Chapter 1

Shane flicked the end of her cigarette and stared out the window. She ignored the predatory glances from the woman sitting at the right end in the café and flirtatious overtures from the waitress with the too snug uniform. She was tired. Deep down inside. There was once she went home with a different girl every night, fuck their brains out, and leave them the next morning. That was then. Ever since bumping into the Latin woman, she had no hunger for anyone else. It was as if the fire consumed her, and she was burning deep down inside.

Some part of her was scared. This had never happened to her before and maybe by bumping into the Latin woman again, she could finally find out what was so intriguing about her, what made her eyes linger on her when no one else could.

That day, it was Tuesday morning and Shane had an appointment with a client. She knew how important punctuality was to that client and she rushed to the salon to do her hair without having her usual fix of caffeine at the Planet. By late morning, she could hear her stomach groaning in protest. She drove herself to the nearest café and ordered herself an espresso and sat by the window-seat. Random thoughts went through her head. How Alice and Dana seemed so happy together while Bette and Tina, the golden couple in Shane’s eyes, are now at each others’ neck. “Oh shit, I’m sorry!” She heard a voice exclaim. She glanced over and saw a woman with hair the color of dark chocolate, looking embarrassed and desperate. Apparently, she had spilled her coffee onto a man, who was looking positively fuming. “I’m sorry…oh I’ll pay for the laundry bill…..I…” Before she could continue, the man pushed her out of his way and the woman stumbled backwards. Perhaps it was always in her to fight for the underdog, perhaps she just hated the look of helplessness in the woman’s eyes. “Hey, accidents happen and she apologized ‘kay? She’s with me..” Shane stood up and steered the woman gently out of the burly man’s way. The woman glanced up at Shane with widened eyes and Shane stepped in front of the man. “Shane McCutcheon, I work at the Salon right at the corner. Send the bill to me,” She dug in her jeans for her name card, which her boss had insistently printed for her, and gave it to the man. The man did not look pacified by Shane’s peace offering but the commotion had already attracted the attention of several customers. “Watch it next time!” he hissed at the woman behind Shane and walked out of the café.