ALICE Ch 327

Aki’s bikini is plain and white, and she wears a modest wrap around her waist as she approaches the hot tub carrying a tray. Glynda can’t help but be impressed with how she carries herself. These are the actions of a waitress, but Aki seems to come off more as a queen. She sheds the wrap, and Lotte pulls Julieta into her lap to make room in the tub. Julieta seems pleased with her new spot and having Lotte’s arms around her as Aki climbs in and places the tray on the surface of the water. Glynda’s no expert, but the jugs probably contain sake, and the shallow dishes are to drink it from.

“This is not traditional,” Aki says as Ingrid helpfully holds the tray steady.

Packed outrageously into the tub, everyone watches as Aki gracefully pours and hands out the little cups.

“I didn’t think you would join us,” she says as she gives one to Glynda.

“Neither did I,” Glynda replies, making a point not to look at Lotte.

Julieta giggles and holds a cup over her shoulder so that Lotte can drink.

FF1

The thick awkwardness as Lora stands in the hall with Bianca is the sort of thing that makes Lora want to perform a suplex on her therapist. Anxiety is meant to be irrational, but here is real life, happily confirming all of Lora’s worst fears.

Still, it’s not as though masking misery is new to Lora, or to any woman. She holds it together with a passable semblance of wryness.

Bianca glitters away in front of her, all chic daintiness. A change of footwear has revealed that Lora is a centimeter taller than the blonde. She feels as though she’s looming over her like an ugly troll.

“I owe you an apology,” Lora says soberly, even though she’s had three glasses of wine—all necessary to get through the evening. Without them, she’d have stolen away to the toilets and crawled out through a window.

“This is stressful work. We all get overwhelmed sometimes.” Bianca always speaks in these short, carefully curated sentences that make Lora think that she is silently judging nonstop. She knows the truth: that Bianca’s English is excellent, but still imperfect, and that’s why she takes her time. But nothing is rational.

Lora sighs. “Don’t you want to spend your time with someone fun?”

Bianca reaches out and gently prods Lora’s shoulder. “I am curious of what you are like when you are fun.”

Lora snorts, her façade slipping. “That’s my secret, sweetie. I’m never fun.”

“I don’t believe you.” She beams at Lora.

“Look, I can let my guard down and gush everything out, but it’s not what you think. You aren’t meant to be my second therapist, nobody should have to listen to all that, it’s not fair to you, it’s not fun, and when it’s done, I feel worse than I do now because not only did I put you through it, but now you know all that. Reckon I can imagine how pathetic I seem right now.” Lora tosses her hair. “But trust me, love. You haven’t seen the half of it.”

Bianca clicks her tongue and her eyes flick up and to the right, then she moves forward and kisses Lora, shutting her up.