Robin Alexander - Pitifully Ugly

in his wallet. “There’s a five hundred-dollar reward for anyone

who finds her.”

“Shannon,” Hailey began when we walked away.

“I’ll pay it.” I wiped the tear that streaked her cheek. “I would

pay anything to wipe that painful look from your face.” Hailey

smiled through her tears, but I didn’t allow her to say anything as

I took her by the hand and hurried toward the park.

“We were right here,” Hailey said as we stood on the winding

park walk. “See, here’s her ball.” Hailey bent down and scooped

up the dirty tennis ball with a sob. “I shouldn’t have let her off

the leash, but there’s a gate, and I didn’t think she’d be able to get

out.”We walked every inch of the park, weaving through branches

of live oaks, calling for Fuzzy. Then we circled the outside. Hailey

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checked her cell phone nearly every step. My heart was growing

heavy as dusk approached.

“Do you walk the same route every time you come here?” I

asked.

Hailey frowned. “No, I switch it up all the time.”

“Okay, let’s take every one. Maybe she’s following her trail

home.”

We walked back to the apartment twice and still no Fuzzy. In

my mind, I was designing flyers that we would pin to every pole

within a ten-mile radius. I looked over at Hailey. Her shoulders

slumped in defeat and exhaustion.

“Once more, okay?” I rubbed her shoulders. She nodded

wearily as we trekked back toward the park.

Knowing Fuzzy as we did, we should’ve hiked the last route

first. The smell of Chinese food wafted on the breeze. Hailey and

I looked at each other and quickened our pace. In front of her

favorite restaurant sat Fuzzy looking expectantly at the doors.

Hailey sank to her knees and hugged the stupid mutt’s neck while

Fuzzy looked up to me as if to say, I hope you brought your wallet,

you owe me chicken on a stick . That was one reward she wasn’t

getting from either of us.

“I came this way twice before I came to find you.” Hailey

looked at me as she tugged the leash from her pocket and clipped

it to Fuzzy’s collar. She stood without a word and latched onto my

neck, hugging me tight. “Thank you so much. You have no idea

how much your willingness to help means to me.”

I allowed myself the enjoyment of being in her arms for a

minute before saying, “I’d do it again and again, but if you buy

her chicken on a stick anytime soon, I will choke you both.”

Despite my aching feet, the walk back to our building was the

most enjoyable stroll we’d ever taken together. Hailey looped her

arm through mine as Fuzzy led us at a leisurely pace. “I didn’t

realize that I was starving the whole time we were looking for

Fuzzy,” Hailey said when we entered the courtyard. “Would you

join me for a late dinner?”

There was no hesitation as I jumped at the offer. “I’m sure I’ll

enjoy whatever you’re serving even if it’s liver.”

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Hailey made a disgusted face, but Fuzzy seemed interested.

“I was thinking more along the lines of eggs and fried potatoes

and maybe some bacon.”

“Much better than liver. I’ll peel the potatoes,” I said with a

smile.

Fuzzy made no complaints about eating her dog food, after

which she sprawled out on the living room floor and actually

snored while Hailey and I ate.

“She’s a cute little shit,” I said between bites. “I didn’t want to

tell you, but I was so afraid that we wouldn’t find her.”

“I could see it on your face.” Hailey looked over at me. “You

were so reassuring, but I could see the worry in your eyes. That

was more comforting to me than anything you said. It shows you

care.”

“I won’t deny that I’m attached to her chicken-chasing ass, but

if I were to be honest, I’d have to say that I was equally worried

about you, if not more so.” I looked at Hailey unflinchingly. “I’ve

tried hard not to care for you, but I do.”

Hailey looked away and pushed her plate back. I wasn’t

expecting her to jump into my arms, but a smile would’ve been a

bit encouraging. “I’m tired and I know you are, too.” I gathered

our plates and took them to the sink. Hailey picked up the glasses

and followed me into the kitchen.

She gently grabbed my arm when I began to scrape the plates.

“Don’t clean up. You’ve done enough already.”

I backed away from her touch. She was looking at me oddly

like she wanted to say something, but for whatever reason, she

couldn’t. “Thank you,” she said finally and moved in close to

give me a hug. I pulled her into my arms and kissed her hard. Her

surprise lasted for only a second before she gave into my lips. Her

body felt hot as she molded into me, but the kiss burned hotter.

I pulled away breathless, still holding on to her. “Deny what

you will, Hailey, but when you kiss me back, I feel what you refuse

to say.” I let her go and walked toward the door. When I turned

back to look at her, she was still standing in the same spot. Her

cheeks were flushed, and her lips were bruised from my kiss.

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“That’s the second time I forced a kiss on you. The next time,

you’ll meet me willingly.”

I watched as a small smile crept across her face. “Next

time?”

“Yep, like after dinner tomorrow night.”

“I’ll be ready at seven,” Hailey said haughtily, matching my

tone.“See you then.” I walked briskly out of her apartment and

past the elevator. I ran up the stairs to stave off the urge to charge

back into her apartment.

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Robin Alexander

Chapter 29

The Southern inquisition…

I awoke the next morning feeling less cocky than I did when

I left Hailey’s apartment. I didn’t think she would back out on

our date. What worried me was the way I felt when I kissed her.

I barely had enough control to back away from her then, and that

night, I wondered if I had the restraint to keep things from getting

out of hand. I tasted the passion in her kiss, but I didn’t want to

destroy the progress we’d made by jumping on her like a wild

herd of hormones out of control.

My phone rang as my body responded to the memory of

Hailey’s sigh when she gave into my kiss. The way her hips felt as

she pressed into me—

“What, Kalen?” I said as I answered on the fourth ring.

“Is that how you answer your sister when she calls?”

“Sorry, Mom, and yes, I do bark at her when she calls me first

thing in the morning,” I said with a laugh. “Had you called me

from your phone, I would’ve been sweet.”

“Kalen and I were discussing brunch. Why don’t you join

us?”I wanted to stay in my lust-induced haze, but it was probably

best if I didn’t. “How about I pick y’all up at ten?”

I watched as Mom took the salt shaker from Kalen’s hand for

the third time. “The eggs are bland,” Kalen complained before

attacking a bowl of mandarin oranges.

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Mom looked over at me and smiled. “You look terrific this

morning. Get a good night’s sleep?”

“I did, and I have a date tonight.”

Mom and Kalen exchanged glances. “With Hailey?” Kalen

asked.

“Yep.” I knew I was beaming.

“Where are you taking her, sweetie?” Mom asked.