Sparkles and Spite
Maisie
With Griff at my side, I burst through the door to the front room. The first thing I noticed was Sierra sneering at Griff's mom. With a toss of her hair, Sierra announced, "I'm just saying, it looks a little desperate."
My gaze darted around the shop, taking all of it in, including Trevor who looked like a deer in headlights behind the counter.
Next to Griff's mom was Disco Bike in all its glittery glory.
Next to Sierra was Devon in full mannequin mode.
Next to me was still the most wonderful man I had ever met, who had sworn up and down that his mom could handle herself just fine. His words from the back room were still fresh in my mind. She won't like you stepping in.
Even so, I couldn't stop myself from asking, "What's going on?"
Nobody answered. Not Griff's mom, who looked mad enough to spit nails. Not Sierra, who was smirking like she'd just spotted someone in last season’s shoes. And definitely not Trevor, who was inching toward the door like he hoped no one would notice.
And don't get me started on Devon, who was doing nothing at all.
I zoomed in on Trevor. "Well?"
He froze in mid-sneak. "Are you talking to me?"
Nice try. I knew exactly what he was doing. Now that I was here, he was hoping to slip away and dump the whole fiasco into my lap – not that I blamed him. After all, this was my circus. "Just tell me what I missed."
He pointed at Griff's mom. "Tammy here is renting Disco Bike, but this other customer – " He gestured toward Sierra.
Sierra gave a loud huff. "I'm not a customer." She said it like he'd just accused her of shopping at the dollar store.
Trevor frowned. "So, what are you?"
She drew back like he'd asked to see her panties. "That's none of your business."
Griff's mom – aka Tammy – snorted. "I'll tell you what she is."
Beside me, Griff shifted, just barely shaking his head. Whether it was a warning or a prayer, I couldn't exactly tell.
To no one in particular, Tammy announced, "She's the kind of woman who walks into a place she doesn't own, insults a bike she can't ride, and treats regular people like trash." Under her breath, she added, "Bitch."
Sierra gasped. "Excuse me?"
With a wicked gleam, Tammy told Sierra, "You're not excused."
Sierra whirled around to gauge our reactions. When her eyes landed on Griff, she did a double-take and then froze. Slowly, her face morphed from something scornful to serene. With an angelic smile, she said, "Oh. I, uh, didn't see you there."
Griff's mouth was tight. "Obviously."
Sierra ran a hand through her long, blonde hair. "So you're still in town, huh?" Her gaze traveled the length of him, molesting him with her eyes. With a flirty little laugh, she asked, "So you're done with the disguise?"
When Griff replied with nothing but a cold stare, she said, "I knew exactly who you were, maybe not at first, but I totally got there – and way before she did." Apparently, the "she" was me – a clueless yokel, judging from her tone.
Griff gave her a long, scornful look. "Yeah? And I knew who you were, too."
She brightened. "Really?"
Griff held up a finger. "Correction. I knew what you were."
From across the room, Tammy gave a loud scoff. "Yeah, me too. I just said it." She practically cackled. "And I got a few more where that came from."
It was my turn to snort. I wasn't even sure what amused me more – Griff's mom on the warpath or the fact that she was also the customer named Tammy who had rented Disco Bike.
Either way, I was more delighted than I should have been, especially when Sierra turned to Devon and practically spat, "And you!"
Devon swallowed. "Me?"
"Yes, you! You're just gonna stand there and let her insult me?"
Devon shifted from foot to foot. "Well…you sort of started it."
Sierra's jaw dropped. "You are such a pussy!" She whirled to face Griff. " You wouldn't let someone talk to me like that."
Next to Disco Bike, Tammy gave a loud guffaw.
Sierra whirled to face her. "What are you laughing at?"
Tammy pointed. "You. You really think he's gonna take your side over mine?" She hitched a thumb in my direction. "Or her?" Tammy beamed. "He's in love with her, you know."
"He is not!" Sierra said. "He's just playing her. Everybody knows that."
"Who's everyone?" Tammy laughed. "You and the dipshit at your side?"
Sierra's nostrils flared. "He's not a dipshit." She whirled to Devon and said, "See? That's how you stick up for someone!"
"Fine," Devon said. "You're not a dipshit either."
Sierra glared daggers at him. "But nobody called me a dipshit."
I spoke up. "Can I call you that?"
She whirled to face me. "No, you may not."
I couldn't help it. Under my breath, I muttered, "Dipshit."
"I heard that!"
Tammy called out, "Me, too." She gave me a thumbs-up. "Good one, Baby Doll!"
I beamed. Griff's mom – I was half in love with her already. And just like that, I had visions of comfy Thanksgivings and card games around the fire.
As for Sierra, she looked ready to pop. With her fists clenched, she marched closer to Tammy and gritted out, "Just who do you think you are?"
Tammy smiled. "You can't guess?"
"Why would I? You're a total nobody." Sierra extended an arm and pointed at Disco Bike. "You're just somebody with bad taste and too much sparkle."
"Oh, honey," Tammy drawled. "You can never have too much sparkle." She grinned. "And if you don't believe me, ask my son."
Sierra rolled her eyes. "And why would I do that?"
Tammy pointed toward Griff. "Because he's standing right there, next to a girl who's worth a hundred of you."
Next to me, Griff said, "More like a million."
Tammy called out, "Damn straight!"
Sierra gawked. I blinked. Griff's hand found mine, anchoring me with a tender squeeze.
Suddenly I felt warm all over – not only from the sentiment, but from the fact that everyone was staring, especially Sierra, who looked utterly horrified, like she'd just sent an accidental nudie to her dad.
Into the silence, Devon muttered, "I wouldn't say a million ."
Sierra whirled to face him. "What?"
Devon shrugged. "I'm just saying…a million seems a little high."
She glowered at him. "Just a little?"
When Devon replied with only another shrug, Sierra threw up her hands. "And what? A hundred isn't?"
Devon's gaze drifted to me, and his voice grew wistful. "I dunno…maybe it is a million."
As Sierra sputtered, I opened my mouth, unsure what to say. But in the end, it was Griff who stole the show, pulling me close as he told Devon, "Your loss, buddy." And then, he turned his warm gaze on me. With a smile, he added, "And my gain."
And then he kissed me – right there in front of his mom, in front of my ex-boyfriend, in front of Sierra, in front of Trevor, and even in front of Chad, who burst through the door and hollered out, "Slither Time!"
We all stopped to look. But it was Trevor who collected himself first, asking, "So you want Viper Bike?"
Chad grinned. "Hell, yeah, I want the Viper!" But then his grin faded, and his gaze traveled from face-to-face. "Wait a minute…you're not doing that key-party thing again, are you?"
Sierra gave a little huff. "Says the guy who never answers my email."
"Why would I?" Chad asked. "You're like…a total nobody."
Tammy called out, "You tell her, Snake Man!"
Chad's grin was back. He eyed the bike beside her. "So you're taking out the Disco, huh?" He gave a slow, approving nod. "Nice sparkles."
Tammy grinned back. "I know, right?"
Sierra grabbed Devon's arm. "You know what? I'm too good for this place."
Devon replied, "You mean we're too good."
"Whatever." Sierra flounced toward the door, dragging Devon along behind her. He didn't protest, but he did turn to give me one lingering look before jingling out the door as Tammy called out, "Don't let the door hit you on the ass!"
As they left, my gaze traveled to the front window, where I spotted Franny and her gaggle of friends staring through the glass. All of them were grinning.
I couldn't help it. I grinned back. What a day.
And later that night, after the shop was closed and the streets grew empty, it got even better.