ALICE Ch 329

Julieta says something in French that only Aki appears to understand. Glynda can’t help but wonder how Annette convinced Aki to take this job. She’s not sentimental like Ingrid, and contrary to the rumors, Aki Aramaki does not have any connection to Honda or anything relating to F1. Her family is wealthy and connected. She doesn’t need this job.

“Anyway,” Sun says, shooting Lotte a look. “We were having fun, and Lotte had gotten into loads of trouble by that point, so she had to at least sort of pretend to behave herself. So instead of doing the crazy shit she’d done before, she was sneakier.”

Lotte sees Glynda about to ask and nudges her under the water. “Not important. Exaggerated.”

Sun snorts derisively. “Sure. I was there, Lotte.”

“We all were,” Ingrid says.

“Are you telling the story or not?” Lotte asks irritably, giving Julieta a squeeze and blowing in her ear. Julieta giggles.

“You were a part of the story,” Sun reminds her.

Glynda’s getting impatient. “Tell it already.”

“Well, it’s complicated,” Sun tells her. She drains her cup and puts it on the floating tray, then laces her fingers together. “Lots of, um, plot threads and stuff. Like Game of Thrones.”

“Kill me,” Aki says tiredly and even Ingrid tries not to laugh.

“I said that if Lara could drink from Ingrid’s boobs without getting hard, I would suck her off,” Lotte says. The words are less shocking than the casual way that she says them.

Ingrid blushes and looks away, Julieta laughs, Sun barely manages not to, and even Aki struggles to contain a smile.

Glynda sits there, squeezed between them, blinking. “I’m sorry?”

“You heard her,” Sun says. “She did it because this one.” Sun leans forward and puts her finger in Julieta’s face. “Was going to take Lara back to her room. She looks innocent, but Lara was vulnerable, Amelie had been gone for four months, and uh…” Sun snorts and leans back, gazing at Julieta. “There was a void to be filled.”

Julieta looks away prettily, face red, shaking with mirth.

“And Lotte could not allow that,” Aki says.

“Lies,” Lotte says dismissively.

Glynda struggles to organize her thoughts. They are making this much more confusing than it needs to be, but she’s invested now. “And what happened?”

The look that Sun gives Glynda makes her crumple on the inside.

“Oh,” Sun says. “You want to know?”

Glynda holds her own. Her behavior tonight hasn’t been exemplary. She’s been too permissive, but she’s going to own it.

“Yes. I’m curious now,” she says, perfectly truthful, perfectly direct. She matches Sun’s gaze and easily wins the contest.

Sun smiles and looks away. “Fair enough. And Aki…”

Aki shakes her head, but Sun goes on.

“Aki asked what happens if Lara loses? I guess because she’s an evil troll and the implied humiliation wouldn’t be punishment enough for the girl who was already having a shitty season?” Sun raises an eyebrow and turns to Aki.

“I was drunk,” Aki replies with absolute dignity.

Ingrid sits up with a little splash. “Lie!”

Everyone looks at her, then at Aki. Julieta says something in French. Sun glances at Glynda.

“Aki’s never drunk,” she confides. “She’s the responsible one. She’s lying. Aki, you got called out by Ingrid. How’s that make you feel?”

“Very special,” Aki replies, pouring more sake.