“I know that. You know that. But does he know that?”
“I…” Maya trailed off. She recognized Dex’s mother and Selena Thorpe, of all people, standing across from her tent looking at another vendor. “Oh hell.”
Riley turned to look with her. “Oh hell is right. Dex’s mom and the devil herself? Don’t worry. I’m here for you.”
“Great. If she pisses us off, you can bean her with a super muffin since you’re such a goddess and all.”
“Or you could pop her in the face again. But make sure no one’s looking this time. We can’t afford witnesses.”
They laughed. Then Selena and Dex’s mom disappeared from sight. Thank God.
Riley left with a promise to return with a hot cocoa. Since Maya needed a caffeine jolt, she let Riley leave with little guilt.
“Maya Werner?” She glanced up from her computer tablet and saw Dex’s mother.
“Oh, uh, Mrs. Black?”
Dex had the woman’s features, but he must have taken after his father in size.
“Call me Connie,” she said with a smile. “My word, I haven’t seen you in years. Not since the senior prom.”
“Yeah. Hi.” Feeling awkward and wanting to put on a good face, Maya forced herself to be at ease. “Nice to see you. Are you enjoying the festival?” A harmless enough topic.
They chatted about art for a while, and Maya felt herself relaxing. A few people pulled her away during their conversation, but each time Connie waved at her to attend to business.
The last time, Connie glanced at her watch. “I’ll be back in a little bit. Go see to your customers.”
When Riley finally returned, Maya left her friend in charge so she could find Dex. She walked through the maze of artists, seeking her boyfriend.
God, she had a boyfriend. Life was good. Maya frowned. Maybe too good. That karmic cloud hung over her head, and she found herself worrying though she had no cause to.
After looking around the art booths for a bit, she headed toward the meal tents. There she spotted Connie and Selena. Connie stood with her back to Maya, but Selena saw her and smiled. The bitch. Before she could make her presence known, she heard Connie loud and clear.
“I mean,thosepeople.” Connie shook her head. “I’ve been coming to this festival for years. The nerve of them thinking they belong here. It’s ridiculous. We’ve had this argument for what feels like forever. Frankly, I’m disgusted. It’s bad enough my son thinks he can do whatever he wants with them, but really…”
Selena piped in before Maya could interrupt. “Oh, I agree, Connie. They’re everywhere it seems. Hell, I’m looking at one right now.” Selena made a face. “And always so tribal. It’s ridiculous. They’re everywhere, like ants.”
“Tribal? Do you mean— Oh, wait, there’s Dexter. Honey, over here.”
Floored that Connie had been so nice to her face and so nasty behind her back, Maya turned and left. She knew Dex loved his mother, but really. How could he tolerate that kind of prejudice? Was Maya hearing things?
Or maybe he’s like-minded and has been playing you this entire time.
She’d been duped before. But never by someone she cared for so much. It was like her father and her mother all over again.
“Oh, there you are.” Selena appeared from around a nearby tent and stepped in front of her. “Big bad Maya Werner running from a hater. Poor little Pocahontas.” She tittered. “Where are you heading off to? That shit you’re trying to pass off as art?”
Maya stopped, ignoring thoughts of Dex’s mother for the moment, and considered her enemy. “I don’t get it. You’re pretty, rich and successfully mowing through any guy with money in the Pacific Northwest. What’s your problem with me?”
Selena blinked. “Are you serious? You broke my fucking nose.”
“Before that. You’ve been a bitch to me since third grade. I mean, what’s the deal? Did I step on your Malibu Barbie or something?”
“You’re pathetic. You don’t belong here.”
“What? At an arts festival? Um, I’m an artist.”
“You’re a waste of space. Dirt beneath my feet.” Selena glanced down at heels that had no doubt cost more than Maya’s entire wardrobe.
