Blended Ch 8

Piper is intensely conscious of how her outfit doesn’t really work. She was mostly joking with Riley about using her figure to her advantage, although she’s glad that she did; innocently admiring the beauty of god’s creation made that long shift at the gym go by much more pleasantly.

But Piper wears a pair of Rhone shorts that aren’t sporty, exactly. They don’t go with her Nikes, and none of it goes with the red Lord Gym T-shirt that is stretched so tightly across her breasts that the lines of her bra are clearly visible. She would also want to freshen up and do something more than a messy bun with her hair for a confrontation with Kylie.

Yet, here she is, clutching her Lulu crossbody with white knuckles.

Kylie, meanwhile, is radiant. She and her little Barbie figure can pull off so much stuff that Piper can’t even dream of. She’s got this earthy khaki pleated skirt thing going on with a white tank top over a tan bra. Her white wedges are to die for, and she even has her hair down.

“Hey,” she says, her Australian accent bringing her so much unearned sexiness that it’s annoying. Her eyes linger on Piper’s chest. “What is that?”

“My boobs?”

“The shirt.”

“Oh. I think it’s a Joseph Conrad reference. I love that,” Piper says, pointing at the tribal wristbands that Kylie wears. They really bring the look together.

“Didn’t waste any time, huh? We lift the penis rule, and here you are,” Kylie says with a lopsided smile. Several women are watching now. Ying looks worried. “You’re like a kid at the table with a knife and fork.” She moves her fists. “Banging on it.”

Piper laughs. “I guess Flynn got here even faster than I did.”

Kylie’s eyes are hard, but they flick upward. “Well, he’s working.”

“Is he?”

“I don’t think even he could get Leni’s legs apart, to be honest with you.” Kylie takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly through her nose, holding Piper’s gaze. “Do you want a drink?”

“I’m not staying. Just picking up the cuz,” Piper says, jingling her keys.

“Where is she?”

“I guess probably puking. She’s not a big drinker. And I have to drive anyway.”

“Right. Course. You know, um,” Kylie smiles, gesturing over her shoulder with her free hand. “Even if you don’t want a drink, I’m sure we have some virgins you could deflower while you wait.”

Piper’s smile becomes a bit stiff. Kylie has two reasons for being so much, but she only needs one. Piper considers taking the high road, then decides against it. It’s not like it’s unusual for someone to be upset, but it’s been like six months. And it’s not as though Ines and Kylie were exclusive or something. Ines isn’t exclusive with anyone. So, it’s not entirely fair for anyone to accuse Piper of “stealing” her.

Piper allows her expression to become condescending. “Oh, Kylie. Sweetie. She wasn’t a virgin. I think you know that.”

Kylie’s smile does not crack. She moves closer.

Sheer determination and ego are enough to power Piper to keep her back straight and not react.

Kylie matches her smile, then steps back, letting the tension go. Some of the onlookers seem disappointed that there’s no fight. Plenty of people know about the Ines thing: she was seen with Kylie everywhere until she met Piper and didn’t look back. People don’t know about the other thing.

“We were gonna play some cards. Little poker,” Kylie says, plucking idly at the strap of her tank. “Why don’t you join us? While you wait?”

**** and strip poker at CCL House. It is summer, after all.

Piper has to make a decision.

Just get Bella home?

Or accept Kylie’s invitation?