Kalen sashayed around. “That’s because I stayed by the pool

the entire time we were aboard the ship and ate like a complete

pig while Todd played in the casino.”

“You need a loan now? Did he blow the savings?” I asked

with a grin.

“Nah, he works his ass off, he deserved his playtime.” Kalen

circled me and looked me over from head to toe. “What got into

you, girl…or who?”

I shrugged. “It was time for a change, and since I wasn’t going

to lunch and eating in reckless abandon every day, the weight just

dropped off.” I left out the part that I didn’t have much of an

appetite for the last week. The distance between Hailey and I had

gnawed at me.

Kalen grabbed me by the wrists. “Let’s go have a light lunch,

then go shopping.”

I picked around my salad and ate half a cup of soup as I listened

to the details of the trip. Kalen showed me countless pictures on

her digital camera. Most were of men lounging poolside. She was

faithful to Todd, but she did a hell of a lot of window shopping.

1

Robin Alexander

“You haven’t eaten a lot,” I said, pointing to her salad.

Kalen rubbed her stomach. “I’ve been queasy a lot lately. I

might’ve picked up a bug or something on the ship. Then again,

maybe I’m getting used to being on solid ground again. It’s nothing

that a shopping trip won’t cure,” she said around a yawn.

Kalen dragged me through endless stores at the mall. I did

buy a few pairs of jeans and a couple of sweaters, but my heart

wasn’t in the hunt. Kalen was pulling shirts off the rack and

holding them in front of me when she looked at me oddly.

“Something is bothering you.” She narrowed her eyes.

I’d done my best to laugh and look like I was enjoying myself,

but Kalen had that ability to see right through whatever veneer I

tried to hide behind.

She replaced the shirt she was holding on the rack, and with

a twinkle in her eye, said, “It’s time for dessert.”

La Madeleine’s pastries were a weakness of mine, but I could

only manage a few bites of a tart. Kalen was watching every move

like a hawk. “Tell me what it is, sis.” She took my hand. She had

inhaled her Danish and was looking at my plate with sugar lust.

“It’s nothing, really. I’ve become friends with a new tenant in

the building, and I think I may’ve done something to offend her.”

“Have you asked her about it?”

“No. I…haven’t seen her lately. The last time I caught up with

her, she said she was really busy at work. I didn’t want to bug

her.”“Is there a romantic interest between the two of you?” Kalen

asked. Her eyes were like laser beams.

“She’s straight and divorced, so no.” I told her about our

tennis game and how Hailey’s dog was a movie buff. Also, I told

her about the last day we hung out together and how everything

went great, then seemed to turn sour.

“Think you might have a crush on her?” Kalen asked.

“I said no. We’re just friends…or were.”

Kalen rested her chin in her hand and stared at me. “You had

a glow about you when you were talking about her, that’s why I

asked.”

2

Pitifully Ugly

“I know I can’t have her, so I don’t let myself go there. I

just…wish I could meet someone like her. She makes me feel

comfortable.”

“You have to look at the positive, love. Before recently, you

didn’t feel ‘comfortable’ around anyone but me. Maybe this

friendship is a precursor to meeting that someone special.”

With those words banging around in my head that evening at

home, I returned to the Rainbow Room. I weeded out the freak

nasty messages and looked hard at one that had potential.

Hello, Pitifully Ugly,

You’re not going to believe this, but this real y is my first go-

round at the online thing. I’ve been a member for a month now,

and I’ve visited your page a dozen times before I worked up the

courage to write you. Even though what you wrote about yourself

was funny, you didn’t answer any of the profile questions. So to

be honest, I was hesitant to make contact. But I have chatted with

a few women on here I thought were decent, and that turned out

not to be the case. So I’m taking a chance.

I’ve lived in New Orleans for a few years. My last relationship

ended amicably six months ago, and I’m ready to meet someone

nice. So if you’re a good person, and you would like to talk, I’d

like to hear from you.

Marci

P.S. Avoid “Charity” like the plague. She’s seriously

twisted.

If Marci thought Charity was twisted, she might just be worth

a try.

Hi, Marci,

My profile is odd, I admit that. I couldn’t think of anything

that I thought was eye-catching, so what you’ve read was what

I came up with. Maybe I’ll update it when I’m not having a few

glasses of wine.

I hear what you’re saying about the people on here. It’s hard

Robin Alexander

to judge character when you’re looking at a computer screen.

For all you know, I could be a six hundred-pound man with back

hair, but I’m not. I’m just your average girl who’s on the shy side,

hoping to meet someone nice, too.

Instead of asking the usual sil y questions, let me ask you

something off the wal . If you could change anything about

yourself, what would it be?

P.U.

I turned up the volume on my computer and put my new

clothes in the wash. I heard the ding of a new message when I

walked back into the living room.

Hey, P.U.,

As they say, we are all our harshest critics. If I had to pick

one thing from my long list, it would be to let my hair down more

often and jump into new things with both feet. I have a terrible

habit of second-guessing myself and being too afraid of just

getting out there, ya know?

Marci

Yes, I did know. I silently prayed that I wasn’t talking to a six

hundred-pound furry freak man and replied.

Hi, Marci,

I know exactly what you’re saying. I also know that we can

hide behind these computers for months being afraid to take

the next step. So with that said, would you like to have coffee

sometime? We could meet in a public place, and if it doesn’t work

out, we’ll know right off the bat.

I realized that I kind of sounded as blunt as Charity, so I had

to add a disclaimer.

I see that you too have encountered Charity, and I assure you

that I’m nothing like her. <grin>

P.U.

4

Pitifully Ugly

We talked for another two hours, and I had a date for drinks

the next evening.

It’s funny how new clothes that fit well instill confidence.

I was nervous, sure, but I was pleased with my reflection in the

mirror. I kept telling myself that this was no big deal, just a couple

of drinks, and if things didn’t work out, I’d never see Marci again.

It was a lot better than being fixed up by someone you knew and

that person would know all the gory date details. If I made a fool

of myself, only one other person would have to know.

I met up with Hailey in the courtyard as she came home

from work. She looked tired, and I didn’t try to keep her. I hoped

that it was just what she said—busy with work. The gnawing

in my stomach and the tiny voice in the back of my mind said

otherwise.

“Long day?” I asked as she approached.

“Very.” Hailey swiped a strand of hair from her eyes. “You

look nice.”

“Thank you. I…I’m meeting someone for drinks.”

Her face held no expression. “I hope it goes better for you

than last time,” she said wearily.

“I appreciate that.” An awkward silence settled between us.

“Well, I better get going. I hope things get better for you at the

office.”

She shot me a halfhearted smile and walked away.

“Hailey,” I called out, causing her to stop and look back at

me. “If I did something to offend you, I hope you’ll tell me.”

She looked as though she were going to say something, then

shook her head. “Stop worrying, everything’s okay. Maybe we

can play tennis again next week.”

“Okay,” I said as I watched her go.

Marci, to my delight, was neither a man nor anything like

Charity. She was a cutie with a vivacious personality to boot. She

did most of the talking, which made things easier on me. She had

a raspy voice that I found sexy, and I could’ve listened to it for

hours. In fact, I did.

Robin Alexander