CHAPTER TWO: ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE

 
Meanwhile back at Chances: Torrid was on her game tonight, winning game after game of 9 ball. She was having fun, and feeling at ease. Talking to Liz made her feel better about the whole Monica situation and she was going to let Monica have her space and ease up a bit. She loved Monica; wanted to make it work. It had been so easy in the beginning, but now everything seemed hard. 
Well, I am going to try harder, she thought to herself as she sipped her beer and lined up her shot, Monica is a special woman, my muse. She smiled and nailed her shot.
“Okay fuckers…that’s $50 bucks you owe me…so pay up!” she laughed to her friends Ariel and Sue. They laughed back and offered her their middle fingers as payment in full. “Fuck you Torrid—slide on this!” Sue laughed. Torrid smiled; it had been ages since she had hung out with these two mad caps. Ariel had been in Boston for a long time working, and finally got a transfer back home, and Sue was a cop who lived in Austin, about three hours away. It seemed like every time they were all in the city at the same time Torrid had plans with Monica, who did not like her friends. She couldn’t understand what it was about Monica. When they did things alone it seemed fine, but when she made advances or overtures toward sex, Monica froze up or pushed her away. She frowned.
“Awe”, said Ariel, “What’s the matter, T—the little woman still not putting out?” she teased. Torrid sneered.
“Whoa! Hey, I was kidding!” Ariel corrected, worried to have offended her friend. “Is everything okay with you two?”  
“Well, she’s been distant for months.” Torrid explained.
”She’s cheating on you.” Sue said seriously.  
Torrid narrowed her brows and stared at Sue, “Bullshit. Monica is not the cheating kind! She’s just going through something.”  
“Where is she now?” Sue asked soberly.  
“Having dinner with her old friends from college.” Torrid said proudly.  
“Are you sure?” Ariel interjected.  
“Hey—what the fuck is this? You two always bitch about me not being about to come out and spend time with your loser asses, and now that I have you sit here and bash my girlfriend?” Torrid said, irritated.  
Sue put her hand on Torrid’s shoulder. “Torrid—we care. Just watch your back is all we’re saying.”  
Torrid shook her head, “I’d never believe that of Monica. But I appreciate the concern.” She didn’t say it, but she really was pissed at Sue for suggesting that Monica would do such a thing. They didn’t know her. She was a sweet, loving girl. She loves me, Torrid thought, She tells me so all the time.  
Three hours later:
”Shit, I gotta get to work. Torrid will be coming into the shop!” said Drew putting his jeans on over his naked ass. 
Monica rolled her eyes at the mention of her girlfriend’s name. She was enjoying herself and didn’t want to be reminded of Torrid right now. 
“I wish you didn’t have to go, Drew,” she said, “Cause it means I have to go home now too.”  “No…you don’t. Stay here tonight. I’ll be back, and we can cuddle!” He winked, joking. 
“Actually, I’d rather fuck!” Monica quipped back. 
Drew grinned and leaned in to claim her lips in a heated hungered kiss. He broke the kiss and stared at her face.
 
 He smiled, saying, “Oh I can fuck you babe….I can fuck you real good!”  “Well then, hurry back!” Monica ordered, taking her cell phone out of her purse. 
Drew smiled as he pulled his shirt down. He turned on his way out to blow her a kiss. “You’re a great fuck, Mon, you know that?” he teased. 
“Yeah, Drew…I do!” she winked. 

As the door closed, Monica dialed her cell and took a deep breath. Please be voice mail, she thought over and over with each ring. Yes!

”Oh hey baby, I am sorry I got your voice mail. It’s me, I just wanted you to know that I am okay and I love you. I had a little too much wine with dinner so Sara offered to let me crash here for the night. I’ll be home in the morning and I’ll bring you breakfast, k? Have a good night and tell Drew hi for me. *Kiss* love you bye!”She closed her flip phone and tossed it softly onto the floor. She smiled to herself and stretched like a satisfied cat. She laid there, the scent of Drew all over her skin, and laughed. She felt free, wickedly free. She knew what she wanted now. And Torrid wasn’t it. I can’t tell her just yet. I need her to take Drew to Amsterdam. It could be his shot at international recognition as an artist. So I’ll stay put for now. 
 
Skin Deep-
 
“You’re late.” Torrid said, as Drew walked in with Lockjaw on a leash. She looked suspiciously at him and took in his shabby appearance. She raised her eyebrow and kicked a stool across the room toward him. Lockjaw ran to his appointed spot under Torrid’s work station, ducking. 
“Have a seat. Tell me all about why you’re late.” She said, crossing her arms over her chest. 
Oh shit! He thought, She knows! Oh Jesus, she’s going to kill me! Oh god Oh god! Okay Drew…play it cool man…play it cool. 
“Gee Boss, is it that time of the month again?” he said, flashing a charming smile. 
“Okay Romeo, you can cut the crap. I know you’re shitting yourself and I know you got some pussy tonight. So don’t play that shit with me. I can smell the cootch on you from here. Go up and take a shower in my apartment, then get your ass back down here and get to work.” Torrid scolded. 
“Okay…sorry..It won’t happen again.” He said and headed towards the stairs. 
“It had better not!” Torrid said firmly. 
Secretly, he counted his lucky stars. That was indeed a close one. Granted it was not a smart thing he was doing. Fucking the boss’s girlfriend was one thing, but betraying a friend of five years and that friend being Torrid Duncan, he was downright insane. But he couldn’t help it. Monica was the girl of his dreams, and she wanted his cock. How could he say no? Besides, Torrid didn’t appreciate what she had and if her girl could be taken away, then she really isn’t Torrid’s girl at all, is she? He smiled a wicked smile. He was standing in her shower washing her girlfriend’s pussy off his face and cock. He laughed. 
Downstairs Torrid checked her voicemail on her cell phone and smiled. Okay baby, sleep well; see you tomorrow, I love you. She thought to herself. She clipped her phone to her jeans and set about assembling her gun and filling her cups for the night.
 
Drew came back into the shop and began working on his new flash book. He was quiet. Too quiet, Torrid observed. She knew something was going on with him, but wasn’t sure what it was. It seemed to Torrid that everyone in her life was acting weird, and she didn’t know why.  
Then again, she thought, We were all nearly murdered by a psychotic bitch!
 
She laughed to herself with irony.
If that doesn’t make people withdrawn and edgy I guess nothing will!  
She hoped the upcoming convention would give her something to focus on so she could give Monica some space and also put some of her own issues behind her. She looked over at Drew again, shaking her head at his ham handed attempt to make himself invisible. What is his deal? She pondered. She pulled an ice cold pepsi one out of the cooler at her station and took a long drink of it.
“Oh Drew—you watch my dog tonight?” She asked, lighting a cigarette. 
“Torrid, I can’t. Not tonight. Tomorrow sure, but tonight I got plans.” He said irritated. 
“Plans? You get off at three in the fucking morning, what plans have you got?” She snapped back. “Oh I get it, that bitch you’re fucking waiting for you?”  “Don’t you call her that!” He snarled. 
She took a step toward him. Her eyes narrowed. She knew she had hit a tender spot with him. She liked it. She was really sick of his bullshit tonight. So, she decided to be more of her old self and just fuck with him.
 
But before she could open her mouth to say anything, her cell rang. She put her cigarette in her mouth and looked at the phone face clipped to her jeans.
 
“Who the hell is that?” she said out loud. “Oh maybe it’s Monica calling from Sara’s—“ she picked it up and was about to answer it. Drew went pale. He broke into a cold sweat.He stood up hurriedly and went toward the bathroom, “I gotta piss!” He said shutting the door behind him.“Shit is more like it!” Torrid yelled after him. 
She flipped her phone open.
“Yeah?” she said. 
“Torrid? This is Sara, how are you?” Sara asked. 
“I am fine, how about you baby girl?” Torrid smiled. “Is my woman giving you any trouble?”  “Monica? Not..that I am aware of….you okay Torrid?” Sara asked confused. “Oh hey, can you hang on a sec, I got a call coming in..”  Torrid took a sip of her Pepsi. Yep, she thought, everyone is fuckin’ nuts these days!   
Meanwhile, inside the bathroom, Drew was frantically dialing Monica’s cell phone. Shit shit shit shit…pick up!!!
 
  to be continued in chapter three