Blended Ch 14

It only gets hotter.

“Yeah, my mom watches that. She’s obsessed with it. My stepsisters give her shit for it. It’s like oh my god, another beautiful shot of a horse. Oh my god, I bet someone’s gonna act tough next,” Piper says, and Kylie chokes on her soda trying not to laugh.

She looks up in surprise and clears her throat.

Piper knows the woman approaching by sight; she’s seen her around campus, but never in a bikini. That makes a big difference. Piper has seen her black hair in a braid, but never in a messy bun like this. She’s seen her in jeans and unbuttoned cotton shirts. She’s not a beauty like Kylie, but the plump package in her swimsuit adds a layer of eroticism to her girl next door body.

“Oh. There you are,” Kylie says, hurriedly getting to her feet. “This is…”

“Piper Dunham,” the woman says, smiling. “I’ve seen you doing yoga.” It’s good English, and an accent that Piper can’t identify. European, obviously. Something Nordic or Germany-adjacent, she’s pretty sure.

And this hung, exotic creature has been watching her in morning yoga? Fascinating. Piper rises. “I’ve seen you around, too. I don’t know your name.”

“Ines.”

“It’s great to meet you. Kylie rescued me from those dudes over there.” Piper jerks a thumb over her shoulder. Flynn and his roommates took the L like champs, but they’re still here, admiring the view.

“How brave,” Ines says, wearing an enigmatic look.

BLENDED

The bathroom door bangs against the wall.

“What the fuck is this?” Kayla demands. “Is that eyeliner? What is happening?”

Piper is at the sink. “I’m going out,” she replies, concentrating.

Kayla is indignant. “Where?”

“Wendy’s house.”

“Since when are you friends with Wendy?”

“Since tenth grade. Ines invited me.”

“Who?”

“She’s friends with Kylie.”

“Is that the bleached blonde who wears big wedges all the time?”

“Sounds right,” Piper says.

“Wendy’s doing a party?”

“I doubt it. I think she’s just letting the volleyball girls use her house.” Wendy lives in a palatial McMansion outside town. Her family isn’t yacht rich, but they’re a rung above country club rich.

Kayla makes a face. “Volleyball party?”

The impression Piper has gotten is that it’s just some of the popular volleyball girls and their friends. “I invited Ying.”

“So much for that party.”

“Ying is actually a lot of fun.”

“Is Flynn gonna be there?”

“I doubt it. I don’t think there’s gonna be any guys.”

In a heartbeat, anything resembling interest vanishes. Kayla makes a little face and starts to turn away.

“Hey, Kayla.”

“What?”

“You know that halter dress you have? The blue one? Can I borrow it?”

Kayla turns back, eyes narrow. “Who are you trying to sleep with?”