"Hey, you home?" Josh entered Maya's apartment, stuffing the key in his back pocket. "I brought tacos...!" He stood in the living room, awaiting a sense of life.
"Studio! Don't come in if you're lying!" He grinned at her choice of words. She wouldn't hurt him even if he was.
"So," he walked into the small room in the back, "what's the latest project?" He leaned against the frame as the blonde woman sat in her chair, glancing at him. Her blue jeans shirt was covered in paints, as was her forehead. He held the taco bag behind his back, smirking at her. Maya just straightened her back, "If you wanted to know so bad you'd give me a taco and look, Boing." He sighed, shaking his head as if to lose his amusement.
He still hasn't lost the nickname. "And you know, most people knock before coming into a potentially dangerous apartment," she smiled at him.
"But I'm not most people, my ferret."
"Okay, cute nicknames later tacos now," Maya ordered. He gave her a sarcastic reply and put the Spanish bag into her hands. She squealed, she peeked at her painting; angel wings with a dark figure. "Hey!" Maya smacked him away, standing up protectively in front of her art. "It's not public yet, dude."
He scoffed, "You'll punch me to stand up for a painting but you wouldn't hurt a painting to save me."
"A painting isn't going to hurt you, Josh. And you know the rules."
"Come on, you were supposed to be ready by now anyway, Hart." Maya sighed and took the blouse off, revealing a white tank top. She slipped on another blouse, a long and clean black one with rose designs. "This good?"
Josh just shook his head and took her hand, however, he did agree to her protests to bring the tacos in the car.
"So, you say we're going to an art show, but it's not fancy," Maya said between bites while Josh drove the car down the streets. "Is it street art?"
"Maybe."
"Ooh." Another bite. "I like it." And another. I swear to God she'll choke one day and I'll have to save her.
He pulled up at a fairly nice building, not too shiny and glamorous but not so dark it had to be illegal or underground. Maya was just stuffing the wrapper of her last taco into the bag.
They got out of the car and walked inside the doors, instantly met with cologne of all smells and paint colors of any on the color wheel. It was street art mostly, people with spray paint who were dedicated, or others who felt their product was unappreciated and good enough to get in. Maya's eyes had sparked from the first foot inside; Josh felt happy she had.
"This is even better..." He could hear her mumble under her breath, eyes scattered everywhere. Josh let her stand there a second before giving her a light shove forward.
"There someone I want you to meet. Dex told me about him." Dex, a friend of Josh's in the investment industry. She had a lot of ties with a lot of nobody's and everybody's.
She looked at him in slight confusion, but her blue eyes went back to the room. A tall man, dark hair with light eyeliner rimming his eyes started staring at the same piece she was. The canvas had watercolors closed everywhere, leaving no spot white. Blues and greens, along with some purple and yellow made shapes and sizes that made something in Maya speak out.
By the twitch of her hand, he knew she wanted to feel each stroke. "It's lovely, isn't it?"
They looked at the man next to them, and Maya asked first. "You did this? It's beautiful." The emphasis was ear in her voice.
The man's eyebrows shot up, "Oh, no no. I just now represent who did. And I'm interested in you." He stuck his arm out, "Logan. From Trix Bix creative industries. A record deal for all sort of creative people, you could say."
"Trix Bix?" Josh accidentally blurted, however the mystery of who the man was cleared up.
"I let my daughter choose a name." Logan chuckled. "Your Josh, right? This is the talented Maya Hart?"
"Yes." Maya was still in awe, but now she looked at her boyfriend in wonder. Josh just shrugged, out of words. "And why would you be looking for me?"
"I want to represent you. I've seen your work, and I think you're the real deal. Here," he pulled a card from his suit pocket. "I'll leave you to your evening." He walked away with a nod, and Maya turned to Josh.
"Is that who Dex told you about? Because he's a legend. A legend I have to turn down, by the way."
"What? What do you mean?"
Maya took his hands, still in slight shock by her shaky movements. "I was going to tell you tonight at the apartment, but I guess here is good."
"What?" Josh felt a twinge of worry down his spine, imagining the worst and irrational, honestly.
"I was already offered a record deal. From Taylor Winter. I'm accepting."
He blinked. "Are you saying I got Dex to bring this guy here for nothing?"
"Huh? You did this? What? How? How many people does she know...?" The last part was more to herself.
"Yep. And now this means you owe me a taco. Also," Josh kissed her, "I am so proud of you." Maya smiled, pressing her lips back to his.
"You are the sweetest guy I know."
"I'd hope," she rolled her eyes. "No flirting with anyone but Boing, Ferret.
"This is why I call you Boing because you just keep it going." She laughed, her arms wrapping around his shoulders.
"And I am totally OK with it," he shrugged, kissing her forehead. "But seriously, taco. I gave you two and you owe me one."
Maya hit him playfully on his chest, making his smile at her already giddy behavior. "Shut up, I'll get you the taco, Boing. I love you," she added as if an afterthought outburst.
"Love you too, Ferret." He hugged her closer.
