Page 85 of Spicy Sapphic Christmas

“Yes, they do. Welcome to this entire Christmas charity event you’ve dragged us into.” Piper giggled, though it was on the edge of maniacal. This was a risky and crazy idea, but honestly, getting Bunny to see her way out of her own ass wasn’t Piper’s only motivation. She enjoyed spending time with Jo, and if this put the silly idea in Jo’s head that perhaps they could be together longer term, then Piper would be happy.

“What’s the idea, Pipes?”

“I want you to stage some PR photos. Harley can take them, she’s amazing with a phone camera, and I want them to find their way to Bunny. Not rudely, because then she’ll be worse off,but I want her to know that being queer isn’t going to be a death sentence for us.”

“I don’t know about this.”

“Jo agreed. She thinks Bea needs a kick in the ass, too.”

“A swift one!” Jo chimed in.

Piper sent her a small smile. “Please.”

“But no actual PR?” Siena clarified.

“No actual PR. Just make it look like that.”

“I might have someone who can help us. Harley! Get socks and shoes on. We’re going to see Auntie P. I could use getting my ass chewed by Bunny one more time before the year ends.” Siena mumbled the last part. “I’ll meet you at Eastbank in half an hour. Dress nice.”

“Yes!” Piper pumped her fist into the air. “But wait, who are you going to get to help us?”

“Jamie Kettlehouse.”

“You’re kidding me.”

“Thirty minutes, Piper. Don’t be late.” Siena hung up.

Piper stared at her phone for longer than she should have, confusion swimming in her brain.

“Who’s Jamie Kettlehouse?” Jo asked, wrapping her arms around Piper’s.

Wrinkling her nose, Piper shook her head. “She’s a blogger, a spitfire, someone who is known for taking a rumor and running with it. The worst gossip monger you can think of in Portland. She runs blogs, magazines, social media accounts—so many of them we’d never be able to find them all. I have no clue why Siena would think bringing her in on this would be a good idea.”

“She would know how to write it up well.”

Piper scoffed. “Yeah, but Siena can do that. She writes press releases all the time.”

“But if we want it to look like a rumor.”

“Maybe. I don’t know. But I sure as hell am going to find out.” Piper moved to her feet and pulled Jo to hers. “Come on, we need to get dressed.”

They were five minutes late, but Piper got them there. Siena stood still by the bridge, her tall, thin figure hard to miss, especially with Harley running circles around her—literally. Next to her stood a short, curvy woman that Piper could only guess was Jamie Kettlehouse.

Taking Jo’s hand in hers, Piper started toward them. She’d quickly snagged one of her rings from her room—one that looked the most engagement-like, though it wasn’t an engagement ring at all—and slipped it into her pocket before they’d left the apartment.

“Hey,” Piper said, nodding to Siena and looking Jamie over.

“It’s good to meet you finally.” Jamie stepped forward and put her hand out.

Piper almost didn’t take it. Jamie had written some horrible things about her and Bunny over the years. She’d also written good things about them, though those had been fewer and farther between. Everything in Piper’s world until now had been oriented around avoiding this woman and anything she could potentially write about them.

Bunny would burn knowing that she was the one here for this.

“Auntie P! Auntie P!” Harley jumped up and down, and Piper had to let go of Jo’s hand to snag Harley and spin her in a circle or two before stopping. “It’s been way too long since I’ve seen you kid. You’ve grown an entire foot!”

Harley giggled, the sound music to Piper’s ears.

“How’s your arm? Do I get to sign the cast?” Piper put her down and looked the cast over, the small drawings and writings from kids all over it. “Is there even room?”

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