Page 65 of Marked By Shadows
“I wanted to find you guys and see if you want to have lunch with me and Chad. He’s picking me up, will drop me back off. Can probably take you guys back to the B&B as well,” MaryAnn said.
“Wow, that’d be great, but I’m not sure all this will fit.”
“He’s got a Highlander. Plenty of room. We were thinking some place quiet, maybe that Asian place you showed us the last time, Micah.”
“Hmm, Takamatsu. Japanese, Chinese, and Korean, with a sushi bar for those who like it. Good variety.” My stomach grumbled at the thought of katsu don and miso soup.
“I guess that’s a yes?” Alex said. “If it’s okay with Chad. We don’t want to interrupt you. Not sure if it’s a date or something.”
“Oh no. I mean no, not really. Chad and I are…” She paused long enough for me to wonder if I’d read their relationship wrong. “Something. Though not the typical couple. But more than friends.”
“I had no idea,” I said. I mean I guess might have, but since I’d known Chad was asexual, I hadn’t thought he’d find himself in a relationship. Though I could see how that was flawed thinking. Something else I’d have to work through with my therapist, since that wasn’t a judgment my mind should have leapt to.
“We’ve kept it pretty quiet, so no big deal. I don’t want you guys to feel weird about hanging with us. The group has been off enough about this Byrony thing,” MaryAnn said.
“Yeah, her disappearance has certainly caused a bit of stress,” Alex said.
“Oh, I don’t mean that. Byrony does this sort of thing all the time, to cause a stir or get attention. I mean her attempt to take over the group and force Freya into retirement.” MaryAnn waved her hand. “But that started before you guys got here, so maybe Freya didn’t tell you?”
I had no idea. “Was Freya thinking about leaving the market?” I couldn’t imagine her doing anything else. She’d been an influencer before there had been enough of an online presence to influence, beginning with traveling to conventions and posing for thousands of pictures. “I never thought she’d leave the business. She loves designing and photography so much.”
“She does. But she’s been doing it so long and she misses traveling more. I know Grace was talking about taking over the hotel for her, and Nicole and Julie have been working on plans to help manage her vlog as she travels. She was going to do a study in costuming in different cultures. I think she was even working on a book,” MaryAnn said. “Freya would need a really good reason to stay.”
Wow, was I out of the loop, or what? “I feel bad. I had no idea.”
MaryAnn shrugged. “You’ve been doing your own thing. You love the shop and it shows. We were actually all a little surprised when you came this time. I think it’s the reason Byrony came at all, she didn’t think you’d show.”
“I don’t understand that, she and I were nothing to each other. We didn’t talk. We weren’t friends. I barely knew her,” I said, feeling like the blame for her disappearance would fall back on me again. Originally, I’d really debated on coming at all. Had purchased the ticket and reserved my space, but thought I might cancel. Then Alex had dropped into my life full of inspiration and entertainment, quashing my loneliness. My desire to brainstorm with the group had shifted to focus on him, rather than rebuilding anything I might have had previously.
“She didn’t feel that way. Always saw you as a rival. And when Freya mentioned you’d asked for her help with some designs, she flipped out. Like you returning to the group would keep Freya here, and oust her from taking over the vacuum Freya’s departure would create in the cosplay influence world.” MaryAnn’s phone beeped.
Only I had no plans to ever return to cosplay influencing. “I don’t think I have that kind of power over Freya,” I said.
“She adores you,” MaryAnn said. “Would do anything for you. I think that bothered Byrony so much too.”
“Yeah, Melissa made that clear,” Alex said, not looking happy. “We can’t control how other people feel.”
“Of course not. But everyone is excited to have you back. New, old blood in the group. New inspiration,” MaryAnn said. “Especially with Alex’s influence. We all think you’ll bring great things to the group.”
“Everyone except Byrony,” Alex said. I felt a little sick. I needed to get the group together and explain I wouldnotbe returning the way they thought I was. And I really was beginning to think coming at all had been a mistake.
“Right,” MaryAnn agreed. “Anyway, Chad’s outside. Let me help you guys get stuff loaded.” She grabbed a few bags. Alex had the rep from the booth wheel the machine on a dolly to the door where we found the SUV idling. Thankfully everything fit with very little jostling.
“Thanks for the ride,” Alex told Chad as he took his place behind the driver’s side, and I sat beside him. MaryAnn took the passenger seat.
“Apparently you guys planned to do some shopping while you’re here.” Chad said.
“I don’t think most of this was planned,” Alex remarked, glancing back at the heap of bags.
“A lot of it is samples for my shop,” I said. Some of the apparel fabrics wouldn’t really fit into the mix of craft supplies I had in my shop, but I’d play with the samples anyway. Perhaps create a new line of easy to wear cosplay items to sell. “The machine is Alex’s new baby.”
Alex flushed. “Micah will use it too, but well, I mean…”
“Watched you quilt yesterday and was shocked. Where did you learn that?” Chad asked. “My grandma used to hand quilt stuff. I remember watching her as a kid. Never got into it myself, but still have a half dozen of those quilts she made for me. Takes skill to do it by hand and to move the machine like you did? That was amazing.”
“It’s more like moving the paper around the pencil,” Alex said absently.
“Right, which is a different skill set,” MaryAnn said. “I’ve done some decorative stitches on fabric. Takes a lot of focus and time. You did it like you’d been doing it forever.”