Page 13 of On the Power Play

Delia shook her head. “I had a bagel at home.”

Mary grinned and ordered a muffin. “You know, now that you’re doing more shows away from home, you’re going to have to learn to eat in front of people.”

Delia rolled her eyes and moved to the other end of the counter. It was sticky with spilled coffee, and she was careful to keep her sleeves hovering as she grabbed a napkin. “It’s not that I don’t like eating in front of people?—”

“It’s kind of that.”

“Only kind of. It’s more that I don’t like how my teeth feel.”

Mary held her receipt like a ticket to an amusement park. “You know there are solutions to that, right? Portable toothbrushes?”

“Yeah, but then you have to carry a gross toothbrush in your purse.”

“There are disposable ones?—”

“They don’t work! They accomplish the same thing as spreading mint gum on the end of your finger and rubbing it around your mouth.”

Mary joined her against the wall as they waited. “So you’re saying that on top of everything else I do for you, I have to invent a travelling toothbrush that self-cleans?”

“Or a disposable with actual brushes—ooh! And built-in toothpaste. And it has to be affordable because I don’t want to pay a dollar each time I use one.”

“Simple. I don’t know why it doesn’t exist yet.” Their numbers were called, and Mary retrieved both their coffees from the counter. She handed one to Delia, then turned back to grab the paper sack with her muffin.

They made their way to the gate, where Tony and his assistant Kels were already waiting. Kels groaned and handed a ten dollar bill to Tony.

Delia frowned. "What was that for?"

Tony folded the bill and tucked it into his wallet. "Kels didn't think you'd get here on time. But I knew Mary was picking you up."

Kels rolled his eyes. "He had to cough up a hundred last weekend when he bet me on the nationality of the pig during the Pig War."

Delia grimaced, though they likely couldn't see much of her expression under the shadow of her hat.

"It was American," Mary stated.

Kels pointed. "See? She paid attention in Social Studies."

Tony shoved his wallet back into his pocket. "I still think it's up for debate since Confederation hadn't happened yet, but whatever."

The flight attendant made the announcement for priority boarding, and Tony and Kels stood up. "See you in there, ladies."

"Enjoy the legroom," Mary muttered, and Tony flashed a cheeky grin as they walked up to the gate attendant.

"Why is Kels still working for him?" Delia shifted to the side so the rest of the VIP passengers could line up. A woman in a Nine Inch Nails sweatshirt and fleece pants did a double take, and Delia turned her back to the line.

Mary shrugged. "Because the pay is good, I assume."

"Yeah, but he has to be at Tony’s beck and call. The guy's married, isn't he?"

"Maybe he's not happily married. Like Dion."

Delia groaned. "Ugh. Please don't remind me."

"How long did it take you to figure out that one? Three dates?"

"Four, and it wasn't my fault. He was lying through his teeth."

Mary scoffed. "Shouldn't it have been a red flag that he showed up with a bald spot when his profile picture flaunted hair like Justin Trudeau?"

---