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.
12
Pitifully Ugly
“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.
1
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.
14
Pitifully Ugly
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.
“I have no idea.”
Mom and Kalen exchanged glances again. “You don’t know?”
Kalen asked before she shoveled another spoonful of fruit into
her mouth.
Mom grabbed my arm. “Honey, it’s got to be somewhere
special.”
“Well, I wasn’t thinking about McDonald’s,” I said nervously
as they looked at me like I was crazy.
“What about Antoine’s, Court of Two Sisters, or Arnaud’s?”
Kalen ticked off on her fingers. “Those are all romantic places.”
“Yes, excellent choices,” Mom agreed.
“Now what are you going to wear?” Kalen waved her fork at
me. “Well, I was planning on jeans.”
“No,” Mom and Kalen said in unison.
I dropped my napkin onto the table. “I’m not showing up at
her place in a prom dress.”
“Do you have something sexy?” Mom asked.
“Mom!”
“What?”
“I feel funny about discussing this with you.”
“Well, honey, I know lesbians do more than just talk.”
“Are we done here?” I looked around to see if anyone else
was listening to the conversation.
“I think we need to go shopping,” Kalen said, ignoring me.
“Maybe visit Victoria’s Secret.”
Mom gave me a teasing grin. “I think you’d look really nice
in a pair of black slacks, you know the ones that ride low on your
waist with a snug-fitting top. Something to show off that new
figure of yours.”
1
Robin Alexander
“The malls are full of sales,” Kalen offered seriously. “And
Mom says I need to walk a lot to combat fluid buildup.” She
batted her eyes at me.
“What’s up with you?” I narrowed my eyes at Kalen. “You
haven’t been hip on me seeing Hailey at all, and now you want to
dress me up for her.”
Kalen popped an orange slice into her mouth and looked at
Mom.
Mom gave a warning glance at Kalen and smiled at me. “We’ve
had a talk. Now about dinner. You need to make a reservation,
instead of winging it.”
Kalen pulled out her phone and had the number to Arnaud’s
in about half a minute. “Want me to call for you?”
“Yes,” my mother replied before I could and turned to me.
“We are going shopping.”
“Seven was the best they could do,” Kalen said as she set her
phone down.
“I need to call Hailey. That’s what time I’m supposed to pick
her up.”
The noon sun felt good on my face as I stepped outside
and dialed Hailey’s number. “Hey,” she said brightly when she
answered.
“Hi, have you recovered from last night’s hike?” I asked.
“I have, but Fuzzy is on nap number two. Are we still on for
tonight?”
“Yes, but I’m going to have to pick you up at six thirty instead
of seven. We have reservations at Arnaud’s.”
“Oh, wow, I’ve heard about that place. Very pricey.” Hailey
lowered her tone, sounding sultry. “Are you trying to impress
me?”“Yes?”
Hailey laughed. “I’m already impressed. Dinner at McDonald’s