ALICE Ch 331

“So Ingrid got her boobs out, and Aki has the bottle, and we’re like ‘OK, we’re doing this,’ and Lotte stopped us,” Sun says, shaking her head. “She said that Lara has to be nude so that we’ll know who won.”

“Lara would have won if you had not done that,” Aki says.

Lotte taps the side of her head with a finger. “Five divisional chess.”

“What?” Ingrid says.

“Ignore her. We had Swedish boobs and naked Lara, and I was dying. Literally dying. Because everyone’s looking at people who are not me.” Sun places a hand on her chest. “I’m the real victim here. Was that what you wanted? Because if so, well played.”

Lotte looks modest.

“And Lara lost,” Glynda says.

“Yeah, but she was brave. I feel bad about it now. A little. She’s a horrible person, but she was at a low point after the breakup and she lost her spot as captain and everything. She had a thing for Riley too.”

“Everyone had a thing for Riley,” Aki says tiredly.

“That’s it? That’s the story? Did you get your, er, show?” Glynda asks.

The blushing looks are the reply. The tub bubbles, the tray bobs, and rather suddenly, Glynda realizes that she is more than just comfortable in the hot water, squeezed between soft, warm bodies. She narrows her eyes suspiciously.

“The story doesn’t end there, does it?”

Sun sucks her breath in through her teeth, glancing at Ingrid, who hides her eyes with her hands. “It does,” she lies.

Glynda turns to Lotte, who wears a stoic expression. Aki stares hard at Lotte. It almost seems like Lotte is trying to make a point.

“The story does end there, Glynda. Foolish antics from our misspent youth,” Aki says firmly.

Glynda isn’t going to fight them. “All right,” she says.

“Course we only told the story to give context for what exactly? Where did that come from? I got distracted thinking about Lotte being ridiculous and Lara’s weird, curved dick,” Sun says. “Lotte started it, right? She brought it up?”

“She did,” Aki confirms.

“Let’s do it again.” Lotte smiles at Aki. “With Sake. It is a thing in Japan.”

“The thing that I believe you are referring to is a little different,” Aki says. “Can’t we just have a normal night?”

“Can’t you not be a pussy?” Lotte replies with a shrug.

Julieta says something excitedly in French.

“Julieta says she wants to do it,” Lotte says.

“That’s not what she said,” Sun replies.

“It actually is,” Aki says with an eye roll, then a sidelong glance at the French girl before she turns to Ingrid. “Ingrid?”

“Ingrid’s good for it!” Sun says. “Let’s get that top off.”

Water splashes as Ingrid tries to fend Sun off.

“Sun. Boundaries,” Glynda says sternly, and Sun relents.

“It’s not as fun with her top on,” she says sullenly.

“I’m still not clear on what exactly is being proposed,” Glynda says.

They all stare at her. And as one, their eyes travel down from Glynda’s face to her breasts.

“Maybe we do it with her instead of Ingrid,” Sun suggests.

“She will not agree to that,” Aki predicts.

“You’re right. Ingrid, are you gonna be cool or are you gonna ruin everything and be a terrible friend?”

Ingrid’s heavy chest rises and falls with her deep sigh. Putting on a very patient expression, she crosses her arms over her belly and expertly uses them to lift and squeeze her bosom. Aki rises and bends over with a jug, pouring sake into Ingrid’s waiting cleavage.

Glynda stares blankly. She understands now. The what, at any rate. She’s still struggling with the why.