Mad snickered.
Hailey went on. “Anyway, committing to myself in this way has made me realize it’s time to honor myself and line up my life’s work with my actual life.” She paused dramatically and took a deep breath. “I’ve had a friends-with-benefits situation for years, which I just ended. Right before I came here, actually.” Her eyes were wide and beseeching. “I know you must think I’m a total hypocrite being a happy ending facilitator—”
“Who’s the guy?” Ally interrupted, thrilled to hear the real deal. They’d all been wondering about Hailey for years. It was so odd how she acted like a relationship expert yet never mentioned any guy in her life ever.
“How come we never saw him?” Mad asked. “Is this one of those fake boyfriends?” She widened her brown eyes. “Sure, your boyfriend from Canada who we never see. Ri-i-i-ght.”
Hailey huffed. “He’s not from Canada. He’s my friend from college. We’ve always just sort of gotten together whenever, you know, casually. He lives in DC, and when he’s in New York on business, if he’s not seeing anyone, and I’m not seeing anyone—”
“Which you never are,” Mad put in.
Hailey ignored that. “Then I meet up with him at his hotel in the city. Liam’s a nice guy, well mannered, cultured.”
Missy got right to the point. “The sex must’ve been fantastic if this went on for years. Got a picture?”
Hailey whipped out her phone and showed Missy his picture.
“My God,” Missy breathed, “he looks like a model.”
“Gimme,” Mad said. The phone got passed around the table.
Ally finally got to check it out. She looked from the handsome strawberry blond Liam to the beautiful strawberry blond Hailey. “He actually looks a lot like you.”
Hailey walked over and took her phone back, staring at it. “I guess we do have similar coloring.”
“He’s the male version of you,” Ally said. “Right down to the high cheekbones.”
Sabrina grabbed the phone and stared at the picture.
“Maybe that’s why we were compatible,” Hailey said.
Sabrina looked up. “Do you think he’s your secret brother?”
Hailey snatched her phone back. “Omigod, no! I’m an only child. My dad died when I was three.”
“What if he had kids you don’t know about?” Sabrina asked gently.
“He’s not my brother!” Hailey exclaimed. “We’re the same age.”
“Same birthday?” Mad asked and, at Hailey’s fierce glare, added, “What? Twins happen.”
“No,” Hailey said. “Different birthdays. I’ve met his parents. He looks like them. It’s a coincidence.” She crossed to her seat and flopped down. “I think we’re getting off topic. I just wanted to share that I’m fully committing to our sologamy ceremony.”
Not good enough for Mad. “If he’s nice and the sex is good, how come you never got together with him?”
Hailey frowned. “I don’t know why we never fell in love. He wanted me. But unlike most guys, he was up front about why and that he only ever wanted casual.”
“What was his reason?” Ally asked. “I mean for why he wanted you.”
“Duh, sex,” Mad said.
“He liked my looks,” Hailey said in a small voice. And then louder, “Which at least was honest. I was tired of guys hitting on me only to be interested in the surface, leading me on like there might be more.”
“Oh, Hailey,” Claire said sympathetically, “I completely understand. Before Jake, men used me for what I could do for them in the industry, but you’re so much more than the package. I’m so glad you’re not going to settle anymore. You deserve more.”
Everyone chimed in their agreement.
Hailey wiped away a tear. “Thanks, ladies. I told myself the arrangement with Liam was ideal, but now I see it was a way of holding myself back. I always knew he’d be around. He’s been around for years now.”
