexander

Hailey stood and pulled me to my feet. “If you’d rather sleep

in your own bed, I’ll understand.”

“I don’t care where I sleep, not that I will, but I’d like you to

be close.”

She smiled and gave me a hug. “Let’s go get your things.”

I was thankful that I had Hailey to help me or I would’ve

made the trip without a change of underwear. I dressed for bed at

her place, and she pulled me into bed with her. Cocooned in her

arms, sleep came to me, though I doubted it would.

“Wake up, Shannon.”

Someone rubbed circles into my back, and someone licked

me in the face. I jerked back from the tongue that took a swipe up