Free Gazelle by Gloria Bello

s family?  Oh, hell yes!  His cousins are two of the sexiest motherfuckers I’ ve ever seen in my life ! ”
    “ Which one ? ”
“ Both of them ! ”
“ … You mean the twins ? ”
    “ Fuck yeah, the twins . ”
“ Wait, which one are you into ? ”
“ BOTH OF THEM ! ”
“ Both of them.  Really?  Like, yo u’ d do both of them.  Same time ? ”
“ Hells yeah, tha t’ s what I’ ve been saying, girl!  Double trouble!  Immaget me some nasty carne on both ends of the taco, you hear me ? ”
“ I t’ s a ki d’ s party ! ”
“ And ? ”
“ Ther e’ s gonnabe a jumpy gym and a clown ! ”
“ … And ?  Tha t’ s how I roll , girl, shoot, I thought you knew ! ”   She does a quick booty shake and laughs. 
    “ Can we order a drink ? ” a customer asks Trina.
    “ Sure!  Someone will be with you in a moment , ” Trina smiles in a completely sweet, condescending voice before turning back to her friend and ignoring the exasperated customer.  “ Hey, since yo u’ re here, you wannago to movie night at Wil l’ s?  W e’ re watchin g‘ Jackie Brown . ’”
“ Oh, shit, hell ya!  I love that movie!  When, tonight ? ”
“ Naw, Thursday.  W e’ re all closing, so, around 9?  We never see you anymore.  You should come.  Beer and pizza, i t’ ll be fun ! ”
“ Shi t… Julian gets back Thursday.  I might have to pick him up.  But I’ ll go.  I’ ll just leave early if I have to . ”
“ Good!  We fucki n ’ miss your arse, bitch.  All famous n ’ shi t… Jesus, have I told you how lucky you are?  Like, seriously, the luckiest human being alive ? ”
              Alice laughs and shakes her head.  “ I t’ s not all that glamorous . ”
“ Do n’ t even try it,I know yo u’ re full of shit, Alice.  Anthony told us you had a new car.  And he helped you move that fucking flat screen into your place . ”
“ Wh y’ s he putting my shit on blast ? ”
“ Someone has to.  You disappeared.  Hollywoo d’ s changed you . ”
“ Shut your mouth . ”
“ It has, it really has.  I do n’ t even recognize you anymore.  Next, yo u’ ll be calling m e‘ bab e ’ and trying to get me to do some blow off your tits in the break room . ”
“ Yo u’ re so dumb.  Whe n’ d you talk to Anthony ? ”
“ Dan and me hung out with him at the pool hall the other night.  Hey, he might be coming, too, is that cool ? ”
“ Where, movie night ? ”
“ Trina ! ” a stalky woman in a smock calls from the rattling juicer.
                  Trina shoots her a deathly stare and turns back to Alice.  “ Yea h… but go, okay?  Do n’ t be like that, seriously.  I gottaget back.  Call me later . ”
     
                  Alice slams on her breaks and puts the car in park in front of the Loz FelizMediterranean mansion, her mind turning with the conversation.  In truth, the past few months flooded over her like a tsunami.  Most of her work and free time revolved around learning Julia n’ s habits and routines.  She was learning to move in and out of his circumference, meeting his needs as an employee and as a friend.  But it meant her ownsocial life was sorely neglected.  Until Anthony asked her to make a painting for him to give to his sister, she had n’ t actually worked on anything since starting her new job.  And besides the day Anthony spent with her, picking out a new couch and TV, and a matinee they saw in a completely platonic way, she had n’ t hung out with anyone else other than Julian.  When Julian was n’ t working with Nathan and Mike, he was moving through his own social waters with her diligently at his side, watching him weave in and out of swank parties and clubs with his friends and dates.  She was not a social person when it came to such settings.  Alice was much more comfortable in a party of family and friends, where there was no dress code or guest list to be on.  But he begged