Page 60 of Spicy Sapphic Christmas

“Lately, I’ve wondered that.” Jo’s face pinked, and Bea smiled. It wasn’t too hard to see where Jo’s mind had led.

“But maybe? No? Yes?” Bea didn’t want to push, even if talking about Bunny wasn’t exactly what she thought the night would be focused around.

“It’s not like you not to know.”

“I do like her, more than I should. But her reaction about the costumes…” Bea shook her head and used the seat of the couch to rest her head. “I could never be serious with someone who’s so set on being closeted. A simple rainbow outfit had her losing her shit. And to change the lyrics to make it about two women instead of a man and a woman? Hard no for her.”

“I guess so.” Jo nodded, her eyebrows furrowing. “Piper did tell me that Bunny had some major hang-ups about either of them officially coming out.”

“Oh yeah?” Bea tried to reel in her curiosity, but she was also too exhausted to care all that much.

“Yeah. Back when they started, there were a few bands who came out and their careers were entirely killed by it. But I think there were some threats to both Bunny and Piper too, because of the rumors.”

“That’s terrible.” Bea tried to imagine seeing anyone be destroyed by being authentic. Theoretically, she knew it had happened, and she wasn’t blind to any of the underhanded bullshit. There was more than one manager they had refused to be represented by, for that reason. But to actually see the fallout?

Had she been too hard on Bunny?

“Yeah, but who knew she was capable of having such a huge meltdown. Piper is a bit worried about her, actually. This hasn’t apparently happened before. Not like this. And according to Piper, Siena is pissed. Likepissedpissed.” Jo shoved another mouthful of pizza between her lips.

“You and Piper seem to be getting close.” Bea eyed her sister carefully, taking in all the changes to see if she was on the right track or not.

“We are. She was there when Mandy started texting again.” Jo chewed slowly, her cheeks paling just enough for Bea to really know just how much those text messages had affected her.

“Oh.” A sliver of pain made itself known somewhere in Bea’s chest. She hadn’t been there when Jo had needed her. She was an awful big sister, and all because she’d been distracted by whatever was going on with Bunny. Swallowing her pride, Bea asked, “And did she help?”

“She really did.”

“And do youlikelike her?” Bea genuinely wanted to know. It had been a long time since Jo had talked about having a crush on someone. Since Mandy, actually.

Jo giggled, the sound so pure that Bea couldn’t deny the happiness that Piper had brought to her.

Bea picked up the TV remote and flicked on some late-night reruns. It seemed to be the only thing she watched nowadays, and it was one-hundred-percent only because the murmurs of the characters helped to lull her to sleep.

Bea jumped up and offered her hands to help Jo to her feet. They sat back on the couch, a routine that used to be a far more regular thing, and leaned into each other.

“Bea?”

“Yeah?” Bea asked as she stifled a yawn.

“Do you really think Mandy is going to do something stupid at the charity event?”

“I want to say no. I really do. But honestly, I have no idea. I have a pretty strong feeling that she’s going to try. But with Bunny and Siena on the case, whatever she’s planning on trying, she won’t get very far.”

“I suppose not.”

Without looking, Bea knew Jo was chewing nervously on her bottom lip.

“What did Piper say when you told her about it?”

“She told me I deserved better than someone who only wants me when I’m in the spotlight.” That spread of color dotted over Jo’s face once again, highlighting the ever-present freckles that Bea was secretly jealous of. It gave her the perfect girl-next-door look that Bea had never managed to have.

“I like her even more now.” Bea smiled at both Piper’s advice and the effect she seemed to be having on Jo.

“She’s unlike anyone I’ve ever met before.”

“Good.”I know just how you feel, Bea thought. “Now stop worrying about Mandy. We’ll take care of it if she dares to come around.”

“I’m trying not to worry. But I don’t want my stupid mistakes to ruin this event. I’ve been looking up the Holbrook Foundation, and it sounds pretty amazing. And this is such a big deal for us, you know?”

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