Black Widow by Lauren Runow

shoulder.
    “What?”
    “Stop ok. I know it bothered you. I saw you standing there lost like a little puppy.”
    “I was shocked more than anything.”
    “Yeah, ok. So, what about tonight? What if she plays with someone else?”
    I jerk my head up, “Did she say she was going to?”
    “Ha! See, I knew it. You like her.”
    I shake my head, upset I let myself be that transparent, “No, I don’t. I just want to make sure our new members are cared for and I hoped I could train her some more.”
    “Train, collar, make her your very own…” she laughs.
    “Stop,” I sternly say, “That will never happen so please drop it. I don’t want anything like that and you know it. Please, drop the subject.” Heat fills my face as I grip the handles of the chair I’m sitting in, not exactly sure why I’m so pissed off all of a sudden.
    “Whoa, ok. Subject dropped,” she blurts out as she turns to grab her comb.
    “Look, I’m sorry. I know you don’t know me that well but the last thing I want is a relationship. That’s why I wanted this place to be anonymous. No ties. Just fun, remember?”
    “Yeah, first week in, how’s that working out for you?” she taunts.
    Silence fills the area between us as she finishes the cut and has me stand to go re-wash my hair to get rid of the little hairs that find their way everywhere. Once everything is complete, she removes the drape from around my shoulders and without looking at me or saying another word, she turns to look at her phone, “Crap, my next client just cancelled on me. Talk about late notice.”
    I reach out for her with a small forgive me smile on my face, “Hey, I’m sorry if I just upset you and I’m sorry your client cancelled on you. Please, let me take you to lunch.”
    She sighs before smiling, “Ok. I’m sorry, too. I know I don’t know your past but I get the clue that it’s not something good so I won’t ask or tease you again. Friends?” She reaches her hand out to me.
    I reach out, grabbing her swiftly and pulling her in for a hug. “Believe me, you don’t want to know my past. That’s why it’s in the past. Nothing I can do so I just try to forget, ok?”
    “Ok,” she leans up, kissing my cheek. “Where are you taking me for lunch?”
    “Come on, I know a place around the corner.”
    We walk to one of my favorite little hole in the wall places. Kim and I ate here a lot so I guess it’s a little weird that I’m bringing Becca here but it’s not like she’s my date or anything. Sure, we’ve fucked, we’ve fucked a few times actually, but that’s all it is and it was always at a club, never on our own.
    Becca has become a friend of mine, a good friend actually, over the past couple of months. Though I’ve still kept her at a distance with my personal life and my past, I’ve trusted her to help me build my place and she’s brought on some amazing people. I’d say she’s as close to a business partner as I’ll ever get so it’s fun to hang out in the outside world. I need someone like her in my life, someone to bring some sense of normalcy back to it.
    If I had to explain our relationship to anyone I’d say she’s more like a little sister to me. Wait, oh God, no, that’s gross. Ok, I’d say she’s more like my best friend’s wife. Fuck, that’s not ok either. Um, let’s just say, I feel really comfortable with her and feel like I can completely be myself. Totally laid back with not a care in the world. It’s nice to have someone like that. I get the feeling she feels the same way about me. Just good friends.
    We have lunch and then I walk her back to the salon, giving her a hug as thoughts for tonight enter my mind, making me genuinely smile for the first time in what feels like forever as I walk away.
    For whatever reason I know I have to be with Kamii again tonight. Hopefully then I can get her out of my head and go on with this club like I had planned. I know Kamii will be right at Becca’s side. She may have blown