Page 96 of Spicy Sapphic Christmas

“What happened, Bunny?” Piper asked, her voice gentle. “Because this is more than simple acrimony.”

“I…” But where would she even start? Bunny’s chest pulled in, almost collapsing on herself, which made it so hard to talk or even think. Everything hurt. “I fucked up.”

“No shit, Sherlock. What happened?” This time Piper sounded angrier than before.

Bunny wished she had the ability to tell Piper off, but she really didn’t. Not this time. Because she deserved the anger and annoyance. “I confronted her about your engagement when I found the photos online and the chitter about everything.”

“Confronted her?” Jo squeaked.

“Angrily. It wasn’t her fault, I know that, but it was easier to be mad at her than you two.” Bunny pointed at them.

“Why would you be mad at her?” Jo furrowed her brow, a deep line forming in the center of her forehead.

“She wasn’t mad at Bea,” Piper said and then scoffed. “She’s mad at herself for being such a fucking idiot.” The harshness was back. Bunny shied away from it even though she felt she deserved the full brunt of it. “Tell me exactly what you did.”

“I yelled. I accused her of having an angle, that her whole goal was to use us to build their career, and I ruined everything, Piper. Isn’t that what you want to know? I got in my own damn way and then got in our way and I ruined it all.” Hot tears formed along Bunny’s eyes, and they stung like hell.

“You’re such a fucking idiot,” Piper repeated.

“I couldn’t agree more,” Siena said loudly, coming into the room. Anger was written all across her face.

Bunny had been on the butt end of that anger more than once, but this was the first time she really and truly felt as if she deserved it. This was the first time she would take everything they threw at her.

“Have you told her yet?” Siena pointedly looked at Jo and Piper as soon as she reached the piano.

Piper shook her head. “We hadn’t gotten that far.”

“Then now is the time.” Siena crossed her arms.

“Time for what?” Bunny looked at them curiously, her little band of idiots that she’d come to love. Even Jo—though she wasn’t ready to admit that one out loud yet.

“The proposal was a setup,” Piper said, her voice soft and worried. “It wasn’t supposed to get out into the news.”

“What?” Bunny stood up sharply, glaring at Piper and then at Siena. “You let them do this?”

“It was supposed to be only for your eyes and Bea’s eyes.” Siena put her hands on her hips and glared at the other two. “What we didn’t anticipate was such a public setting and word getting out that wasn’t in our control.”

“Control? What the hell are you talking about?”

“Jamie Kettlehouse was there,” Piper muttered. “And before you fly off the handle, we invited her. We wanted to make it look as real as possible.”

“Why? Why would you even begin to thinkthatwas a good idea?” Bunny cut her hand across the air.

“Because you needed to realize that being queer in this day and age isn’t going to be the end of our careers.” Piper pointed at Bunny. “And you’re such a stubborn idiot, that only something this in your face would work.”

“Work?” Bunny squeaked.

“Yes.” Piper put her fists on her hips, ready to go toe-to-toe with Bunny. “You’ve been the most ridiculous asshole the last month that I’ve ever seen you be. This isn’t about some charity event. It’s about the fact that you fell hard and fast and then you wanted to kick yourself in the ass instead of just admitting that maybe you might not want to be so stuck in the closet.”

“Piper—”

“No. I’m not done yet.” Piper pointed a finger at her, eyes locked on Bunny’s face. “I’m tired of dealing with your mood swings, your uncontrollable bitchiness has got to end. This isn’t who you are. And I’m tired of trying to convince other people ofthat. You’re better than this. So much better. And I’m not sure what crawled up your butt to make you such a jerk, but enough’s enough already.”

Bunny’s jaw dropped. Piper had said exactly what she was thinking about herself, exactly what she’d been berating herself over for the last week at least, if not longer.

“Where’s the kind Bunny who’s my best friend?” Piper asked. “Because I miss her. The one who would be head over heels ecstatic that I’m engaged.”

“You’re not engaged,” Bunny pointed out, flicking her gaze to Siena for confirmation.

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