Page 1 of Spicy Sapphic Christmas

i’m dreaming …

ONE

bunny

“Don’t you ever just want a break?” Piper asked.

Bunny jerked her head up, making eye contact. A shiver ran through her because this conversation was coming up. Again. Just about this time of year, every year, Piper wanted them to take a break from work, stay off the road, stop doing so many gigs. Then January would hit, and she would be right back on track to work every single day throughout the year.

“Not really, no.” Bunny rolled her shoulders as she stepped into the dressing room, Piper following her.

This venue was much smaller than their normal ones, but Siena, their production manager, had scheduled them here and cranked up the charge on the tickets to make it a more intimate affair. And it had paid off. The seats were full, they’d been able to interact with fans in ways they normally couldn’t, and it had been amazing.

But this time, when Piper asked that question, a small tug pulled at Bunny’s heart. Was she ready for a break? Or at least to slow down? If they could do more of these intimate affairs, then would it ease the heavy weight on her shoulders to make everything a huge production and more?

“I don’t believe you,” Piper whispered into Bunny’s ear.

Wrinkling her nose, Bunny pulled at the zipper on her leather jacket and jerked it down harder than she intended. “You say this every year.”

Piper snorted. “I never get Christmas with my family. I know you don’t want that, but some of us people out here do have decent families you know. You’re always more than welcome to come home with me.”

Bunny gave Piper a flat look and shook her head. “I’ve done that.”

“Yeah, and it went great.”

Great wasn’t the word that Bunny would use. She’d ended up in bed with Piper’s brother’s wife after a lot of peppermint schnapps. And at the end of it all, the secrets were too hard to keep. When she’d gone back the next year, she had spent the entire time pining and trying to avoid another insane disaster.

Rolling her eyes, Bunny hung up her jacket in the travel wardrobe that went with them everywhere. She was really missing having separate dressing rooms right about now. Bunny never was much of a talker after playing a big show, but Piper would let that energy course through her for days.

The knock on the door was swift, and it opened right away. Which told Bunny exactly who it was. The only person who wouldn’t get their hand cut off for that move. Siena stepped inside and held her hands out for a hug from Piper and then from Bunny.

“You two killed it. Like always.” Siena’s eyes were bright, but wary. She seemed to be carrying an undefined weight on her shoulders lately. As much as Bunny wanted to pry, she didn’t. She wasn’t the friendly one; she’d sic Piper on Siena some other time.

“Thanks,” Bunny said as she gave Siena a quick side hug before stepping away. Her hands tried and failed to find pockets in her pants as she stood back up. She really wanted to getout of the sweaty concert clothes and into something more comfortable.

“I have a favor to ask you two.”

Bunny pinched her face.

“What is it?” Piper chimed in, lounging on the chair and drinking a cold beer. She always did that after a show.

“There’s another duo, up and coming, and I was hoping you two could check them out for me. They’ve requested my services, but I’d love your opinion on their style, blend, workability. Just your overall feel.”

Bunny rolled her eyes. “Don’t we keep you busy enough?”

Siena jerked her head back in surprise. “Yeah, but I have more than just you in my client base.”

“Do we not pay you enough?” Bunny put her hands on her hips.

Piper slowly lowered the bottle of beer from her lips, her eyes wide. “Why are you being an ass?”

“I’m not.” Bunny faced Siena again. “I just want to understand why she’s looking to replace us.”

“Oh my God! No!” Siena’s face turned beet red, her eyes wide. She shook her head side to side, her dark brown hair moving with her. “I’m not looking to replace you at all. I’d never dream of that.”

Bunny’s stomach churned. She wasn’t convinced. They had worked with Siena as their production manager for a long time now, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t tired of them or didn’t see bigger and better things over the horizon. Bunny shifted a glance to Piper. And if Piper kept talking about taking a break, that would mean Siena would have to take a break and she would have to fill the time with someone else.

“You’re being a worrywart, Buns.”

---