Part II
Over the next two days, the team filtered in little by little. Monday rolled in and so did Amita and Rose. Fresh from yet another Parisian adventure, Amita found that jetlag was the worse part of returning home. Rose, on the other hand, welcomed the jetlag. She'd flown in from Belfast, the first time she'd been home since the United States government returned her passport. Debbie and Lou welcomed them with open arms, showing them around the small private beach behind Lou's condominium.
On Tuesday, Nine Ball and her sister, Veronica arrived in a cloud of ganja smoke and sick reggae beats and Lou could not have been more pleased. Nine Ball had always been her favorite, though she'd never admit it. Besides Lou, Nine Ball was the most laid back. It was a bonus that Nine Ball forced the stick out of Deb's ass.
Debbie had managed to make her threat a promise, and by Wednesday, Lou had the worst set of blue balls in history. And for the love of god, she needed the release, because on Wednesday, Tammy came with her two rugrats and the headache was real. Constance turned up as well, skateboard in hand and started teaching Tammy's children Three-card Monte.
Debbie had found Lou hiding in her en-suite with her eyes closed and a glass of water sitting beside her on the counter of the sink.
"I thought I'd find you here."
Lifting her head from the mirror behind her, Lou groaned.
"I had to get away. Those kids were doing my head in."
"I know. If I never get asked another question, it'll be too soon."
A small commotion came from Lou's bedroom. Debbie gave her a look.
"Housekeeper's here." Lou smirked, leaning her head back coolly and tapping her hands against the counter between her legs. If she swung her feet, she'd be the epitome of smugness.
Debbie tried to hide her grin, but it was impossible around Lou.
Distracting herself, Debbie opened a drawer and as luck would have it, it was Lou's medicine drawer.
"I know you enjoy the sober life but," she read the label on one before opening it, "sometimes, we need something to make us feel better."
She crossed the small space between herself and Lou and held up the pill. Lou turned her head to the side, trying to avoid it.
"Open."
"You're really irritating."
"So, I've been told. Come on, open."
Reluctantly, and with great sass, Lou opened and allowed the Tylenol pill to be placed in her mouth.
"Swallow."
Lou couldn't help her laughter. "That's something I've never been told before."
Debbie simply grinned and held up the glass of water. Lou took a sip and swallowed the pill. Using her ankle, Lou pulled Debbie closer, resting her hands on the brunette's hips.
"I feel better already. Thank you."
"You're welcome." Debbie placed her hands on Lou's shoulders before slipping her arms around her neck. Just as she leaned in to kiss Lou, they heard a small gasp.
"Sorry, Miss Louise."
"It's okay, Margaret." Lou replied, releasing Debbie, who made a little distance between herself and Lou.
"I'm all finished with your bedroom. Would you like me to come back and finish your bathroom later?"
"No, don't be ridiculous. We'll get out of your hair now." She hopped off of the counter, bringing her water with her. Debbie followed closely behind, one hand loosely holding the back of Lou's untucked vintage tee.
"You up for a game night, Miss Louise." Deb teased, knowing she despised her given name.
"Bite me, Deborah." She wrenched Debbie's hand from her shirt, pulled Debbie to her side and tossed an arm around her shoulder, capturing dark hair under its weight. Debbie wrapped a hand around Lou's waist and the two headed downstairs.
"Loser has to do just that?" Debbie asked.
"It's a deal."
Why anyone thought it was a good idea to play poker with a bunch of con-women was beside Lou. It took almost no time at all for her eyes to flick up to Debbie's. Debbie made a simple gesture, a light tug on her earlobe and then she trailed her index finger across her collarbone.
And Lou just knew.
The blonde tossed three more orange chips into the pot.
"I'll raise you three grand."
That made Tammy's ears perk up. She kept shifted her eyes to Debbie and then to Lou.
"They're cheating." Tammy commented as if she were telling them the time.
"Stop projecting your deception onto us." Lou responded and leaned back in her chair, giving absolutely nothing away.
Nine Ball, knowingly holding the statistically second best hand, simply tossed three orange chips into the pot as well.
"Are you out or in, Tam-Tam?" Debbie asked, cocking an eyebrow.
"I'm out. I won't be conned."
"Rose?" Lou inquired.
"Huh? Oh, no, I'm not in."
"She's out." Debbie translated as Rose placed her cards down like Tammy had.
"If you've got 'em, show 'em." Lou called.
Amita and Veronica, who had been watching from the sidelines while playing with Tammy's kids, suddenly stopped to see who won the hand.
Nine Ball lay her cards out on the table, cockily proclaiming, "Four of a kind."
Lou smirked. "Debs?" She jutted her chin towards her favorite brunette. "Let's see 'em."
Debbie placed her cards on the table. "Straight flush."
Lou's brow twitched, and she lay her cards facedown. "Well, it looks like you've won, darling."
She and Debbie gazed at one another, having a silent conversation. The tension was palpable, and it was just that much discernible with the silence that surrounded them.
"Who else needs a drink?" Tammy asked, standing from the table.
"Lou has a home theater. Want to see?" Veronica asked the two children, who quickly nodded, shouting their glee.
"I do." Rose accepted, followed by Nine Ball. When they were alone in the room, Lou tapped her index finger against her cards and grinned.
"Show me your hand." Debbie asked. Lou spread the fingers on both hands, as if she were a magician proving she had nothing to hide. In a swift motion, the brunette reached over the table, and Lou watched in amusement as she turned them over.
A royal flush.
Realization washed over Debbie's face. "You conned me?"
"Define con."
Debbie couldn't hide her grin. "You could've won."
"But what fun would that be?"
Without another word, Lou stood from the table and swaggered toward the hallway.
"Move your ass, Ocean." She called over her shoulder.
In the opposite room, the team watched as Debbie followed quickly behind the Australian.
"Liquor in the front, poker in the rear, am I right?" Constance quipped while holding her fist up for Tammy to tap it.
"About time." Tammy said, bumping her own fist with Constance's.