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If she made it through the evening without a panic attack, she’d be one step closer to going out in public as herself again.
but even more urgently, she needed to get her panic attacks under control before her audition next month.
“Hm,” the blonde said. “I’m torn between the Midnight in Manhattan and the Broadway Bubbles.” “They’re both really good,” Josie told her. “The Midnight in Manhattan is cooler because of the mint, where the Broadway Bubbles has a bit of a bite.”
And maybe Piper should indulge her to keep from focusing on the fact that she was in a room full of strangers.
“I could tell you I made it up, but I could also tell you that it worked on me and several of my friends, so I wouldn’t discount the rumor.” With a wink, she walked off.
“Well, not tonight, obviously, since I don’t live here, but I’m a romantic at heart, so I wouldn’t complain if the right woman were to come along and sweep me off my feet.”
What kind of woman came to a bar in disguise and unwilling to share her name?
“Maybe whatever drove you here tonight should also push you to take that vacation.”
It was true, but the sidewalk around them teemed with people, and whatever Chloe thought of this woman, she couldn’t imagine that she was in any sort of danger.
“Sometimes things that sound simple can be the most difficult,” Chloe said.
“I guess I told you because you don’t know my name,” she admitted. “Sometimes it’s easier for me to talk about difficult things with someone who doesn’t know who I am.”
“My therapist helped me come up with a plan, goals to check off and strategies to help if I panic in public.”
And Chloe found herself wondering if her mysterious companion had been kissed during her months of self-isolation. Had she been touched, even for a hug? Did she have anyone in her life, or was she alone when she wasn’t working?
Of all the scenarios Piper had rehearsed for tonight, she hadn’t expected to have fun, and she had Chloe to thank for that.
Right now, her heart was pounding for all the right reasons, and it was intoxicating.
“I guess I should pay more attention to where I’m walking instead of making eyes at the pretty lady beside me.”
Chloe’s hands would be a great grounding tool to use during a panic attack.
She was tempted to call an Uber, but she also knew the exercise would do her good. It would help her sleep. So she walked.
She found herself replaying her whole evening, drinks and Pebble Beach and pretzels. It had all been unexpected and unexpectedly fun.
Certainly it had been too long, which was exactly why she was determined to get past this panic-ridden chapter in her life.
Tonight had reawakened something in her, and she couldn’t force it back into hibernation, nor did she want to. She pulled up her calendar, surprised to see she was only on the schedule until noon next Friday.
Chloe actually considered dropping out in solidarity, an idea her parents quickly dismissed as ludicrous.
She’d hoped to be fully independent for a change after she moved out, but maybe it wasn’t the end of the world if she had to ask her parents for a little help.
She’d dealt with anxiety since she was a teenager and had been in and out of therapy since. It was just how she was wired, and she generally managed it well. That had changed with the onset of her panic attacks six months ago. She was determined to overcome this setback, though, and this trip would hopefully be the next step in that direction.
It also helped her feel less like a weirdo when she talked to him, because maybe he could hear her too.
It was physically intensive, but not emotionally, which was a nice change of pace from some of the more angsty stuff she’d filmed earlier in the week.
“I know that was an accidental fumble, Piper, but I think it works. Let’s keep it.”
“Yes, but unless you plan to actually explore a romance between Sam and Claire, that’s queerbaiting, and they won’t be happy about it.”
“Queerbaiting is when a creator teases a same-sex relationship between characters to generate hype but never actually delivers.”
“The LGBTQ community is notoriously underrepresented on mainstream television, and queer viewers jump to support a potential onscreen same-sex relationship, but too many shows have started baiting them with flirtatious characters and situations that never actually turn into something more, to avoid alienating the more conservative audience.”
Hopefully, she hadn’t overstepped, but he was generally a reasonable guy, and he had seemed receptive to her concerns.
During the show’s first season, she’d been helplessly attracted to Eliza, and when she rewatched those early episodes, she saw her own yearning on Sam’s face as she gazed at Claire.
but the fandom’s response to Sam and Claire’s relationship had taken on a life of its own.
If she got the chance, she would embrace it and be proud to portray a sapphic romance on In Her Defense.
wasn’t really expecting to, to be honest. As much as I liked her—and I’m pretty sure the feeling was mutual—I could tell she wasn’t looking to start anything. And it’s fine, because she lives in New York, so it couldn’t have been anything more than a hookup anyway. Hopefully, I’ll meet a nice girl in North Carolina once I’m there permanently.”
The way her skirt hugged the curve of her hips ought to be illegal,
She shouldn’t think about Chloe or wonder if she was watching Piper right now. She definitely shouldn’t think about Chloe’s ass in that skirt.
“Sometimes,” Chloe told her. “I became a flight attendant to see the world, after all.”
“We also seem to spend a lot of time kissing on beaches,” Piper whispered, right before her lips met Chloe’s.
and she was lost, swept away by the chemistry that had been building between them from the moment they met.
“I’m pretty out of practice.” “You can practice on me all you want.”
fingers. Piper arched her back, pushing her breasts into Chloe’s hands. “Please touch me.”
She was so responsive. Chloe could do this all night.
“Fuck,” she gasped, bringing her hands to her face. With her hair cascading over the pillow, she looked like a goddess from a classic painting.
She didn’t often experience a connection like this with someone so quickly. There was just something about Piper…
“I wasn’t exactly thrilled to see you on my flight this afternoon, but I’m awfully glad we’re both here now.”
“No,” Piper said, because this was the one thing she was sure of. “I want to spend the night with you. In fact, I’d like to spend the whole weekend with you, if that’s not too forward of me to ask.”
I can sleep anywhere, anytime. It’s one of the benefits of a nomadic lifestyle like mine, I guess.”
“Thanks for coming.” “That’s what she said,” Chloe whispered, and Piper grinned.
And then there were her freckles, like a copper-tinted constellation scattered over her chest and shoulders, just begging for Chloe to map it with her fingers…or her tongue.
