Exiting was the same as entering. Mara and Wendy were wished well by nearly everyone they passed. Did the whole facility know?
I sat in the backseat. Mara had offered to let me drive, but the idea of sitting up front with her mother must be what my staff experienced before a board meeting.
Oh god, what do I say? What’s she going to say? How do I respond?
Plus the back had the added bonus of watching the profile of a pink-haired Batgirl.
“Mom, can you get the handicap parking pass from the glove compartment?”
A task that should’ve taken seconds took a few solid minutes as Wendy worked the latch, dug the pass out, closed the cubby, and hung the pass up.
I glanced at my own hands, so strong and competent, then at Mara’s young and healthy body. A new respect for Wendy bloomed.
What Mara had tried to do to Sam wasn’t okay, but…it was more understandable.
As she found a spot to park, I stared at everyone walking by. I might’ve stood out anywhere in Minneapolis, but here, I was the norm. Underdressed even, as every superhero imaginable, aliens, monsters, and other unidentifiable creatures strode by. When I turned forward, Mara had donned her facemask.
More fantasies about what the night entailed.
Again, Mara sent my gold-digger radar off-kilter when she produced three tickets as we entered the convention center.
Sam had brought me here when I was a kid, but I still looked around with the wonder of an eight-year-old boy. Things had grown—on a much larger scale, with more variety. Costumes ranged from furry to cosmic to barely there. Many were obviously handmade or thrown together. Several people walked by in getups that must’ve cost hundreds of dollars. The age range of attendees varied more than I remembered. Every age was represented and groups roamed, either families or college-aged kids, along with a ton of couples.
I smirked. The couple that dresses up together stays together?
“It’s something, isn’t it?” Mara whispered as we wandered shoulder to shoulder.
She pushed Wendy, whose grin was infectious to all who passed.
“So what are your plans?” I tried to remember what me and Sam used to do. Panels, new toys, shows, there had to be all that and then some now.
“We mostly walk around. It’s the costumes that are our favorite.”
I had to tell Flynn about this shit. Because while Mara’s costume was sexy as hell, there were women aplenty who strutted by in barely-there costumes. My friend would tear through the convention and leave with triple digits in phone numbers, and maybe a quick hookup in a secluded spot.
“Oh look, Mom. That guy with the vintage action figures is here again.” Mara plowed through the crowd, apparently unafraid of using her mom’s chair in the same manner the prow of a ship cut through water.
She talked excitedly with her mom as they perused old merchandise that had never been removed from its box. I hung toward the edge, more than mildly interested but not wanting to show it.
The booth next to the action figures was fan art and I went over for a look.
Two women were whispering next to me. Their giggles drifted over the din.
Weren’t they cold in those outfits? One wore full-body spandex in powder blue. No clue who she was supposed to be. The other was in black spandex with holes randomly torn through, mostly across her rounded butt cheeks.
Flynn would love this.
Mara glanced over toward me, then bent to speak to Wendy. As I was turning away to meet up with them, one of the girls called to me.
“Wes?”
My eyes widened and my feet stalled. The floor could be wet concrete for as well as my legs worked. My right eye twitched.
“Wes, right?” Her pitch rose in excitement.
Mara had noticed the exchange, her glance going between me and the girls.
I pivoted back and pointed to the small, round pip on my collar. “Yes, Wesley Crusher. Good eye.”
The ass-less girl stepped toward me, her mouth stretched in a seductive grin. “No, not Cr—”
My sharp glare made her smile falter.
“Don’t you remember me, from my friend’s”—she indicated blue Lycra girl—“bachelorette party…at Canon?”
Aww, damn. If I tried hard, I might remember her.
I kept my demeanor pleasant, didn’t sneer like I wanted. She could ruin everything. But it wasn’t her fault I thought my partners were nothing more than passing entertainment.
“I’m sorry, but I’m escorting two lovely ladies around today and I must go.”
I spun back to Mara as she approached. “What would you like to see next?”
Wes
It was all I could do not to stare at the girl with her ass hanging out of her costume. She was sexy and sultry…and incredibly hurt by what appeared to be a brush-off from Sam.
An ex? A former fling?
Current fling?
Whoever she was threw a disgusted look at Sam’s back as she walked away with her friend.
Sam was watching me, waiting for an answer, but I so badly wanted to sate my curiosity.
“Well, there’s a huge line where they’re giving out swag T-shirts, or I’d give it a try.”
My mom raised my face to them. “If we’re going to wait in line, we might as well try to get into a panel. Unless you want to walk around and get ideas for Arcadia?”
My eyes shot to Sam, who arched a brow but didn’t say anything.
“No, I think there’s some interesting panels.” I handed the schedule of events to Sam and wove my way out of the exhibition hall.
He was subdued for the rest of the afternoon. No, that wasn’t right exactly. He wasn’t saying much, but he walked with tight shoulders and scrutinized everyone who sat by us or walked past.
We found seats at a panel of graphic novel artists. Sam sat on one side of me and Mom on the other.
“Is everything okay?” I murmured to him.
“Just thinking about where to take you two for dinner.”
My brows shot up. “Oh, you don’t have to.”
His piercing gaze brooked no argument. “I’d like to.”
Dinner
