Whole Lotte Trouble Ch 3

Riley and Lotte have been to their share of parties, although it’s been a while since they’ve been to a college party. Fortunately, a rich kid in a huge penthouse is behind this one, so it’s not all that far removed from the places that their modeling careers have taken them. Most of the kids attending are Anika’s age or older.

Protesting is fashionable, so there are some people dressed similarly to Riley and Lotte, giving them a little cover. Hoods up and masks on, they move in as though they belong. That gets them some second looks, but nobody seems too curious. Music blasts, soft lights glow, and several TVs show the protest going on twenty floors below them. It was only a little scary going past all that to get in here.

Riley understands why people want to protest reinstating the mandatory draft for the water wars, but it’s not a big deal for their family. Riley and Lotte are well-off enough to just pay the fee to exempt Anika from the draft if her selective service number comes up. Riley’s profoundly grateful for that, but right now she’s more worried about her daughter. According to Anika’s location on the phone, she did make it up here to the party.

Riley shows Lotte her phone, and Lotte nods in confirmation. Their daughter is OK. This probably wasn’t necessary, and it’s definitely dumb, but Riley’s glad they did it. If she were at home she’d just be pacing and biting her nails. She always figured it would go away, but she hasn’t stopped worrying about Anika’s safety, and she suspects that she never will.

“We just have to kill time. They have lil smokies,” Riley shouts in her wife’s ear. The music is too loud. Or is Riley just getting old? Anika’s getting ready to go to college and forty is coming for Riley with a vengeance. Lotte as well; the blonde is pouring vodka into a red plastic cup neat. She pulls down her mask to take a big swallow and hands it to Riley, who does the same.

The kitchen seems like a good place to run out the clock; it’s crowded, and they can see Anika coming and hide if she does. Lotte gives Riley a nudge, and Riley obligingly gets out of the way as a young couple heads for the fridge, holding hands. She bumps against the counter only to realize that Lotte isn’t getting her out of the way, she is getting her into position. Lotte slips in front of Riley and backs up against her, parking her bottom to smoosh Riley’s package.

“Don’t even,” Riley warns, putting her hands on Lotte’s hips to shove her away. Lotte just pushes back harder. Fighting will draw attention. Riley groans. “This is not the time or the place to do Lotte Things!”

Lotte gives her an impish look over her shoulder. She’s in Lotte mode. She isn’t listening at all.