Family Affair (14 page)

Gitana's apartment had a futon bed in the middle of the room, a tiny kitchenette painted sky blue which Chase thought was an odd color for a kitchen, and large south facing windows covered with precariously constructed open-sided wooden shelves that contained weird plants that Chase had never seen before. The room looked like a jungle and smelled like paradise. Puzzled, she looked at Gitana.

"They're orchids. I want to have a nursery and grow orchids."

"They're beautiful." Chase gently stroked a petal. It was soft and looked so fragile like the slightest breeze would send the whole plant, pot and all, back to the jungles of the Amazon.

"So are you," Gitana said. She had her cornered.

"Well, you know I didn't really have anything to do with that—genetic punch bowl is more like it." Chase attempted to inch away without appearing rude.

Gitana put her arm up against the wall, effectively blocking Chase's escape. "Why are you making this so hard?"

"Making what hard?" Chase was thoroughly confused.

"This." Gitana kissed her. "I want you so bad it hurts."

Chase immediately broke all her rules of engagement. She kissed her back, ran her fingers through Gitana's long dark hair, let herself be pushed onto the bed, her T-shirt and shorts removed, her stomach kissed and her legs opened so Gitana could bite, suck and fuck her until she made animal noises and cried out for more. It was almost embarrassing thinking about it now. From that moment on Gitana coursed through her veins and nothing else mattered.

As they walked the grounds, Gitana tugged at her hand. "What were you thinking about?"

Chase promptly returned to the present moment. "I was remembering you as a Casanova the first time we were together."

"I wasn't being slick. I was so consumed with you I couldn't breathe. I thought I would die if you didn't let me touch you. You were tough to get."

"True love is never an easy target."

Gitana scooped her up and kissed her hard.

Chase suddenly wished they were at home so they could fall into each other's arms and make animal noises. Instead, she whispered, "I have never wanted anyone the way I want you."

Chase's moment of marital bliss was interrupted by a tap on the shoulder. She was certain it was Graciela and she thought her a bit rude for breaking up their moment. She turned around.

A large but decidedly handsome woman with dark cropped hair and buff arms, said, "I thought it was you."

Chase quickly realized who she was and blanched. This was the woman who'd been waiting for her the night she fell in love with Gitana. She'd come home late to find Tori sitting in her sleek black Saab outside the house. Chase sat in the front seat of the car smelling of orchids and sex trying to explain to Tori that she'd found the love of her life.

"Well, at least you two are still together. That counts for something, considering you broke my heart and caused severe psychological damage," Tori said.

"Who's she?" Gitana asked equally piqued.

"This is Tori." Chase studiously avoided Tori's angry glance and looked helplessly at Gitana. The thought crossed her mind that Tori had somehow discovered Gitana's identity because Chase had never told Tori who she was. She found this disturbing.

"You know, for years I've been thinking about how you cheated on me."

"I can't see where I was worth all that," Chase said. Tori hadn't crossed her mind a day after they broke up. Obviously, there'd been a difference of opinion on the nature of their relationship. She did remember standing outside Tori's office—she was a TA in Chase's Jane Austen seminar—telling Tori that she'd get tired of her and Tori staring hard at her with the look of serious love. "No, I won't."

"My therapist says I need closure, so I got a little present for you."

Chase was horribly confused until Tori, a substantial butch, nailed Chase in the solar plexus. She fell to the ground and rolled on her side. This position rendered her vulnerable to another attack She closed her eyes so she wouldn't see the size ten Doc Marten coming at her ribs. She'd heard broken ribs took a long time to heal and that the process was painful. She'd never actually had the shit kicked out of her although there'd been times she'd deserved it. She figured her past had found her and was exacting retribution.

She heard Graciela and Delia screaming and she opened her eyes to see a burly Hispanic woman, dressed in black commando gear and a security badge, pluck Tori up and prevent further damage. Graciela dashed out a quick right hook that would have decked Tori had the guard not grabbed her first.

"Hey, that's enough of that," the security guard said.

"What the fuck! She beat up my sister un-in-law."

"Yeah, and she's going to get charged with assault." She put cuffs on the infuriated Tori and marched her off, Tori glaring back at Chase. "First Aid," the security guard called out and pointed to Chase.

Gitana knelt beside her and peered anxiously at her. "Are you all right?"

"I think so." She'd caught her breath and got up on her knees.

A young woman with purple hair came running over toting a first-aid kit. "Are you bleeding?"

"No, just lost my wind. I'm fine, really."

Graciela and Delia helped her up. "Let's go to the first-aid tent and let them have a look at you," Gitana said.

"No," Chase protested. "I'm okay."

"Let me check for broken ribs," the young woman said, running her hands along Chase's sides. "Nope, you're good."

"Great. Well, thanks and we'll be on our way now," Chase said, trying to untangle herself from Graciela and Delia.

"Are you sure you're all right?" Gitana asked.

"I fine, really."

"Dude, you just got decked. I gotta show you some moves. I'm like, a green belt in Karate," Delia said.

"You never told me that," Graciela said. She let go of Chase.

"Well, you look like you have a pretty mean hook," Delia said.

"Nah, just schoolyard tactics." Graciela kicked the grass.

"Let's get her to a table," Gitana said.

"Maybe I do need a beer now," Chase said.

"I'm on it," Delia said, making for the beer tent.

The burly Hispanic security guard came back over. "No life threatening damage?"

"Aside from my pride, no." Chase dusted off her shirt.

"Sorry about that, usually I'm right there, but I didn't see that one coming. Normally, there's an argument first before punches fly. That was low. Who was she?"

"An ex-girlfriend."

"I can see why. I'd keep a lookout for any others." She adjusted her belt.

"I will and thank you," Chase said.

"No problem." She made off.

They found the nearest table with an umbrella and sat down. Delia returned with provisions, three Coors Light in plastic cups and a lemonade for Gitana. Graciela watched the security guard as she made her rounds.

"Man, she's tight. If I was a femme I'd be all over that," she said.

"Damn right," Delia said. She set everything down.

Chase took a big swig of beer. She was beginning to understand her mother and her martinis.

"What did you do to make her so mad?" Gitana asked. She brushed more dirt off Chase's shoulder. Her white T-shirt had an ochre tint to it.

"I slept with you."

"You didn't tell me you had a girlfriend."

"We broke up the minute you kissed me." Chase took another enormous swig. Her nerves were settling.

"Dude, who's the Casanova now," Graciela said.

Chase scowled at her. She could tell Gitana wasn't pleased that she'd left out this particular detail of her life.

"It's kind of like how I didn't know about Nora until she had me off the floor with her hands around my neck," Chase said.

"Oh, good, the story improves," Delia said.

"I'll say," Graciela said, as she and Delia toasted their paper beer cups.

"You do have a point there," Gitana said. She sipped her lemonade and seemed to ponder this.

"Remember what you told Nora, about how when you meet your soul mate it's a once in a lifetime event and if you pass it by it's lost forever?"

"Yes." Gitana stroked Chase's cheek.

"Wow, that's deep," Delia said. Her admiration and enlarged libido were evident.

Chase gave her a look.

"I know, she's yours."

Gitana took Chase's hand. "Are you sure you're all right? We could call it a day."

"What and miss meeting more of her ex-girlfriends," Graciela said.

Delia looked at Gitana. "Are any of your ex-girlfreinds as pissed off?"

"No, Nora is one of my best friends and she adores Chase."

Graciela yawned in mockery.

"What about the others?" Delia asked. She sipped her beer and peered at Gitana over the top of the cup.

"They were temporary liaisons without much emotional attachment."

"So pretty much one-night stands and fuck buddies," Graciela said.

"I wouldn't put it that way. It was more like young women exploring each other's bodies in a physical way," Gitana replied.

"Gag me," Graciela said. She turned to watch another exquisite example of womankind walk by.

"How about you, Chase?" Delia said.

"What is this, confession time?" Chase finished her beer.

"I'll get you another one," Graciela said, hopping up.

Chase glanced at Gitana.

"I'll drive home. I can still fit behind the steering wheel."

Graciela dashed off to the beer tent. "No telling stories until I get back."