LITMIR.BIZ

      Martina Jackson stared down at her pale body wondering why she ever agreed to model lacy, bridal lingerie in the middle of a strange living room.

      “Ouch!” Martina flinched.

      “Sorry.” Carrie Taylor looked up from her crouched position. Her eyes strained over the dark rim of her glasses. “That’s the price you pay when you’re a model.”

      “What if I don’t want to be a model?” Martina huffed.

      “Too bad,” Amie piped in. “This looks hot on you.”

      “I don’t know about that.” Martina shied away from Amie’s appreciative glance. A Victoria’s Secret model she was not.

      Amie Woods stood on her opposite side. The blue flecks on the brown of her eyes danced with excitement. Probably not any different than what Martina’s looked like. The fruity drinks had been flowing non-stop for the last three hours.

      After four of Amie’s blue concoctions, Martina allowed Carrie to dress her up in the latest addition of her soon-to-be famous lingerie, a white baby doll, a piece from her Forever line. Sheer white fabric slid out from the bra cup that pushed up her breasts to chin level. It delicately covered her torso and bottom and was hemmed in thick lace.

      “You’re my first real model, Martina. The first person other than me to wear Bare Naked Designs.”

      “Clearly I’ll do anything for a friend.”

      Martina envied the look on Carrie’s face when she spoke about her designs, her passion. It was exactly what she was striving for. Martina was following her own dream, and it was just a matter of time before it became a reality.

      “Ow!” Martina yelled. Carrie was putting the finishing touches on the bra cups, but her constant talking was a distraction and she kept ramming the tiny needle into Martina’s skin. “Carrie, if you keep that up I’m going to end up bleeding all over the Forever line.”

      “From this tiny needle? Not a chance.”

      Martina’s heart swelled. She missed this, having friends. She glanced from side to side, grateful for the two women she had met during her short stay in Toronto. She’d found two people she could get close to. She was ready to join the world again and stop being alone. Too bad at any moment she would have to leave them both behind.

      “No dripping on the lingerie!” Carrie snapped at Amie as she got dangerously close to the fabric. One of her hands gripped the frilly lace between her fingers while the other waved her glass tumbler in the air.

      “Loosen up, Carrie. Why don’t you have another drink yourself?” Amie grabbed the pitcher of blue liquid and shoved it in her face.

      “After we get this done.” Carrie continued to thread the thin white string through the lace.

      A chill raced down Martina’s back. It was cold in the Taylor residence, a modest size home with clean, classic decor. It was a comfortable space fit for a normal nuclear family. Martina got the impression that the Taylor family was picture-perfect.

      “So, Marty, Amie’s been telling me about your adventures,” Carrie said, changing the subject.

      “Is that so?” Martina gave Amie a curious look. “What else has she told you?”

      “That you’re leaving,” Amie interrupted.

      “I have plans, Amie. It’s nothing personal.” The call would come any day now. Martina was sure of it. Besides, she had to leave. Dreams still clouded her sleep. Mac continued to run, and that meant Martina had to follow.

      “But we get along so well. The three of us.” Carrie peeked up at her and blew her dark strands out of her face. “It’s nice having another member to our group.”

      “To be honest, you’re the first real friends I’ve had in a long time.” Martina shared a sentimental look with Carrie.

      “Aw! Tears.” Amie pretended to wipe away moisture from under her eyes. They all chuckled.

      Amie jumped up on the couch, a move reminiscent of Tom Cruise on the Oprah Winfrey Show. “This conversation has taken a wrong turn.” She continued to bob up and down, her long blond locks bouncing around her face. “Tell Carrie about your little plan, Marty.”

      “What plan?” Carrie perked up from under the sheer fabric.

      “I knew I shouldn’t have told you about it.” Just the thought of disclosing her embarrassing plan to yet another person made Martina cringe. “No. I don’t think–”

      “Marty, I pretty much have my face in your hoo-ha, so why keep secrets? Spill it.”

      “I’ll tell her then.” Amie jumped in before Martina could even consider giving up the information. She hopped off the couch and told her story. “Apparently, our Marty is completely fulfilled in life.”

      “Glad one of us is fulfilled,” Carrie sang in a sarcastic tone.

      “Well...she is completely fulfilled except for one tiny area.”

      “What area?” Carrie asked.

       Chapter 2