Chapter Nineteen
“W hat do you wear to go dancing?” Piper asked, suddenly realizing she’d been all in on the date and hadn’t thought through the logistics of how unprepared she’d feel once it finally arrived. What did she do with a date she really, genuinely wanted to go on?
Massima laughed. “Anything you want, but probably something you can move in.”
“Yes. Thank you. I had actually figured that part out. I wasn’t planning on showing up in a suit of armor.”
“You own a suit of armor?”
“No.” Piper closed her eyes and shook her head.
“Whatever you wear, August will love it.”
Piper ducked out of her closet to look at Massima, who was lying on her stomach across the foot of Piper’s bed, one hand propping her head up. “You think so?”
“Yes.” Massima grinned, her eyes sparkling. “Plus, you already have an advantage.”
“How so?”
“Well, you went to meet August there once before, when she was on a date. You know what she was wearing. Hell, the first time you two met, you were both on dates. You know what the other dresses like for them.”
“She didn’t know she was going dancing on that date. She wasn’t dressed for it.”
Massima groaned. “Whatever you wear will be fine. Stop overthinking it and just enjoy finally going on a date with August .”
Piper sighed. “You say that like it’s easy. Meanwhile, I’m over here trying to get ready for a first date I’m actually worried about for the first time in ages.”
Massima stood up, moved to grab Piper’s shoulders and look her in the eye, and said, “You and August know each other. There’s nothing either of you is going to do that will ruin the date. It’s a foregone conclusion that it will go well.”
Piper shot her a look. “Have you ever gone on a date with a friend? Have you ever tried to go from friends to something more? Have you considered just how badly you wreck everything if it doesn’t work?”
“That’s not going to happen. You two have only been friends for a few months. This isn’t like trying to get it on with someone who feels like a sibling to you. That energy you two have is going to translate perfectly into dating.”
“Still lose a friend if it doesn’t work out, though.”
Massima hummed thoughtfully. “I don’t think that’s true. Maybe it will be awkward for a minute, but I’m sure you’ll work it out and be friends regardless.”
Piper shrugged. It was hard to imagine, mostly, she realized, because she didn’t want to be just friends . She’d loved having August in her life and getting to be her friend. But, from the moment she’d acknowledged she was interested in August, she hadn’t wanted to be friends. Sure, if things didn’t work out, she’d probably get over it and they could go back to being friends, but, as they hung on the precipice of something more, the idea of it not working out and having to hang out with August and her future girlfriend felt suffocating.
Piper turned back to the wardrobe. “This one,” she said, pulling out a dress that would work great as it swayed and twisted in the dance studio.
“Great choice,” Massima said, a huge, encouraging smile taking over her face.
Piper laughed. “You’d have said that regardless of what I pulled out, wouldn’t you?”
“Maybe not if you pulled out a potato sack.”
“Mm, because my closet is full of those.”
“Hey, you never know.”
“I think you’ve raided it enough times to know, actually.”
Massima shrugged and shot Piper a devilish grin. “Speaking of which… I might need to raid it tomorrow.”
Piper narrowed her eyes. “Why?”
“Well, you know, because we’re helping with the big move and I don’t have any good clothes for that.”
Piper shut her closet door, watching Massima suspiciously. “You don’t have clothes to help Ford move into Hermes’ apartment? It’s hardly a fixer-upper.”
The impending move was another reason Piper needed tonight to go well. She could only imagine how awkward it would be to see August the morning after a terrible date. Especially if the activity they were completing was one that painfully highlighted the fact that they were stuck in each other’s lives for the foreseeable future.
It was deeply unfortunate that Hermes and Ford had chosen the morning after their big date to move in together.
“Correct.” Massima sat back on the edge of Piper’s bed.
“The confidence with which you lie to me is truly astounding.”
Her mouth dropped open in consternation. “I’m not lying! I don’t have anything to wear.”
“You have workout gear. You have jeans.”
“ Expensive workout gear that I don’t want to damage. And nice jeans. I don’t have anything to wear for… manual labor.”
“What exactly do you imagine you’ll be doing? There’s going to be a bunch of us there. If you don’t want to help with any painting or building furniture, you won’t have to.”
“Moving boxes is manual labor.”
Piper caught sight of the clock. She didn’t have time for this. “You know, whatever you want.” She waved towards the bottom drawer of her dresser. “That one’s full of stuff I don’t care about getting damaged. Have at it.”
Massima beamed. “You’re the best.”
“Thank you. Now, get out. I have a date to get ready for.”
Massima ran from the room giggling and was still just as excited when Piper emerged half an hour later, ready to leave.
“You look great. Have fun. I know you will. Bye, bye, bye,” Massima said, practically hauling Piper out the door once she had her coat.
Piper spluttered but went with it since she was trying to leave anyway and this was probably preferable to Massima holding her up to talk about the date.
The last time she’d gone to meet August at the dance studio, she’d taken public transport. This time, thanks to the rain and the fact that she was actually on the date, she’d ordered a cab. And, when it pulled up at the dance studio and she climbed out, she was right on time to see August emerging from the nearby parking garage.
August spotted her as they walked towards each other and stopped, both a little hesitant, outside the door.
“You look beautiful,” Piper said honestly.
August laughed gently, looking away. “You’ve seen this coat before, sorry.”
“You still look beautiful.”
“You too,” she said, looking back at Piper, sincerity burning in her eyes. “And I’m glad the rain has slowed down for a minute. I wasn’t keen on showing up looking like a drowned rat.”
“I’m sure you’d still look fantastic.”
August blushed and looked up at the studio. “Well. Do you suppose we should go in?”
“After you.”
Every little look, every gesture, every moment felt so much more loaded than any other first date Piper had ever been on. She’d had good first dates in the past, but they’d never felt like this.
The studio was warm and beautifully lit, the scent of wood polish in the air. Everything about the experience felt like it needed to be captured and cataloged in Piper’s brain. She’d never fully understood the people who remembered every little detail of their first date with someone—she could give a general overview, but the minutiae evaded her. This time, however, she knew she’d remember it all.
About eight other couples assembled in the room and the instructors stood at the front, looking out over the group. One of them smiled warmly at August.
“You came back,” she said, approaching the two of them.
August laughed a little awkwardly. “I heard Thursday nights were good here.”
“They are indeed.” She grinned at Piper and held out a hand. “I’m Demelza. I’ll be one of your instructors tonight.”
Piper felt herself relax a little. Introductions to new people she could handle. “Piper. I’ve heard great things.”
Demelza laughed. “Let’s see if you can keep up then.”
As she headed back to the front of the class, Piper breathed a laugh. She could see why, despite the bad date, August was happy to come back here. The energy was warm and welcoming, and it was definitely the queerest dance studio Piper had ever seen.
The class started and any relaxation Piper had been feeling dropped from her body when she was told to face August. The memory of their first meeting flooded her mind. It hadn’t been a first date, but maybe she did remember more of the details than she’d allowed herself to admit.
August’s hands found Piper’s body and it felt like she hadn’t bothered with the dress at all, as if August’s hands were pressed straight to her skin.
She could barely breathe as they moved together. The instructions they were given registered but felt a million miles away, as if they were being spoken through a hazy fog that prevented anything from reaching them and breaking whatever was between them.
August looked at her, blushing and radiant. Her eyes danced in the lights of the studio as her hands traced over Piper’s body in the most tantalizing way.
Piper suddenly found she couldn’t question Shea’s theory about dancing and sex. The only other experience she’d ever had that was this erotic and physical was sex. She couldn’t even bring herself to remember the other people in the class.
The entire time, her heart pounded and she felt dizzy in the most wonderful way. She couldn’t get enough of having August so close to her, or of the looks August gave her.
When the direct instruction stopped and they had everyone practicing what they’d learned, Piper felt like the two of them were in their own little bubble that nobody else could penetrate. Not able to resist, she shot August a grin. “So, is this class better than your previous one?”
August bit her lip as she laughed. “Oh, just a little.”
“Huh. Better step up my game if it’s only a little bit better.”
“Piper,” August complained fondly, her tone causing Piper’s insides to twist and turn deliciously. “You know what I mean.”
“I do. But I’ve got to ensure I’m beating Eva, you know? I have heard she’s incredible in bed.”
“I don’t care how good she is in bed. I have no interest in having her there.”
Piper’s entire body flushed at the unspoken implication that, while August might not want Eva in her bed, she did want Piper there. Again, Shea’s theory poked at her mind. As they danced together, Piper could see all of the ways they’d work in bed, all of the ways they’d move together and touch each other—and how much she needed that.
“How are we doing over here?” Demelza asked, checking in on them. Her presence broke some of the sexual tension between Piper and August, but Piper could still feel it thrumming inside of her, flowing across all of the places they touched each other.
“Good, I think,” August said, smiling at her. “Quite a bit better than the last time I was here.”
Demelza shot her a knowing look. “I can see that.”
She talked them through a couple of adjustments before leaving them alone again.
Piper smiled at August. “I’m glad to know I’m not the worst date you’ve had here.”
She laughed. “Not by a long stretch.”
“Might even go so far as to say I’m the best date you’ve had here, huh?”
“I think that’s a safe bet.” She made a concerted effort to hold Piper’s gaze. “I might even be so bold as to say it’s one of the best dates I’ve had anywhere.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes.” She looked down.
“Me too,” Piper replied, feeling as though her insides were melting.
“Yeah?”
She laughed. “I don’t think I’ll need to make an ‘I just had a terrible date call’ afterwards, if that’s what you’re asking.”
August laughed too, and Piper couldn’t help but marvel at the sound and the fact that she was the one who got August’s laughs.
Piper was such a sucker when she liked someone.
A considering, amused look settled on August’s face as they turned on the spot together. “What’s the worst date you’ve ever had that I don’t know about?”
Piper laughed. She’d told August plenty of tales about bad dates, but there was one that held a special place. “The guy who brought his mother along.”
“What?” August asked, eyes wide.
“Yeah. It was so awkward and embarrassing that I almost never talk about it.”
August winced. “I’m sorry. You don’t have to tell me.”
“No, no. I want to.”
“Well, if you’re sure…”
Piper smiled. She was absolutely certain. “I’d wanted to go for dinner at Peruglio’s for months. Do you know the place?”
“Yeah. Fancy restaurant on 5th, right?”
“Exactly. I’d been holding onto it because…” She shook her head. “Well, because it costs a fortune and because I wanted it to be special. But, I’d been talking to this guy for months, it seemed to be going well, and, entirely unprompted, he mentioned wanting to take me to Peruglio’s. So, you know, it felt like a sign or something, and I agreed.”
“I already feel stressed for you,” August breathed as she twirled Piper momentarily away from her and back into her body.
Piper’s breathing stumbled as August’s fingers gripped her hip and she almost lost her train of thought. The guy, and his mother, and the weird date were a distant memory in comparison to the feeling of August against her, holding her.
She cleared her throat. “I arrived, the restaurant was beautiful, the service from the second you open the door is impeccable, and they tell me my party has already arrived.”
“Oh, no.”
“Yep. So, I just thought it was fancy restaurant speak, you know? Like, sure, my party of one other person . Whatever. But, nope. I’m led to a table—one that’s really only suited to two people on a date, which I can only assume the guy insisted on—and there he is. With an older woman.”
“His mother.” August cringed while saying it, not a question at all since they both knew where this was going.
“Who, by the way, he hadn’t mentioned at all in his messages.”
“You’re kidding?”
“I wish I was.”
“Yikes.”
Piper nodded. “So, yeah, I sit down and she doesn’t really say anything, just starts assessing me. As in, she was watching everything I did and making mental notes.”
“Did he say anything?”
“Not at first. Just asked how I was doing, how the journey over was, if I liked the restaurant… Usual first date stuff, but all while his mother is just sitting there with her knee pressing into my leg under the table.”
“Oh, my god.”
“Yep. He did finally introduce her, at which point, she essentially took over the date. She started asking me all these questions about my background and education, my job, my aspirations for the future.” Piper shook her head, shuddering at the memory. “Turns out she didn't think working in music distribution was any good and, apparently, I needed to shoot for being a producer or composer if I wanted to have social and cultural capital.”
August gaped at her. “She said that to you?”
“She did indeed. Serious as you like, as if the whole thing were as normal as could be.”
“And he didn’t say anything? Didn’t explain or tell her to stop or leave?”
“Not a damn thing. So, I just had to sit there while she insulted my career, told me I needed not to live with a roommate, and performed an audit on my life to provide feedback on how to be worthy of her son.”
“For fuck’s sake. Why on earth would you even want to be worthy of someone like that?”
“Beats me.”
“For the record, you were already more than worthy of him. He didn’t deserve you.”
Piper smiled sweetly. “Thank you. I know that now. But, at the time, it was a lot.”
“I can imagine.”
“Eventually, she started prompting him to tell me all about himself—much of which I already knew from our messages, but she wanted to provide her own spin on it. Essentially, she thought he was God's gift to women and the Earth.” Piper narrowed her eyes slightly. “And then…”
“Oh, god. It gets worse?”
“She gets up as some young woman approaches, introduces her as his sister, and moves two tables over to pull the same thing again on some poor, unwitting guy who was on a date with the sister!”
“Jesus Christ.”
“So, yeah, she then spent the time bouncing between the two tables… facilitating her children’s dates.”
August stared at her, stunned. “Wow,” she breathed.
“Yep. Blocked him the minute I left the restaurant. Right after I told him that bringing his mother on dates was weird and that he would never find anyone if he kept doing that.”