ALICE Ch 334

“My turn,” Sun says, snapping her fingers and pointing to Aki. “Pour.”

Aki sighs and picks up the jug, and Glynda braces herself. By the time Glynda realizes what’s happening, it’s too late to do much about it. Sun climbs into her lap. She’s so limber that she’s able to drink with ease, and she isn’t aggressive like Julieta. She sucks up a little and then disengages, but Glynda’s heart is still racing. She hasn’t the slightest interest in Sun, but her body doesn’t know whose flesh it’s pressed against.

Next is Aki, who is a perfectly dignified lady; she bends like Julieta did, and Glynda doesn’t feel a thing when she takes a tiny, regal sip.

There’s apprehension as Aki moves out of the way for Lotte. This evening has revealed to Glynda that Lotte has some sort of playful or mischievous side that these women all know about. Lotte invited Glynda down with the implication that it would be just the two of them with no particular excitement. At first, Glynda suspected that this was a plot to get her to loosen up, but making everything so sexual seems like an escalation.

At least, she hopes she’s not just projecting all the arousal. It’s disturbing; younger women are the opposite of what she’s attracted to, so all of this is a terrible reminder of the dire nature of her loneliness.

Lotte at first appears to follow Aki’s example of class and dignity, only she puts a hand out to steady herself on Glynda. It’s hardly an inappropriate thing to do under the circumstances, but Lotte’s delicate fingertips on her flank might as well be five vibrators between Glynda’s legs. Glynda swallows painfully, and Lotte returns to her seat.

“Ingrid,” Sun says in a singsong voice.

“I am OK,” Ingrid says, still beet red.

“Free Glynda from her torment. If you drink, then we’re done and she can go to bed. We can all go to bed,” Sun says. Lotte started this thing, but Sun’s the one running with it.

“Or we ignore your arbitrary stupidity and respect Ingrid’s boundaries,” Glynda suggests.

Aki picks up the jug. “I think not. And you’re doing so well.”

“I expect better from you,” Glynda replies, bracing for another pour.

“Everything would be so much easier if you two would just stop pretending not to like it,” Lotte says, examining her fingernails.

There’s a momentary look of grumpiness on Ingrid’s face, but then she rises out of the water. Oddly, Glynda feels much more self-conscious about this. Ingrid carefully bends, mindful of water and alcohol, and does her best to be polite.

Sun plants both palms on Ingrid’s rather ample bottom and pushes hard. Water splashes and Ingrid hits Glynda’s chest face-first, losing her balance. Glynda grabs Ingrid before she can slip or topple anywhere that she shouldn’t; holding her tightly, she glares at the rest of them; even Aki is trying not to laugh.

Glynda’s mouth is a tight line. “All right. Enough.”

“This? This right here,” Sun says, pointing at the two of them, particularly where their chests are pressed together. “If you make this FUTA Racing’s marketing campaign, you can make one trillion dollars.”

“Get out. Go to bed,” Glynda orders, patting Ingrid’s back. “Are you all right, dear?”

“Yes,” Ingrid replies. She’s not hurt, just startled and embarrassed. Glynda releases her as Aki collects her tray and climbs out. The others obey as well.

Sun walks away, dripping with no towel or anything. Just her gleaming body and that stringy bikini for the walk back to her room. Outrageous. She looks over her shoulder, catching Glynda’s eye.

“One trillion dollars,” she repeats.