Page 44 of Spicy Sapphic Christmas

“I have a much better idea. And maybe, just maybe, the two of them might realize they both want something a bit more than an orgasm.” Piper wasn’t entirely sure why she was determined for Bunny and Bea to have more than the usual fun Bunny allowed herself, but the idea weighed with importance in Piper’s chest. And it had nothing, absolutely nothing, to do with her own desire to have Jo longer and more permanently in her life. Nope, not at all.

“Do you think Bunny is really capable of that?” Jo asked, her teeth pressing into her lower lip.

“I think the two of them will either kill each other or be so utterly devoted it’ll leave every sapphic relationship either of us have ever known, heard about, or read about in the dust.”

“I’m betting we’ll have to buy funeral clothes.” Jo laughed just before they reached the piano.

It was a grueling hour, going over the finale again and again. This time a fraction faster, this time slower, the next time working on blending this section more seamlessly between voices.

By the end, Piper was wondering if maybe they should simply give up on the idea of encouraging whatever was blooming between Bea and Bunny. But one look at Jo made her energy return in abundance, and there would be no going their separate ways tonight, even if it was the last thing she did.

“All right, we’ll meet back here tomorrow at eight,” Bunny said as she tapped the bottom edge of her music sheets against the now closed lid of the piano.

“Bunny…” Piper started with a warning that she knew Bunny would recognize in an instant. “We need dinner and some down time.”

“What?” Bunny turned to Piper, arguments against the idea all but written on her lips already.

“The rehearsal went well, didn’t it?” There was worry written in the lines of Bunny’s face, and Piper knew she had to get a handle on this quickly.

“Yes, but—”

“No, that wasn’t an open invitation,” Piper singsonged. “It went well, and we’ve all busted our asses off this week. We need a break.”

“We really have,” Jo said, clearly catching on and adding in her support.

Piper had never known anyone who could keep up with half her own energy and enthusiasm. But she had to admit, Jo might even have her beat. She made the Energizer Bunny appear cool, calm, and collected instead of the hyper-focused workaholic Piper knew her best friend to be.

“We’ve done an amazing job of coming together to get these songs ready.” Bea’s voice was soft, and in that moment, Piper could have kissed her. But, of course, she wasn’t the sister Piper wanted to kiss. Besides, the plan was to have Bea kissing Bunny.

“If I say no, are you just going to bug the shit out of me until I end up giving in?” Bunny sighed, closed her eyes, and shook her head back and forth a little.

Piper beamed, knowing without a doubt Bunny would be able to hear the smile in her voice. “You know me too well.”

“Oh, and I plan to be just as persistent!” Jo added.

Piper and Bea laughed. Bunny narrowed her eyes at Piper.

Piper saw the small twitch at the corner of Bunny’s lips and barely resisted the urge to pump her fist in the air. This had to be one of the easiest times she’d ever had convincing Bunny to do something other than work.

“Fine.” Bunny groaned. “What torture are you putting me through this time?”

“The new piano bar and fondue place over on third,” Piper said confidently. They’d talked about going there so many timesbefore and had never made the effort to make reservations. Well, Piper was already on her phone and clicking through the links to get a table for them.

“What the hell?” Bunny stared at her, displeasure plastered over her features.

“You don’t like fondue?” Bea asked

“It’s a restaurant and piano bar.” Bunny wrinkled her nose in disgust. “And it’s not exactly somewhere you can wear jeans and a T-shirt.”

“Oh, a dressy kind of place?” Jo squealed as she clapped her hands together. Piper winced. That would make Bunny back out if Jo kept it up.

Piper nodded. “It’s about time we spoiled ourselves a little. We can do dive bars anywhere anytime, but tonight is going to be a get dressed up and spoil ourselves sort of evening.”

“That sounds like a nice idea, Piper.” Bea smiled and gave a small nod, but Piper detected a hint of worry in her gaze. She’d have to ask Jo about that later.

“Did you already have all this planned before now?” Bunny eyed each of them in turn.

“Neither of them knew what I was proposing until right now,” Piper said, automatically defending the sisters. She wouldn’t let them fall into Bunny’s trap of annoyance if it was the last thing she could do. At least not tonight. They all needed this. Let loose, burn off some excess energy and frustration, have some fun, get to know each other that much better.

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