Robin Alexander - Pitifully Ugly

and spicy at the same time and went down smooth. It wasn’t long

before I’d finished it and another was being pressed into my

hand.

“Hmm, is that a Stanky Leg?” a familiar voice said from

behind.

I turned to find Zoe standing behind me with what looked

like a martini in her hand. “It is, and it’s not half bad.”

“Mind if I taste?” Zoe wrapped her hand around mine and

lifted the glass to her lips. Her gaze locked with mine as she took

a sip while I wished I had an ounce of her confidence. She licked

her lips and smiled before saying, “Tasty.” She let her fingertips

trail over the back of my hand as she released it.

“Would you like one?” I asked.

She held up her drink and leaned into me, pressing her body

against mine. “Maybe later. I tend to lose all my inhibitions when

I drink.”

I seriously doubted she had any inhibitions perfectly sober.

“Would you like to join us for dinner, Zoe?” Angela said,

appearing beside us.

Zoe slipped an arm around my waist as she turned to look at

Angela. “I wasn’t planning on eating, but now I’m feeling a bit

hungry,” Zoe said as she gave me a squeeze.

“Good.” Angela shot a quick glance at me. “I’ll let the hostess

know that we have another joining our party.”

I caught Marvin’s eye as I watched Angela walk off. He was

sporting a huge grin as he turned, leaving me alone with Zoe.

“What are your plans for the rest of the evening?” Zoe asked,

keeping me in her grip.

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Pitifully Ugly

I felt awkward when I turned to look at her. Our faces were

mere inches apart. I hoped that the Stanky Leg on my breath was

covering the onions I had on my salad at lunch. “I don’t have any,”

I said, trying to sound at ease.

Zoe smiled and looked at my lips. “Well, maybe that will

change.”

“I’ve spoken to the hostess, and she’s ready to seat us now,”

Angela said as she stepped into my line of sight. “Shall we?” She

motioned toward the dining room. Without waiting for a response,

she took my hand and led me through the crowd. I looked back

at Marvin, who had offered his arm to Zoe and was leading her

along behind us.

Angela seemed to be in a hurry as she pulled me along. I did

my best to keep up and stay upright on the high heels I rarely

wore. I got the distinct impression that she was uncomfortable

with the way Zoe and I were behaving. When we were led to the

table, she inserted herself between Zoe and me so that we were

forced to sit across from each other.

“So, Shannon, are you nervous about the presentation

tomorrow?” Angela asked after she ordered another round of

Stankys for us all.

I wanted to say no, but since I was doing this for her, I felt

she should share in some of the nervous anticipation that I was

feeling. “I’m terrified.”

“You’ve spoken publicly before,” Angela said with a smile

that faltered. “Haven’t you?”

I shook my head. “Kalen is the mouth and I’m the brain.”

I chanced a quick glance at Zoe, who seemed to be enjoying

Angela’s unease.

“The speech has already been prepared, and Shannon knows

it in her sleep, “Marvin said.

Angela nodded and looked back at me. “Let me give you

some advice. First get a good night’s sleep.” Angela jumped like

she’d been kicked under the table. She glanced angrily at Zoe for

a fleeting second and looked back at me. “You don’t really need

to come to the booth tomorrow. Have a massage in your room.

That’s what I do when I have to give a presentation. You’ll be nice

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Robin Alexander

and relaxed, and the speech will be over before you know it.”

“I find the Jacuzzi to be equally as relaxing,” Zoe said. She

tilted her head and looked at me with a smoldering gaze. “I have

one in my room.”

I couldn’t look at Zoe for more than a second. The promise

of sex practically oozed from her pores. I looked back at Angela,

then the muscles in her jaw twitched. She seemed pissed.

Marvin gazed back at me and smiled when I looked at him.

As though my discomfort was obvious, he spoke up. “Ladies, I

think all this relaxation talk might be making things worse.”

I nodded and looked around the table sheepishly. “What

I need right now is some food. These Stanky things are going

straight to my head.”

We ordered dinner, and the tension between Zoe and Angela

seemed to lift. The discussion went back to the convention and

the gossip that was floating around among competing salons and

vendors. I had no interest in any of it, so I concentrated on my

steak. The food seemed to clear some of the haze from my brain.

I ate fast, hoping that I could somehow draw this evening to a

quick close.

“Excuse me.” I stood, hoping that I wasn’t going to stagger.

“I’m going to the ladies’ room.”

Zoe looked as though she were about to get up, as well, when

Angela jumped up and took my arm. “I’ll go with you.”

Angela stood with her arms folded, leaning against the vanity

when I came out of the bathroom stall. “Feeling all right?”

I washed my hands and wet a towel that I held to my neck.

“Are you and Zoe…?” I let the meaning of my question hang in

the air.

“God, no, she’s a pariah, and I’m straight.”

“Then what’s the deal?”

“Your sister gave me strict instructions to keep you away

from her. She likes to brag about her conquests. If she beds you,

everyone will know about it before breakfast.”

“Then why did you invite her to dinner?” I asked, feeling a

bit pissed that I was being chaperoned by not only Marvin, but

Angela, too.

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Pitifully Ugly

“She’s a client.” Angela sighed.

“I’ll make it easy on you,” I said, feeling very tired and

longing for bed—alone. “I’m ready to turn in for the night, and

not with Zoe.”

My cell phone buzzed in my pocket. I fished it out and looked

at the screen. She’s headed for the bathroom. Somebody stopped

her, don’t know how long—

“Zoe’s on her way in here,” I said quickly and stuffed my

phone into my pocket. Maybe it was the Stanky Legs or maybe

it was just spite, but I pulled Angela into my arms and laid one

on her.

I heard the bathroom door open and Zoe say, “ah,” then

chuckle.

I tried to appear surprised at the interruption. Angela didn’t

have to act as she stood there with her lipstick smeared. “We…

uh…we don’t tell anyone.” I gestured between Angela and me. “It

might be considered unprofessional.”

“Your secret is safe with me,” Zoe said with a smirk as she

slipped into one of the stalls. This time, I took Angela’s hand and

led her back to the table.

I motioned for the check once we were seated. I looked over

at Angela, who still looked stunned. “I don’t think either of us has

to worry about Zoe now.” I reached over and wiped some of my

lipstick off of Angela’s bottom lip. “And tell my sister that I can

take care of myself.”

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Robin Alexander

Chapter 20

Valium is not my friend.

The next morning, Marvin was still laughing at my antics

from the previous evening. He begged to be the one to tell Kalen

what happened, but I thought it would have more impact if