Blended TML Ch 27

Piper is reminded of the “liminal spaces” photos that she sometimes sees in her feed as she pulls into the parking lot. Predawn dark isn’t the same as night; bugs don’t swarm the lights, and the three other vehicles on the pavement are all older models that make it seem like a moment out of time. There won’t be anyone in the store except the handful of sleepy workers opening it for the day. She turns off the engine and checks her appearance. One needn’t be runway-ready to walk into a Publix, but the Jameson-Dunham household does not hold with going forth in pajamas and slides. More importantly, last night’s events are a reminder that one can never know whom one might run into at any given moment; ergo, one must always be presentable.

There’s a little smile on Piper’s face as she climbs out of her car. While she can think of herself as an experienced woman, it’s not as though she’s been in so many threesomes that they are no longer exciting. They are very exciting, to say nothing of the way that they inflate her ego. And she’s certainly never been with anyone like Brise and Katya. Ines makes Piper incredibly hot, and so does one other far more annoying person—but nobody has skills like those two. They are in a league of their own. Piper is feeling good, although there’s also a twinge of guilt. While Mary seemed to be sleeping when she returned to the room last night, the odds that she heard nothing are slim to zero. The odds that she then noticed Piper was gone and put two and two together are pretty good, but Piper’s ready to take responsibility.

She hums to herself as she breezes into the grocery store.

Hot sex is good. Plans are better, and the plan is in motion. The potential inclusion of Katya and Brise brings a little uncertainty to it, but that’s more intriguing than anything else. To fixate on the plan going exactly according to her vision would be foolish—nothing ever goes exactly to plan. It’s far healthier to approach it with openness to whatever might happen, although Piper expects it to go like this: Brise and Katya, badly hungover, will eventually get up and shamble off to wreak havoc elsewhere.

Piper and Mary will fix up the cabin, and Piper will reveal that she has made arrangements for them to relax and enjoy the lake. Mary will initially react with annoyance and resist, but ultimately succumb. She will vent to Piper, Piper will validate, and Mary will return to their life in Gurlberg less pissed off. Everyone will benefit except Piper’s bank account, but this is an investment, and when her mother learns what Piper has done for the good of the household, not to mention her marriage, she might well provide reimbursement.

It won’t all go perfectly, but it’ll go something like that. Piper foresees no meaningful obstacles.

“Hi.”

Piper pauses; she’s not alone in the store with the employees after all. There’s one more shopper.