Pitifully Ugly

Chapter 28

Fuzzy favors.

On the drive home, I mentally rehearsed several scenarios for

asking Hailey out. I prepared myself for possible rejection, but

Hailey was going to have to come right out and tell me that she

didn’t want me before I’d give up. And if she did? I was moving

to Peru.

When I got off the elevator, I found Hailey standing in front

of my apartment with a leash in her hands. Her eyes were red and

puffy when she looked at me. With a small cry, she moved into

my arms and held me tight. “Fuzzy ran away,” she said with a sob.

“I can’t find her anywhere.”

With one arm around her waist, I opened the door to my

apartment and pulled her inside. “Just let me change my shoes

and we’ll go look together,” I said as I reluctantly let her go. I ran

into my room and tossed my boots into the closet and grabbed my

sneakers. “Where were you when she got away?” I asked when I

came back into the room.

Hailey turned from my window. “We were in the park. I was

talking to this guy who had a dog that sort of looked like her, and

when I turned around, she was gone.” Hailey’s face transformed

from sadness to panic. “She’s never run away. Do you think

someone took her?”

The same thought went through my mind as I pulled her into

my arms. “Maybe she chased a squirrel or something. I promise

that we’ll turn this city upside down until we find her.”

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Robin Alexander

We left the building on foot, retracing their steps toward the

park with both of us yelling, “Fuzzy,” at the top of our lungs.

Someone yelled back “navel.” At any other time, I would’ve found

that hilarious, but Hailey looked so distraught.

“Was she wearing her collar?” I asked.

“Yes, it has my phone number on it. Hopefully, someone

will call me—” Hailey patted her jacket pockets frantically until

she found her cell phone. “Wouldn’t you call if you found a dog

roaming?”

“Of course I would.” I tried not to let Hailey’s panic infect me

as we walked. One of us had to keep a cool head, though horrible

scenarios were running through my mind. Cars barreled through

the narrow streets of the Quarter without regard for pedestrians,

much less an animal. I worried with every corner we turned that

we’d find Fuzzy lying in the street. I couldn’t bear the thought of

Hailey seeing that.

We passed another couple walking their dog along the street.

“Have you seen a blond fluffy dog that sort of looks like a golden

retriever?” I asked.

The woman looked at us with compassion and shook her

head. “We’ll keep an eye out for her,” her husband offered. “Do

you have a number we can call if we spot her?”

I gave him my number and Hailey’s that he jotted on a card

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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Pitifully Ugly

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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Robin Alexander

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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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.

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Robin Alexander