Blended TML Ch 30

Piper wasn’t sure if those two would come out when they smelled food, or if they’d be passed out until noon. They come out early, hungover, but clearly not so much that the idea of food makes them puke.

Brise seems to be in rougher shape than Katya. Piper offers them breakfast, and they accept without awkwardness. They’re quiet and civilized, their sociability no doubt dampened by headaches. Mary tries to avoid looking at them.

The guests spare them any trouble. They eat, clean up, and say goodbye by nine, which is downright bizarre. Piper has no answer for that. Brise and Katya seemed to appreciate the breakfast and were never anything but pleasant, but there’s no mention of exchanging numbers.

Piper tries not to take it personally. She knows she shouldn’t expect more, but her ego isn’t always fair about these things. She could’ve asked for their numbers, but her instincts warned against it.

Making the cabin civilized isn’t difficult with two pairs of hands. A few things need to be replaced. The deep clean goes faster and is less depressing with company. It’s still not too late or too hot, so they pull some weeds at the front and sweep off the dock.

Mary stands on the dock in slides and jammies, hair frizzy in the messiest ponytail, leaning on her broom. The lake’s waking up; there are distant jet skis and plenty of activity around the resorts.

“You OK?” Piper asks.

“Oh, uh… Did I dream that? That we walked in yesterday and Riley was naked?”

Piper’s guard comes up in a flash. “Oh, uh. Yeah. That did happen. Didn’t see that kink coming, but what can you do?”

“You can wear clothes. That’s what you can do.”

“OK, I think you’re being puritanical because we kept you awake last night. And it’s fair to be mad at me, but let’s not kink-shame Riley.”

Mary balks. “Puritanical?”

“It’s not like Riley invented it. Isn’t it like, um, Germans who are naked like seventy-five percent of the time?”

“That can’t be true.”

“No, I’m serious.” Piper waves her phone. “There’s one European country that’s like super into nudism. But it’s popular everywhere. In fact, I’m going to see what the hype is about and try it.”

“Oh, you are?”

“Yeah,” Piper says, with a hair toss. “Because I’m an adventurer.”

“You sure are,” Mary says, sounding defeated.

“Let’s put this stuff away and bring some snacks out here. I’m gonna sunbathe with my boobs out. You should too.”

“Oh my god. Piper, we’re done here. We’re going home.”

Here it is. Piper has to take a cue from her younger sister on this one. Some matters can be finessed, and others can only be addressed with brute force and persistence.

“Can’t go home,” she says.

“Excuse me?”

“We have a spa day booked tomorrow.”

Mary blinks several times. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me. I did a, you know, a plan. Like a movie plan. You know. Like when someone wants to lose their virginity at a party, or they have to get their divorced parents back together? A caper. My plan to cheer you up. Spa day.” Piper turns and shields her eyes, then points. “At, um…” She trails off, not having put it together this morning because she was distracted by feeling like a sexual goddess. “The Diamond.”

“Oh my god. You didn’t.” Mary searches Piper’s face, waiting for a sign.

Piper just twists a lock of hair around her fingers. “Have you met me?”