Cider Cove really is one of Maine’s sleepiest towns, so she’s not wrong on that front.
Mom and Georgie have made their way back into our airspace, and I can tell by the gleam in Georgie’s eye that she’s heard enough of the conversation to have formed an opinion.
“Listen up,BlondeBarbie,” Georgie announces while pointing a finger at the Queen of Mean, Brittany, herself. “Has anyone ever told you that you use a lot of words and none of them are worth hearing?”
I’ll agree with her there. Both Fish and Sherlock titter out a laugh.
Brittany blinks. “Excuse me?”
“Just pointing out the obvious, Toots,” Georgie says, adjusting her kaftan. “It’s a skill, really. Using that many words and still managing to bore people.”
A light chuckle ripples through the crowd, and judging by the look on Brittany’s face, it sounds a lot like treason to her.
A flurry of thoughts hit me all at once.
Ooh, that hit the nail on the head.
Finally, someone said it.
She’s not wrong.
Mom closes her eyes briefly, but I catch the smile tugging at her lips.Don’t laugh. Don’t laugh. Don’t laugh.
Brittany’s expression goes ice cold as she narrows her fury in on Georgie. “And who are you again?”
“Someone who’s met a mean girl or two before,” Georgie says simply. “Honey, you’re not new. You’re just louder than the rest.”
Old bat,Brittany thinks viciously.As if age gives you the right to be rude.
As if youth givesherthe right,I want to counter.
And for the first time all night, Brittany doesn’t have a comeback. At least not a verbal one.
The silence stretches for exactly three seconds before Brittany throws her head back and laughs. “Oh my goodness, Mackenzie, your family is something else. I’m definitely posting about this.”
And just like that, she pulls out her phone.
Of course, she does. It’s the weapon of choice.
That thing has more power than it should. It’s dangerous, really.
“Brittany,” Mackenzie says, voice low and lethal. “Put the phone away.”
“Why?” Brittany’s thumbs are already moving. “I’m just capturing a moment from our little Cider Cove Seaside Social. Letting the world know all about our weeklong celebration of small-town charm and the people who think that’s enough.”
“I’m serious,” Mackenzie hisses.
“So am I.” Brittany keeps typing. “In fact, I’ve got a whole series of posts scheduled aboutsmall-town politics and the people who think they’re more important than they actually are. Starting next weekend. You’re going to be famous, Macky. Just not the way you wanted.”
Mackenzie gasps as a tornado of thoughts swirls in her mind.This is not happening. Not here. Not tonight. And for the love of all things evil, not the Fourth of July weekend either. That’s no way to start off my week or end my life.
I inch back. Distance feels like a wise choice.
What could Brittany possibly know to make Mackenzie react that way?
She’s going to do it,Tamsin thinks with a palpable panic creeping in.She’s actually going to ruin everything.
The music rages on. People are still noshing their way through the buffet and the revelers are howling and laughing like this were the best beach bash they’ve ever been to.
