Chapter 7
What the hell does love have to do with tennis?
The next morning, I had a tennis date. I couldn’t think of a
better way to start the day, although I’d be working late hours to
make up for the playtime. For a straight woman, Hailey had no
problem with standing close behind me as she showed me how to
swing the racket for a serve. With her hand on mine, we swung
the racket as a machine hurled balls at us with startling speed. We
thwacked what seemed like a hundred balls before we took to the
court to play.
“We’re not going to try to keep score today,” Hailey reassured
me. “Just get used to the volley for now.”
I watched her saunter off in a pair of white shorts pulled tight
across her ass with her front pockets full of balls. Many jokes
came to mind, but I kept them to myself. Within minutes, Hailey
was dripping with sweat, and she pulled off her sweatshirt as she
chased down the balls I managed to lob across the net. Her damp
T-shirt clung to her body, distracting me, and my returns only
became more erratic.
We took a break to collect all the balls that were lying around
the court. I bent over to pick up the first and heard that familiar
thwack, then felt a sting in my ass. When I turned around, Hailey
was busy picking up balls and didn’t look my way. I picked up
two more and a ball sailed over my right shoulder. It was war.
Serious tennis players with their multiple rackets and carts
of balls stopped to watch us hit balls at each other. I failed to hit
Robin Alexander
Hailey once, but she nailed me more times than I could count.
We were laughing so hard that neither of us was able to catch our
breath. Winded and exhausted, we sat on a bench and watched
people who actually knew what they were doing play for a
while.
“I’m going to hate it when I have to go back to work on
Monday. I won’t be able to play during the day anymore,” Hailey
said as she wiped sweat from her brow.
“We could come out after you get off work if you want.”
“Really? You’d want to do this again?” she asked with a warm
smile.
“Only if we can hit balls at each other after my lessons.”
“You’ve got a deal,” she said, thrusting out her hand.
I shook her hand briefly, and sadness washed over me. Why
couldn’t I meet someone like Hailey? Why did I always end up
with women like psycho Jackie or anal Stacy?
“I guess I need to get home. I’m sure Grease is finished
playing, and Fuzzy will need a potty break.”
After a shower, I tried to delve into my work, but I found
myself checking my messages from the Rainbow Room in hopes
that Newbie had sent me a message. It wasn’t out of the realm of
possibility that she’d met someone who she was already dating.
Her rejection, kind as it was, still stung and intensified more with
her silence.
I could write her, I thought as I stared at the screen. Just to let
her know I was interested. And then I thought of Stacy and how
badly that’d gone, and I let the idea drop. I was on my way down
the self-pity highway when I heard a knock at the door. I opened
it to Fuzzy standing in the hall with her ball, which she wiped on
the front of my pants.
“Are you inviting me to play ball with you?” She growled and
walked in place for a second.
Hailey peeped around the corner and smiled. “She’s very
jealous that she wasn’t invited to play today. I know you’re
working, but she’s been bitching about it all morning, and I
thought you might like to take a break.”
4
Pitifully Ugly
“I was going to agree as long as she didn’t hit me with the
ball, but she’s already done that.” I pointed at the slobber stain on
my pants leg. “Wanna come in while I get my coat?”
Fuzzy and Hailey stepped in at the same time, and both
looked around, surveying my place. “Yours is bigger, I think,”
Hailey said as she walked farther into the room.
“I could make a few jokes with that statement, but I’ll spare
you my sick humor,” I said with a wicked grin.
“Yes, please,” Hailey said with a laugh. “While I’m here, you
should give me the nickel tour.”
As we walked from room to room, Fuzzy’s claws tapped
lightly on the hardwood floor. She followed, surveying everything
with a sniff, but shied away from the bathroom when we walked
in. “She doesn’t like the bathroom, it has a tub,” Hailey said in
a whisper.
“I’ve never washed a dog in here.” I looked at Fuzzy in the
doorway. She gave a small snort of what I perceived as disbelief
and backed down the hall with a wary look.
“I love these old claw-footed tubs,” Hailey said as she eyed
mine. “Fuzzy doesn’t appreciate them much, though. She doesn’t
get the appeal of soaking for hours while reading a good book.”
I thought back to the night I soaked for hours in mine. I
silently prayed that Hailey didn’t peek in my kitchen garbage can
because the murdered strap-on was still in there.
“You keep Bath & Body Works in business, don’t you?”
Hailey picked up one of numerous bottles of bath salts.
“My sister’s weakness is antiques, and mine is bath
accoutrements. Just don’t look in the cabinet. You might start an
avalanche.”
We moved down the hall first to the spare bedroom that served
as my filing room. “I see you decorate in early American office,”
Hailey said as she looked at the cabinets lining the walls.
“Yes, not everyone can pull off the look, but personally, I
think I rock it.”
“Do you furnish your bedroom the same way?” Hailey asked
with a grin.
Robin Alexander
My face flushed.
She cupped a hand over her gaping mouth and turned on one
heel. Her gasp was loud when she threw open my bedroom door.
“As I said, my passion is bath gels and body sprays. I don’t
have any interest in shopping for furniture.”
Hailey walked over to one of two file cabinets and looked at
me. “Go ahead.”
She opened the top drawer of the first cabinet and her eyes
went wide when she saw all my T-shirts neatly tucked inside.
I folded my arms and leaned against the doorway as she
opened each drawer and laughed. “What can I say? Stylish yet
functional.”
She ran a hand through her curls and looked at me. “Well,
I suppose you never have to worry about anyone stealing your
clothes.”
We walked back into the living room, and Hailey looked at
some of my framed prints hanging on the wall. “I’ve tried to hang
a few pictures, but I can’t get a nail in the mortar.”
“You need a special drill bit. I have one if you want some
help.”
Hailey grinned back at me with her hands on her hips. “I
suppose you keep your tools packed away in a file cabinet?”
“As a matter of fact, I do,” I said with a grin of my own.
“Shall I fetch my drill?”
“Yes, please.”
Fuzzy chose that moment to growl in protest, and the slimy
ball was once again rubbed on my pants leg. “Okay, we’ll play
ball first.” I looked back up at Hailey with a mock scowl. “Now
you have me talking to your dog.”
After a long, long game of bounce and catch with Fuzzy, we
went back upstairs to Hailey’s apartment. Her furnishings were
not so utilitarian. Every piece of furniture was a dark cherry
that stood out against the light wood floors. Thick rugs gave
it a comfortable feel, unlike my naked floors. I kicked off my
shoes, afraid that I’d track something on them. Fuzzy led me to
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her corner of the living room first, so I could see her dog bed and
toy basket. She plucked out a few and rubbed them on my leg.
Fortunately, they were dry.
Hailey’s bedroom was equally cozy, if not more so than the
living room. In the corner was a sitting area with a chaise longue
and a small table with a reading lamp. I dug my bare toes into the
thick rug that covered much of the floor and gazed at her bed.
For a split second, I saw us lying there together, legs and arms
entwined.
“I haven’t done anything with the spare bedroom yet,” Hailey
said, calling my attention. “It’s still full of boxes that I’m in no
hurry to unpack.”
Even though she had no idea of what had crossed my mind,
I felt transparent and embarrassed. I backed out of the room,
thankful that Fuzzy was at my side demanding attention. We
played tug-of-war with a rabbit that she’d chewed the ears off of.
“You tell me where you want the holes, and I’ll make them,”
I said as I regained my composure.
We spent the next hour hanging her pictures, frequently
taking breaks to wrestle with Fuzzy and her mangled rabbit.
When the job was done, I planned to leave so as not to overstay
my welcome. Plus I’d totally blown off work for the day, and the
stress of being behind was creeping up my neck.
“Would you like to stay for dinner?” Hailey asked. “I was
going to make grilled pork chops.”
It was just after three and nowhere near dinnertime. “As much
as I’d like to say yes, I have a ton of work that I didn’t do today.”
Hailey looked at me apologetically. “That’s my fault, isn’t it?”
“No,” I said with a reassuring smile. “I enjoyed myself.”
“Well, why don’t you go home and work and I’ll have dinner
ready for six? You have to eat.”
“Great idea. What can I bring?”
“Nothing at all, you did all the work today with my pictures,”
Hailey said with a pleased smile. “It feels more like home here
now.”I gave her my phone number. “If you find that you need
anything, call me and I’ll run out for it.”
Robin Alexander
I put on a pot of coffee when I got home and dove into more
bank reconciliations. About an hour later, I realized that I’d not
poured myself a cup, so after a quick trip to the kitchen, I settled
back at my desk. Out of curiosity, I checked my messages, and to
my surprise, a new one from Newbie had arrived.
Hi, P.U.,
I hope you’re doing wel . Sorry that I haven’t written. I’ve
been a bit busy the last few days. I’d like to ask you a question.
Are you completely honest with the women you chat with here?
Newbie
I thought the question odd at first, but I answered anyway.
Hi, Newbie,
Nice to hear from you. I don’t answer any questions that I’m
not comfortable with, like telling someone where I live, but the
responses I choose to give are honest. Why do you ask?
P.U.
I turned up the sound on my computer so that if she did
answer, I’d hear the tone when the message hit my box. Twenty
minutes went by, and I heard the tone.
Hi, P.U.,
Thank you for your prompt answer. I’ve met someone I
real y like, and I haven’t exactly lied to her, but I haven’t been
forthcoming with the entire truth. I think she might be upset with
me when I tell her, but I don’t want to go on perpetuating half
truths because I think she’s someone I real y want to get to know.
Do you have advice?
Newbie
I sat blinking at the screen. Maybe it was stupid. Maybe I’d
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read too much into our conversations, but her earlier rebuff stung.
I didn’t take the time to think about my response.
Newbie,
Keep up the lie and hope she never finds out. That’s how the
game is played.
Good luck,
P.U.
I regretted the harsh response the minute I hit the send button.
The fault was my own. I should’ve responded to her last e-mail
when she told me she wasn’t ready to meet me. I went back and
read all of our prior e-mails, and they were brief and polite. I’d
read too much into them. I was too embarrassed to write her back
again. It was time to get my head on straight and leave Newbie
alone.
To make things worse, Hailey called me. She sounded upset.
“Hey, Shannon, I’m sorry, but I’m gonna have to cancel our dinner
plans. Something has come up, and I’m gonna have to step out for
a while. I’m sorry.”
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine, just bad timing, I guess.”
“You want me to keep Fuzzy while you’re out?”
“No, I appreciate the offer, but she’ll be fine. I’ll talk to you
later.”
She disconnected before I could reply.
Robin Alexander