Page 74 of Spicy Sapphic Christmas

It wasn’t angry or dangerous, but there was definitely something different in the way she held herself. It put Jo on an edge she didn’t want to be on, but at least the energy wasn’t pointed directly at her. Then they’d be in serious trouble—well, she would be. Bunny snatched up her phone and scowled down at it.

Jo looked over at Piper, wide eyes asking what she didn’t dare say out loud with Bunny still in the room.

What’s going on?

Piper smiled and bobbed her head, shoulders, and body in that way Jo had come to learn meant too many things she couldn’t explain in just a look. It also meant that Jo was left inthe dark about what was going through Bunny’s head—and that was far more dangerous than Piper being quiet.

“Well, isn’t that convenient?” Bunny muttered before she threw the phone back into her bag.

“Not really. I had to miss the meeting so one of us could be here,” Jo said, hoping her words weren’t as frustrated as Bunny’s attitude.

To be fair, it wasn’t really Bunny’s fault. At least it wasn’t just Bunny making her feel like she was on a hair trigger.

“Excuse me for thinking we aren’t nearly where we need to be. We only have one more week for rehearsals, and we’ve got a lot of work to do.”

“Bunny.” The way Piper pulled out Bunny’s name told Jo that Bunny was only just gearing up for a major spitfire fit.

“I’m sorry, Bunny.” Jo met Bunny’s eyes. She let her shoulders drop and took a deep breath. “It’s been a stressful day and having to figure out who was going where so we didn’t have to cancel the other appointment but also not abandon you both was a tough and quick decision. If Bea could have canceled, she would’ve.”

“I know,” Bunny muttered again, and for a moment, Jo wondered if she’d actually heard her correctly. “That’s what her text says.”

“All right then.” Piper jumped off from where she’d been sitting. “Seeing as we called this impromptu rehearsal, we should really get into it.”

“Sure.” Jo’s smile came easier when she looked at Piper. Piper’s own smile helped refill her energy bar and allowed the frustration to fall away from her in an instant. Piper always managed to do that lately, and Jo had clung to her as much as possible because of it. Their energies just fit so well together, almost like they were made for each other.

“Good, let’s start with your duet and dance number,” Bunny said.

“Can I do a small warm-up first?” Jo asked.

“Of course.” Bunny nodded, but Jo saw the muscles in her jaw tighten.

“Do a proper warm-up,” Piper insisted before Jo could retract the request. “The last thing we need is for you to get hurt.”

“Of course.” Bunny nodded and stepped out of the area they’d been using for the two to practice their dance.

Piper joined in halfway through Jo’s warm-up, though she was certain Piper would’ve been ready before she had arrived. It was those little things that kept Jo’s body on fire and her chest in a perpetual swell of warmth and joy since getting to know Piper.

Sweat dripped down Jo’s back and every part of her body pulsed with the use of energy she put into the dance. Each place Piper touched her tingled, and Jo couldn’t have stopped smiling if she tried.

They finished their third run-through, and both Jo and Piper breathed heavily from the exertion and the realization that at some point Bunny had left the room for one reason or another.

“I think we make a great couple.” Jo leaned into Piper.

Piper’s lips met her halfway, and the salty flavor made Jo moan.

“Well, now I get it. Thisthingis why you decided I’m not good enough for you anymore?” The voice filled the room and sent a shock of terror through Jo’s spine.

Mandy.

Jo jumped back and away from Piper, spinning around to face Mandy, standing in the open door of the studio room.

“What’re you doing here?” Jo asked, her voice trembling fiercely.

“Catching you cheating on me, apparently.” Mandy snarled as she stepped over the threshold and into the practice room.

“Cheating on you?” Piper’s exasperation swiveled Jo’s head to see Piper’s eyes narrowed and face redder than she had ever seen it.

“It’s not like that,” Jo said.

---