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Bunny could see the lies written all over Mandy’s face as clearly as Piper could.

“Wehavebeen talking.” Mandy insisted, the whine in her voice akin to nails scraping down a black board. “Look, just let her know I’m here. I’m sure she’ll want to talk to me.”

“I’ll do no such thing.” Bunny wasn’t laughing now. In fact, her voice took on the rumble of a wild predator ready to rip out the throat of anyone who dared to threaten her family.

Her family.

Which now included Jo.

Piper’s heart swelled, her chest feeling too small for all the emotions inside. And Piper wanted nothing less than that. But how had Bunny gone from angry jerk to fierce guardian in such a quick time? Piper was about to say something when she was interrupted.

“Is there a problem, ladies?” The security guards finally reached them. The guard who spoke, who had ever so casually drawled the question as though being told to do his job was beneath him, looked bored. Piper was certain he’d even given his colleague an eye roll meant for theladiesin question.

Before Piper could respond, Bunny whirled on them.

“Yeah, a big problem.” Bunny snarled. “Thispersonis on the no-access list.”

“Is she now?” The guard was pushing his luck, and even Piper felt her spine stiffen as she pushed her shoulders back ready to attack. She flicked her gaze to his name tag, prepared to report him to his higher ups if necessary.

Ed.

But the second guard made a flutter of a clipboard, flipping pages and glancing up at Mandy and then back again.

“Oh.” The second guard, Alex, turned the color of old ash, white and flaking beneath the heat of Bunny’s anger. “I’m so sorry, miss. I’ll take care of this right away.”

“What?” Ed turned to Alex.

“She’s definitely on the list.” Alex squeaked a little, but Piper gave him props for standing up taller as he spoke to Ed.

“Thank you.” Bunny narrowed her eyes before moving her gaze to Alex. “It’s Bunny.” Bunny smiled at the security guard as he placed a hand on Mandy’s shoulder.

“Don’t you touch me,” Mandy snarled.

Piper relaxed, even though the drama wasn’t over yet. She knew it’d be taken care of, and that Jo would be none the wiser, at least for now. Because if Jo knew, it would get into her headand keep her from giving the performance of her life. Piper pressed her lips together hard, hoping that none of this came out or that Mandy didn’t try to call or text her and that Jo didn’t answer. Hell, not having her phone on her would probably be the best solution at this point.

“You’ve been asked to leave. If you don’t want to be touched, then you need to follow my partner here without any issues.”

“This is ridiculous.” Mandy pulled away from Alex’s hand and moved to take a step in the opposite direction she had been instructed to.

“You’re leaving now.” Ed grabbed Mandy around the bicep this time, her chances apparently run out. Alex, the one with cheeks still pink with embarrassment or anger, Piper didn’t care which, moved to Mandy’s other side, and together they marched Mandy out of the gates.

Piper crossed her arms, not letting up on her angry stance as she watched Mandy be escorted away. She’d snag Jo’s phone and put it on silent as soon as she got a chance. They could tell her about Mandy after the show, or better yet, tomorrow. Bunny shifted her stance, their shoulders brushing and bringing Piper back around to what had started this entire conversation in the first place.

“I’m serious about what I said.” Piper didn’t turn to Bunny as she spoke. She couldn’t. Concern and fear mixed uncomfortably in her stomach, but she couldn’t keep it in anymore. The gates closed behind Mandy and the guards, and they continued to escort her beyond them. Hopefully, they’d take her completely off site.

“Why haven’t you told Jo?” Bunny’s voice was soft beside her. “That’s who you really should be talking to. Not me.”

“Because I love her. And I won’t expect her to go into any closet and take away any part of who she is. I won’t let her do that. I want to be out and free to love her the way she deserves.The world has been changing for a while, but I’ve been too scared to push for these changes with us. But it really is what I want.”

“I’m holding you back.” Bunny sighed.

“No.” Piper reached out for Bunny’s hand, daring to turn her head and look at her best friend. Tears were in her eyes, because there was no way to get through this without changes to their relationship. And Piper hated being the one to instigate them. But she had to, because they could navigate this. “I’ve held myself back. But I can’t do it anymore. I’m sorry.”

“I don’t want you to hide any of yourself either, Piper.” Bunny squeezed her hand, and for a moment, Piper imagined it was her heart. But she didn’t know if it would heal or hurt her. “I don’t know what’s going to happen. But after tonight, I promise we’ll talk about how to make sure you never have to go back to the way it was before.”

“Really? Just like that?” Piper swiped one finger beneath her eye, catching the tears that were building, and threatening to ruin the makeup that she had so painstakingly perfected.

“Yeah, really.” Bunny smiled, and while Piper saw her friend’s old fear in those eyes, she also saw the love she hadn’t seen for a while shining through on full blast. “It’s been a rough few months, but I think I’m starting to understand a little more about lots of things.”