Page 16 of Missing Pieces (Men of Manhattan 3)

"How many girlfriends have you had total?" Hailey asked.

"With the same rules about labels and the talk?"

"Yeah."

"Four. Why did you break up with your only boyfriend?" I asked.

She didn't look excited by the question. "He cheated on me."

"Sounds like a quality guy."

"Absolutely. He cheated on me with my best friend at the time. And now they're married and expecting their first child."

Damn. "Ouch."

"It doesn't bother me anymore," she said with a shrug. "Honestly it's like you said...we weren't really compatible. How many girls have you slept with?"

I thought about it for a second. "Nine."

"You have triple my experience then." Her eyes stayed locked on mine. She was basically a professional flirter. But her gaze still affected me.

"I guess so," I said.

She looked back down at her half-eaten omelet.

"Why didn't you just ask to share a room with me last night?" I asked.

"Because I don't know you."

"That didn't stop you from climbing in my car."

"That's different. I was awake. Who knows what you'd do to me if I was sleeping with you. I mean, in the same room. Not having sex with you. Obviously." She laughed and her cheeks got slightly rosy.

I wanted to do all sorts of things to her. But not when she was sleeping. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe she was exactly what I needed to move on. It was pretty obvious that she wanted me. The way she was making fun of the waitress who was clearly flirting with me. But she also didn't seem to realize that I didn't give a shit about the waitress because I only wanted to look at the girl across from me. Didn't she know how pretty she was?

"My turn, right?" Hailey asked.

I nodded and pushed aside my empty coffee glass.

"How many men have you slept with?" she said with a smile.

I laughed. "I'm not gay."

"If you say so." She pulled out a 20 dollar bill and set it on the table. "Come on, we need to put a few states behind us today."

"I got this," I said and pulled out my wallet.

"Despite what you think, I don't actually need your help, Tyler."

And just like a switch, it seemed like she hated me again. "I wasn't trying to..."

"You can pay next time." She slid out of the booth. "We'll take turns."

I stood up and stretched. "Okay. If that's what you want."

"Like I said, I'm not going to inconvenience you at all. I'm just going to encourage you to get to California as fast as humanly possible so that I can get back home." She walked out of the restaurant without waiting for me.

I had been wallowing for a whole week. I was sick of my own thoughts. The toxicity that seemed to pour off of Hailey was somehow just what I needed. And I wanted to know more about her. I slid out of the booth and quickly followed her outside. That had always been part of my problem. I liked the chase. I liked when girls made me work for it. Apparently I was a glutton for punishment.

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